Could you benefit from a computer network?

What is a computer network?
When we think of a network we often think of a TV station association or some loosely related group of people that provide and share information. When we talk about a computer network we are referring to the ability of your computer to get or share information from other places.

Most computer owners are familiar with the Wide-Area Network or WAN as every time we dial-up AOL or use our Internet provider we are using a Wide-Area Network. Some of us may even be using a Local-Area Network or LAN in our houses or businesses. A computer network is created when you connect two or more computers together.

Why would I want a computer network?
The most common reason a home user would want a computer network is so all computers in the home could browse the internet over a shared cable or DSL connection. Having a computer network allows sharing of physical devices that are attached or part of the computer as well. All computers in the network can have Internet access, and access desired files & printers. So, if you have a computer in a one room you could print to the printer attached to your other computer.

Do I have to wire my house?
Today, with the advent of new technologies, computers do not need to have wires running throughout the house or office to provide for the network connection. Both wireless and a technology which puts data signals over the electrical wiring in your house are often effective and more economical than running new wiring. With a wireless connection I could browse the web from my laptop in the kitchen and print from the printer in the den.

How much does it cost?
An example using an existing desktop with a cable connection and a new computer to be physically located in the same room might best show the pricing. We would need a few components: a device called a router which would allow us to share our internet connection, network or Ethernet cable to provide a connection to the new computer, and possibly a Ethernet network card for the new computer. Assuming that the new computer has the network card built-in, as most new computers do, our cost would be roughly $70- $80 for the router, and $10-$20 for the Ethernet cable. All totaled under $100.

If we wanted to provide for a wireless connection we would have some additional costs. As our original desktop computer is physically next to the cable modem we would want to buy a combination wired/wireless router. This wired/wireless router would allow us to simply plug the network cable from our existing desktop into the router and not require us to make any modifications on our desktop. Current wired/wireless routers are selling for about $150 but prices are dropping. For our second machine we would need to purchase some type of wireless card or device. For a laptop we could buy a wireless PCMCIA card and for a desktop we could buy a wireless USB device that would plug into one of the open USB ports on the back of our computer. These wireless PCMCIA or USB devices sell for about $70 - $90. So, all told our wireless network would cost about $220 to $240.

What should I buy?
There are many, many vendors now selling routers and wireless equipment. Any router should be able to work with a DSL service but be careful when buying a router for an AT&T or RCN cable service as both providers have some special configuration requirements that not all routers provide.

On the wireless side there are many vendors. Liked the wired router, a wireless router, also called an access point, needs to have the required features for the AT&T or RCN connection. A wireless router also needs to be able to put out a certain strength of wireless signal for you to be able to locate your computer in another room and still get a good network connection. Not all wireless routers provide the same coverage. With some brands you might loose your signal if you walked 20 feet away form the access point. Think of an analogy as having a cordless phone. With some phones you could walk pretty far away and have a good signal. With cheaper phone, and I think I have one, you walk 20 feet away from the base station and all you hear is static. The wireless access points work the same way.

Have questions or need help - call us and we'll be glad to tell you what brands you should look at. As distributors for some of the leading brands we can also provide you with the equipment you need (at the same price you'd find it any of the leading retailers) and arrange for drop-off, delivery, or pick-up from our Medfield warehouse