How to setup a home network
Setting up a home network between 2 or more computers is not hard to
achieve.
There are two basic types of home networks – wired and wireless.
This article will briefly describe the steps to set up your own home
network quickly and easily.
Home Wired Network:
The equipment for a wired network is less expensive than wireless. You
require a router/hub, Ethernet cables and an Ethernet adapter (network
card) in each computer. Most computers now come with a network card already
installed. One Ethernet cable goes from the main computer to the router
and one cable from the router to each other computer.
Home Wireless Networks:
Wireless Home Networks require a “router” which distributes the signal
to each computer. Also, each computer needs a wireless card installed
to receive the signal.
Here are a few things to keep in mind, when you install a wireless
network.
- Make sure you place the router/access point in a centralized location
within your network for the best performance.
- Try to place the router/access point as high as possible in the room,
so the signal gets dispersed throughout your home. If you have a two-story
home, you may need a repeater to boost the signal to extend the range.
Eliminate Interference
- Place home appliances such as cordless telephones, microwaves, and
televisions as far away as possible from the router/access point. This
would significantly reduce any interfere that the appliances might cause
since they operate on same frequency.
- Security Don’t let you next-door neighbors or intruders connect to
your wireless network. Secure your wireless network by turning on the
WPA or WEP security feature on the router. Refer to product manual for
detail information on how to set it up.
Once you have the equipment installed and connected, run the Network
installation wizard on the main computer and simply follow the prompts.
To
run the network installation wizard for Windows:
- Click Start
- Click Settings
- Click Network Connections
- Click Setup home or small office network
- Follow the prompts on the Wizard
