Home Networking

Do you have more than one computer in your home? Or are you considering a second? More and more, I am finding multiple computers in the homes around Nipomo. Many of us have grown tired of the "my turn for the Internet" game and many of us have found that school requirements often create difficulties with sharing a computer during homework time.

Once you find yourself with more than one computer it's nice to be able to communicate between machines … welcome to Networking. Networking allows us access to information within multiple machines. It's easy to share printers, which allows you to purchase one high-end photo quality printer that everyone can use. You can also share files and even act as a type of backup for each other.

The most common reason I've come across lately is sharing an Internet Connection, especially if you have DSL or Cable Modem. Not only can you share a your connection this way, but both computers can gain access to the Internet at the same time. Can you picture it, no more arguments over who's on the computer! Lastly, for those of us enjoying games, networking allows for multi-player games, which opens up a whole new horizon of fun.

Networks come in different flavors, and as with most things, a lot depends on how much you want to pay. One of the newest technologies allows for a wireless connection. The machines talk via technology similar to our cell phones. Some networks are connected via phone lines (although you must have an extra line in your home for this) and other use a cable connection from machine to machine or a wired network.

Which is right for you? Well, first, how much do you want to pay? Wireless technology is the most expensive, however, there is no need to cut holes in walls or run even more wire throughout the house. It uses radio waves and works well at minimal distances. Be careful of static and interference though, as it causes the same trouble as experienced on cell phones.

Phone line connections are another option, except for those in older homes where a second line is not available. It's also not possible if you are utilizing all the phone lines in your home. But, it does take advantage of wiring already there. Technology has now advanced with this media and the speeds are fast enough to make it workable.

The "old standby" technology is running cable from machine to machine. Often referred to as Ethernet, this technology is tried and true, but requires a physical connection between each computer. Typically, Ethernet is the most affordable.

Each method requires a network card inside each computer and the medium (phone line, cable or wireless connection) depending on the method you choose. For $100 you can easily connect two computers via Ethernet.

One note of warning, you may need a little help when it comes to the setup … so be prepared.