There are several options available for home networking. The most popular options currently available are the traditional wired network, a wired technology using the existing household electrical system, networks using the existing phone lines in the house, and wireless systems.

A wired network, while often the lowest in hardware cost and offering the greatest speed (theoretically up to 100 megabits per second), may be the most difficult and expensive to install, if network cable must be run throughout the house. A quick review of the Sunday ads shows network routers, the device that routes data between the computers, available for as little as $20. Almost all new computers, desktop or notebook, include a “NIC” or “network interface card”, so connecting the computers to the router is easy, if no difficult cabling is necessary. If a desktop computer needs a network card, they are available for as little as $10, while older notebook computers may use a “PCMCIA” network card, available for about $30. For those needing a network card, but do not want to install one internally, external network cards using the USB interface are available in the $40 range, and can easily be moved between any compatible computers. The only significant disadvantage to the traditional wired network is the cost and effort of running the cable through the house. Unless the homeowner wants the cable to be visible throughout the house, a factor that many consider unsightly, running the cable in the attic and dropping it to a computer, is often a chore. There are several local companies that will run the cable, but may be expensive, offsetting the relative low cost of the hardware. Another disadvantage to a hardwired network is the difficulty and cost of relocating computers in the house.

The newest of the standardized technologies is the “homeplug” system, utilizing the existing household electrical wiring. By simply plugging an adapter into any household wall socket, and connecting the computer, that computer becomes a part of the network. While there have been earlier attempts by manufacturers to provide the convenience of utilizing existing home electrical wiring for networking, it’s only in recent months that a successful standard has been achieved. The new standard “Homeplug 1.0”, www.homeplug.org, has been set, and many manufacturers are now producing reasonably priced equipment. Capable of a speed of 12 megabits per second, homeplug is one of the easiest and most cost effective to install. The homeplug device simply plugs into any electrical outlet in the home, and a connector, usually USB, plugs into the computer. The standard provides for electrical isolation, interference and noise protection, and resistance to power surges. Homeplug has been tested in hundreds of older and newer homes, with a variety of wiring and electrical loads, and had a near 100% success rate. To relocate a computer elsewhere in the house, simply move the adapter to a nearby electrical outlet, and the computer is on the network. Since no additional cabling is necessary, the only cost is the homeplug router (one per house) and adapters for each computer. Homeplug compatible devices are now available in many local stores. An integral encryption function ensures that the network cannot be easily accessed outside the home. One warning; there are other non-standardized products on the market offering similar convenience and function. These are not interchangeable and often less expensive, but may not meet the same electrical standards.

An older method of using existing household facilities for networking is the somewhat similar “phoneplug” system. It has not gained the popularity of the homeplug system. Phoneplug uses the existing telephone wiring in the house to network computers. Offering a similar capacity to the homeplug system, phoneplug is slightly less convenient because phone jacks are not as widely distributed around the typical home as electrical outlets. Otherwise, the systems are somewhat comparable in price and capacity, but are not generally interchangeable. Some manufacturers, such as Linksys, are now making some home routers with both phoneplug and homeplug compatibility.

For the portability, wireless networks are extremely popular. The 802.11b standard uses the same 2.4ghz frequency as many popular cordless telephones and microwave ovens. Very available locally, and from a variety of manufacturers, the hardware is often featured in the Sunday sale books at excellent prices. Capable of a theoretical 22-megabit bandwidth, it has excellent capacity for almost any home application. A wireless router is necessary, along with some type of “access point” for each computer. Available as internal cards, USB, or PCMCIA formats, it has become widely adopted. Many newer notebook computers, Pocket PCs, and other PDAs are 802.11b capable. 802.11b is now becoming available in coffee shops, hotels, airports, convention centers, and other public locations, allowing broadband access. There have been some documented cases of interference between some 802.11b devices and household electronics. One warning about 802.11b is to be sure to use the maximum data encryption provided by the hardware, and not to use default encryption settings. A newer 802.11a standard, much faster, and using the 5.5ghz frequencies, is having some technical problems and conflicts which may impede its widespread adoption.

Using a home network can greatly enhance the computing experience for the family.

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