by Sucahyo Aji

Created on: December 09, 2009   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

You need to wire a home network if you want to share printer, share internet or share data. There are a couple of ways to wire a home network:


Wired Ethernet Network

The most reliable way to create a home network is wired network. Wired network require each computer or device to have a network card. CAT 5 wire with RJ-45 socket will be used to connect the computer or device to a switch or hub. If there are only two device or computer that need to be connected, a cross cable can be used to connect them directly.

Switch or hub is responsible for managing the connection between each computer or device. A switch will manage the connection more efficiently than a hub. A switch would allow computer or device to connect to each other almost at network maximum speed. A hub will share the available bandwith among every computer or device connected to it. As result, all computer or device connected to hub will have low network speed if there are many computer or device connected to the hub.

Wired ethernet network allow the use of up to 100 feet wire length. As such, any computer or device connected to a wired ethernet network must be closer than 100 feet. If more distance is needed, up to three switch can be used to add the wire length of 300 meter, 100 meter for each switch.

There are three speed standard for wired network: 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps. Network card and switch will use the highest speed they support. If a slower network card connected to a switch, the other network card will automatically reduce to the same speed.


Wifi

Portable computer usually already equipped with Wifi capability. We need access point to connect many portable computers together. Access point can be a separate hardware or can be emulated via software. Emulation via software is supported on Linux and Mac OS. Portable computer running them can be made as access point. There is undocumented feature that allow Windows Seven portable computer to be made as access point. However, this feature is not supported by Microsoft. You need third party free application connectify to make Windows Seven portable computer as access point.

Depend on standard, Wifi can reach up to 500 meter for a computer or a device within acces point line of sight. The Wifi coverage area reduce a lot if there are walls between the access point and the computer or the device. Access point may only capable of going trough two or three walls. Special antenna can be used to enhanced Wifi coverage area. There are a couple of antenna type that can be made from tin can for cheap do it yourself antenna.


Network over Power line

Recent technology allows the use of power line as network media. With this technology you do not have to use very long wire or limited by network range of Wifi. Each computer or device will have to be connected to a powerline ethernet adapter trough ethernet wire. The adapter will then convert the signal from ethernet wire to special signal that is compatible with powerline frequency.

Any device connected trough the same powerline would then be able to connect to each other using the same type of powerline ethernet adapter. Network over power line will allow every computer or device connected to the same electrical line to connect each other. This may require a higher invesment compare to other solution, but will provide more convenience to the user.


Each media offer different kind of benefit. Wired network allow stable connection, Wifi allow portability, while network over power line allow the use of existing electricity as network media. Choose the media which suits you better.

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