Why should you have a home network? If you have 2 or more computers, and 2 or more people needing internet access, it makes financial sense to connect your computers together in a home network. With a network, you can share printers, hard drives, and other peripheral devices. For example, there is no need to buy 2 printers for 2 users; one printer can be shared by both users. Many other peripherals can be shared. A network also allows multiple users to connect to the internet with just one internet connection. A single 56K modem connected to the internet can provide internet service to every networked computer, using only one phone line and one ISP account. Having a home network allows you to save money in this way. If you are considering cable internet or DSL service, the same type of internet connection sharing can be done for all your computers. John, Mary and Pat can each surf the web simultaneously on each of 3 networked computers without needing 3 separate telephone lines and 3 separate ISP accounts or 3 separate cable/DSL accounts. In addition, a home network makes centralized backups of each computer possible.

What Types Of Home Networks Are Available?

There are 3 main types that are currently in use. They differ only in the hardware used. The first is a home network based on using your internal telephone wiring to make connections between each computer and a hub, and is called a "phone line" network. The second are wireless networks which make connections using radio transmissions, similar to a cellular phone. The third uses category 3, 5 or 5e unshielded twisted pair ("UTP") ethernet cable strung between each computer and a hub. You also need network adapter cards for each computer to accept the physical phone line, wireless transmitter/reciever or UTP connection. A home network is created by installing the adapter cards in each of the computers to be networked. Then in the case of phone wire or UTP connections, wiring is connected to each adapter card and run to a device called a hub. Software configuration is then done on each networked computer.

I can install a home network for your computers. Here is what happens: first, I will visit your home and evaluate the computers and peripherals to be networked and note the location of each computer. For wireless networks, a different approach will be taken, and much of the following discussion doesn't apply if you want a wireless network. Because each computer must be connected by a network cable to a hub, and cable runs can get rather long, the customer often has to decide whether to run cable on the outside of walls and doorways or have cable runs pulled through and within house walls. Many homeowners prefer running cable inside the house walls, in the same way telephone wire is run. This tucks the network cable safely out of the way and preserves the appearance of interior rooms. If network cable needs to be pulled through walls, I'll arrange for a cable installation specialist to perform this part of the work. An Ethernet card will be installed in each computer to be networked. Sometimes, other hardware such as a backup device will also be added to one or more computers since they have to be opened up and it is cost-efficient to do other upgrades at the same time. All cables will be connected, and all software installation will be done. Your network will then be fully tested to ensure it works and that desired peripherals like printers are accessible to everyone.

There are several types of networks that can be installed. The most common, for home networks, is a peer-to-peer fast Ethernet network. All the computers in the house are connected together and share their resources. This type of network is what I describe above. Another interesting type of network involves using "thin clients". In a thin client network, there is just one computer box, called the server. Each user in the house is given a workstation consisting of a keyboard, mouse and monitor only. These are connected to the server through a hub. Instead of each computer user having his or her own computer box, all software is put on the one central server, and the server runs the software for the user. This saves money compared to buying full computer systems for each user and then connecting them as a peer to peer network. It also saves on the space which must be given to computer hardware. However, thin client hardware is specialized and has to be bought from the same vendor in one big order.

What does it cost? The table below shows the approximate charges. Creating the network usually takes from 2 to 3 visits, sometimes more. The following prices are for wire-based (phone line and UTP cable) home networks. Please ask me for a quote for a wireless home network.

If you have any questions, please email Robert Cochran on cochranb@lingpgmr.com