Friday, November 12, 2010
Setting Up Your Home Computer Wired, or Wireless Network: "The Basics" What you need to start.
Setting Up Your Home Computer Wired, or Wireless Network: "The Basics" What you need to start.: "Believe it or not, you are not alone. Many people out there still do not know how to setup a proper home wired, or wireless network. My na..."
"The Basics" What you need to start.
Believe it or not, you are not alone. Many people out there still do not know how to setup a proper home wired, or wireless network. My name is Steveie, and I am here to help. I thought it would be good to start with the basics.
First you need to have a device that either needs to connect to other devices in your home, or connect to the web. These devices can include a desktop computer, notebook, netbook, smart phone, printer, or gaming system. Actually there are many more. Now you can connect many televisions, refrigerators, thermostats and so on.
The future will bring many more items as well. Heck you may be able to connect to your stove soon to preheat it on your way home for work. All these devises will need network connectivity either now or in the future, because of this; it is important to know how to set up a small home wired and wireless network and make it secure.
Now you know what items you may want to connect, next we need to discuss what device, or devices that are needed to connect them. The center point of any network requires at least two components, a network card in the device you want to connect also referred to as a NIC or (Network Interface Card) and/or a wireless or Wifi enabled NIC cards. On your device you will see that there is a phone like connection which is referred as a RJ45 connection and either a on/off switch for wireless connectivity, or the wireless will be enabled by software on you device. Secondly you will need the center point of your network a router or wireless router.
A router is the component you connect all your devices too. I would recommend just purchasing a wireless router with a built in 4 port switch (the 4 phone like RJ45 connections in the back of the router to plug devices into). If you have more than 4 devices that need a wired connection, you will want to purchase a wireless router with enough ports to support your directly connected wired devices such as printers, desktop computers, and so on. The reason I recommend purchasing a wireless router is that it will be more than likely you will connect something using Wifi either now or in the future. The cost difference is basically the same now of days.
Finally you will need cables to connect your devices to the router. These cables are commonly referred to as Ethernet cables, category 5 or 5e, or category 6. I recommend category 6 for the higher demand on bandwidth the future will bring. The cost has come down on category 6 cabling as well. Make sure you purchase cable long enough to connect the devices where you want them to be, but not longer than 150 ft because the signal degrades past that point.
Below you will find pictures of these items, and my recommendations on which items to start out with. Thank you for reading "The Basics" What you need to start. Look for my next blog "Connecting your devices"
Just about any end device i.e computer, laptop, printer, gaming system will have a built in Network, and or Wireless card. I recommend the router I have pictured below. I am partial to Cisco/Linksys since I am a Cisco guy. I have this router below, and it is about $75 dollars or so. You can purchase any wireless router however. Your second purchase will be cabling. You can find this at places like Best Buy, Radio Shack, even Home Depot. The price will depend on how much you need. I you need to purchase a printer, I recommend a wireless printer as pictured below. You can get many of them less than $150.00 and the nice thing is you can put them anywhere in your house. Your total expense to set up a good home wired, or wireless network can be done for less then $150 not including end devices.
I look forward to you reading my next blog "Connecting your devices"
Steveie
First you need to have a device that either needs to connect to other devices in your home, or connect to the web. These devices can include a desktop computer, notebook, netbook, smart phone, printer, or gaming system. Actually there are many more. Now you can connect many televisions, refrigerators, thermostats and so on.
The future will bring many more items as well. Heck you may be able to connect to your stove soon to preheat it on your way home for work. All these devises will need network connectivity either now or in the future, because of this; it is important to know how to set up a small home wired and wireless network and make it secure.
Now you know what items you may want to connect, next we need to discuss what device, or devices that are needed to connect them. The center point of any network requires at least two components, a network card in the device you want to connect also referred to as a NIC or (Network Interface Card) and/or a wireless or Wifi enabled NIC cards. On your device you will see that there is a phone like connection which is referred as a RJ45 connection and either a on/off switch for wireless connectivity, or the wireless will be enabled by software on you device. Secondly you will need the center point of your network a router or wireless router.
A router is the component you connect all your devices too. I would recommend just purchasing a wireless router with a built in 4 port switch (the 4 phone like RJ45 connections in the back of the router to plug devices into). If you have more than 4 devices that need a wired connection, you will want to purchase a wireless router with enough ports to support your directly connected wired devices such as printers, desktop computers, and so on. The reason I recommend purchasing a wireless router is that it will be more than likely you will connect something using Wifi either now or in the future. The cost difference is basically the same now of days.
Finally you will need cables to connect your devices to the router. These cables are commonly referred to as Ethernet cables, category 5 or 5e, or category 6. I recommend category 6 for the higher demand on bandwidth the future will bring. The cost has come down on category 6 cabling as well. Make sure you purchase cable long enough to connect the devices where you want them to be, but not longer than 150 ft because the signal degrades past that point.
Below you will find pictures of these items, and my recommendations on which items to start out with. Thank you for reading "The Basics" What you need to start. Look for my next blog "Connecting your devices"
Just about any end device i.e computer, laptop, printer, gaming system will have a built in Network, and or Wireless card. I recommend the router I have pictured below. I am partial to Cisco/Linksys since I am a Cisco guy. I have this router below, and it is about $75 dollars or so. You can purchase any wireless router however. Your second purchase will be cabling. You can find this at places like Best Buy, Radio Shack, even Home Depot. The price will depend on how much you need. I you need to purchase a printer, I recommend a wireless printer as pictured below. You can get many of them less than $150.00 and the nice thing is you can put them anywhere in your house. Your total expense to set up a good home wired, or wireless network can be done for less then $150 not including end devices.
I look forward to you reading my next blog "Connecting your devices"
Steveie
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| Linksys E2000 Wireless N Router |
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| Wireless Printer |
 |
| Desktop Computer (Any type) |
 |
| Notebook Computer (Any type) |
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| Cabling |
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