The Techzine

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.
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.
If you have multiple devices situated downstairs in your home that all require a network point, and your router is upstairs and cannot be moved, then help is at hand. All you need to do is buy 2 Powerline network adapters that plug directly into your plug sockets and an Ethernet Switch. The Powerline adapter upstairs will plug into a plug socket near the router and a network cable will connect the two.
The Powerline adapter downstairs, will plug directly into a plug socket near the devices that require a network port, from here you would attach something called an Ethernet Switch (as mentioned below) to the Powerline adapter with a network cable. The Ethernet Switch will now give you 5 or more free ports for you to plug your devices into.
Last month Microsoft released their latest search engine offering with the unusual name of Bing, well, saying that,
Google was a bit of an unusual name when they released their search engine in 1997 but it just rolls of the tongue now. Anyway, we think Bing could be short for “BINGO BANGO” I found it! But that “popular saying”, as I’ve just been told, is not as popular as I thought it was!
Anyway, Bing is set to be the most successful search engine since Google, so if you want to see Microsoft’s Bing for yourself, just click here.
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.
With the release of Windows 7 later this year, you’ll now get the ability to stream music, video and pictures from Windows Media Player over the Internet to another PC that you are using.
To do this you’ll need to activate “Allow Internet access to home media” in Media Player and you’ll also need a Windows Live account to install your online ID on each machine that will be streaming/viewer the content.
As well as networking devices in your home, social networking is also on the rise. Later this year, Google are releasing a new web application called Google Wave.
Google Wave sort of reinvents email and combines it with instant messaging and social networking features like Twitter feeds, discussions and polls. Imagine sending an email (which will be called a Wave) that can hold all the correspondence in one place. Any section of the Wave can be commented on and people can be added to the Wave at anytime, even if they missed the start of the conversation. Any new participant will be able to read anything that was made public in the Wave and also click a play button to see the original email and anything that was added, in sequence.
Another fantastic feature of the Wave is that it can be used in the same way as typing a message to a friend on Skype, with every letter typed being sent instantly to the wave, although that option can be turned off if the accuracy of your typing needs a little work. And, if the person you’re speaking to does not speak your language then that is no longer a barrier, as the Google Wave will translate whatever you write instantly!
Google Wave looks like it’s really going to take off and be a massive hit when it’s released later this year. If you want to see Google Wave in action then their video can be found on YouTube here. The video is about 80mins long, so you’ll need to get comfy first, but it’s well worth watching.
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.
Did you know that an IOMEGA network storage device can
also be used as a printer server? All you need to do is plug your printer into the USB port on the storage device, install the printer driver on all the machines that want to use the printer and you’re all done. Any printer connected to your network will now be able to print to the same printer. This saves you from having to buy multiple printers and saves space in your home too.
Sony has just announced the release date of their new look PSP, which has been given the name the PSP Go. The handheld console has had a complete redesign and is only half the
weight of the original.
The UMD format for playing games has now been replaced in favour of 16GB of built in flash memory, so you can store your games and downloaded content straight onto the device rather than having to carry spare UMD discs and memory cards around with you.
The control pad on the PSP Go now slides out from underneath the screen, making playing games even more comfortable with easier access to the other buttons. If you want to get your hands on a PSP Go then you’ll need to wait until October this year for its release and it will be priced at around £200.
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.
July 2009
- Stretch your router
- Windows 7 Internet media streaming
- Iomega printer server
- Microsoft Bing
- Google Wave
- PSP Go
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