Get Connected

Home networking technology has become a lot cheaper and more popular. This has seen a mass influx of new technology in our homes that require network or Internet access. So, if you own a few PCs and a router, then you already have the basis of a network infrastructure for the rest of your home.

 

Device overload

How many devices do you have in your home that stream content, access the Internet or are connected to each other in one way or another? Take the time to count them all and you could be somewhat surprised! Games consoles like Sony’s PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii all require an Internet connection to get the most out of them. The same goes for your music streamer, Blu-ray DVD player and even your mobile phone.

When it comes to getting those devices connected to each other or the Internet, this is done by using a wired cable connection or a more convenient wireless one. Whichever method you decide to use, you’ll be able to connect to your network or the Internet easily. The information below will explain three different methods for creating a home network.

 

Network types

Deciding on having a network in your home is the easy part, thinking of the type of network you're going to have requires a little more consideration. To help you decide, there are three main types of network:

 

Wired

Wired networks are very stable; offer constant data transfer rates and are very reliable. But, every device is connected by a physical wire though; limiting the distance you can move your devices.

 

Wireless

A wire free network allowing you to access it anywhere in the home. Any devices that support wireless like Sony’s PSP or Microsoft’s XBOX 360 can also access the network, cable free.

 

Powerline

These devices fit into your plug sockets at home and allow the network to travel through your home's internal wiring. Just place one in a room where you want to connect a PC and another connected to your router. Powerline adapters can also be wireless, allowing you to place one anywhere in the house and use it as a wireless access point.

Possibilites

Now that you’ve seen all the ways to get your devices connected, you’ve probably noticed that wireless and Powerline wireless adapters are the most convenient, as there are no wires trailing around your home. With wireless in your home, you really don’t need to move from your living room as you’ll be able to:

• Stream music from your PC to your XBOX 360
• Check your Facebook account on your Wii Console
• Use a Skype phone for making Skype to Skype calls that don’t cost you anything
• Check your ebay listings on your wireless enabled mobile phone

These are just a few examples of how wireless networking can benefit some of your daily routines and we imagine you can think of, or are doing a few more.

 

If you're into online gaming then this is also possible over a wireless connection but you really need a strong uninterrupted signal, so we recommend a wired connection for the best experience. If your router happens to be in a totally different room, then have a look at the Netgear Switch and Devolo Powerline adapters below for possible ideas.

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Devolo DLAB 200AV

If you're looking for an easy solution to your networking dilemmas, then look no further. The Devolo DLAB 200AV uses your existing mains power wiring to send and receive network traffic, making it just as safe as a wired network but without all the extra cables.

Setting up the Devolo device is really straight forward. Plug one of the adapters into any plug socket and then, using the supplied Ethernet cable, connect it to your modem (or router). Plug the other extension adapter into another plug socket in a different room and that’s all there is to it! The extension adapter in the other room can be used as a wired access point and you can purchase more adapters separately, if you have other areas in your house that need an access point.

The 200AV bit of the Devolo DLAB basically means that it can transfer data at up to 200 Mbps, so it will be able to stream HD quality video from your PC and also provide you with a solid connection for playing games over your network or online. If you need to, you can also unplug the adapter and move it to any room in the house that you need a network port or Internet access in.

If you prefer wireless but have dead spots or a weak wireless signal in any rooms in the house, then you can also invest in one of the wireless adapters. You won't need to worry then about thick walls or how far away you are from your wireless router.

 

Devolo kits support all the major wireless security protocols; WEP, WPA and WPA2 so you can be sure it will integrate fully with your existing network.

Click here to buy it from PC World.

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Netgear GS605 Gigabyte Ethernet Switch

If the number of available network points on your router is limiting the amount of devices that you want to connect to it, then Netgear’s Gigabyte Ethernet Switch will add an extra 5 ports in a matter of seconds!

A switch basically increases the usefulness of your broadband router and allows you to connect additional PCs to each other through cables that attach directly to the switch/router. To start using the switch, you simply connect it to any of the available ports on the router for instant expansion, although you will lose 1 port on the router to accommodate the switch. In order for the switch to start working, you will need to plug it into the mains using the supplied power adapter. Once all the PCs or other devices in your house are attached to the switch/router, they’ll now form a network and will allow you to share the router’s Internet connection as well as files and resources with all the other PCs.

A switch is an ideal device for extending your router into another nearby room by means of a cable, allowing you to invite all your friends around with their PCs, and enjoy amazing multiplayer gaming with as many people participating as the game will allow, and quite possible your house!

Consumer switches are also available in 8 & 16 port versions. These can be a little more expensive and unless you have a small office at home or a plethora of products that require a network port, then an extra 5 ports should be more than enough for you.

Click here to buy it from PC World.

 

 

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IOMEGA Network Storage

With the amount of personal data kept on our PCs, it’s sometimes a good idea to keep it backed up in another location, in case of a computer crash, or just simply placed there for transferring to a new PC.

The IOMEGA Network Storage device will not only let you backup your data to it, but you can also attach it to your router and allow any PC connected to your network, access to its files. With its 500GB capacity, it can hold anything you throw at it including your entire music collection! Speaking of music, what makes this device that little bit special is that it’s able to act as an iTunes server and broadcast your music library over the network. All you need to do is copy all your iTunes music to the default media folders and then go to the sharing tab in iTunes to ensure ‘Look for shared libraries’ is selected. The IOMEGA drive will now be visible in iTunes on the left-hand side as a shared library.

When it comes to managing content on this storage device then it does it extremely smartly. It boasts something called EMC retrospect software, which basically automates backups and allows you to choose what gets backed up. Also for added security, you can even password protect folders on the storage device so that only people with the right level of access can view them. If you think that one backup is not enough for your data then you'll also get 2GB of online storage with MozyHome Online Backup, allowing you to make a second backup of those critical files that you need or rely on.

If you should use up all of the 500GB of storage, then you can always plug another 500GB external hard drive into the USB 2 port on the IOMEGA storage device, and double your network attached storage (NAS) potential!

Click here to buy it from PC World.

 

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Netgear WN111 Wireless Adapter

If you want to connect your old PC or laptop to your router and it doesn't have a wireless card, then there is a simple solution. A wireless networking adapter (sometimes called a dongle) can be placed into an available USB slot, giving you access to your shared files and Internet connection in minutes.

 

To help you do this, Netgear offers a wireless networking 802.11N adapter that is sleek, easy to install and is compatible with modern networking standards, as well as backwards compatible with the older 802.11b/g standards. This N wireless adapter will give you the fastest possible data transfer rates at up to 108 Mbps, which uses micro-antenna technology to give better range and speed. And, by using the wireless N standard, you could also see you network performance increase by 50%!

Before you plug the adapter into your PC, you may need to install the supplied software first, unless your operating system supports wireless networking like Windows XP (SP2) or Windows Vista. Once the dongle is installed, you will be able to search for wireless networks and connect to them.

This wireless N adapter is very convenient and can be hidden away in the back of your PC or moved around from PC to PC as needed. This is definitely the easiest way to connect a PC or laptop to your network or Internet connection.

Click here to buy it from PC World.