by Pedro Pacheco

Created on: April 08, 2009

Home networks are great to play computer with your friends and also to share internet and other digital files. But do you know how to make one?

Let's start with the wireless network which is the most used today. To make a network of this type you are going to need two computers with wireless networks cars on it, or you are going to need two laptops with wireless integrated on them. Second thing you need is a wireless router that you will use to make the connection between the two computers. All the software you need to make it happen is already integrated on windows xp and windows vista so no need to spend dollars here. Next thing you need is to turn all the equipment on and windows will automatically configure each with the most recommended definitions.

Once the equipment is working it's time to make some tunes to make it work better. First thing you need to add to the network is a password. If you have an open wireless network, anyone can join it for free and the laptop will make it automatically you also will have more people downloading files with your bandwidth reducing your speed and giving you a nice bill at the end of the month.

The password must be a long and strong one with characters, numbers and special characters.

Finally you need to hide your network so only you and the people you want know that it exists. This is a very important step to have a stealth computer network well defended against hackers and other bad people.

Not everyone want a wireless network in their houses for many reasons. One is the range of it, the other is the speed and finally the walls prevent most signals from reaching other places.

The solution here is to make a network with cables. The cables are faster and have longer range and are more reliable than wireless, though they have also some disadvantages.

First you need to get cables for it. All computers already have the network card integrated in the mother board but no computer has cables.

Now there are two types of cable networks: Direct or router. The direct one needs special cable and can only connect one computer directly to another. The router network will allow you to connect as many computers are you want to the router provided the router can handle them all that is.

Once you get the cables it's time to connect them to the computers and to the router. Then turn the computer on and open the IP address. Now you must insert here 192.168.1.xxx and the xxx being any number you want.

Finally open your browser and see if you both have internet and if you can see each other.

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