right network
With so many possible ways to build a network, it pays to home in on the solution that best suits your needs before you buy. These user profiles will start you off in the right direction.
Usage types: Home network | Home-office network or telecommuter | Online gaming and entertainment | Hot-spot hopper | Internet services provider | Bluetooth broker
You can get ample bandwidth for sharing a broadband Internet connection without spending much. Even the slowest wireless gear is several times faster than cable or DSL. You may prefer to buy a kit that includes all of the basic networking gear, but you can also buy the components separately and connect them together. Exactly what you need will depend on how many systems you want to connect and where they are located.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| Cable/DSL broadband router | Connects your Internet service to your network |
| Wireless access point | Connects wireless adapters to your network |
| Wireless adapter | Connects computers to your wireless network |
| Power-line adapter | Connects computers to your power-line network |
Home office network or telecommuter
If you use your home as an office, you need a robust network with reliable security. Wireless routers typically offer some protection, but a software firewall can provide an additional safeguard for your data. If you need to access your network from remote locations on business trips, you may even want to invest in a hardware VPN (virtual private network) firewall so that you can securely access your home network over the Internet.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| VPN firewall | Protects your network from attacks over the Internet |
| Cable/DSL broadband router | Connects your Internet service to your network |
| Wireless access point | Connects wireless adapters to your network |
| Wireless adapter | Connects computers to your wireless network |
| Power-line adapter | Connects computers to your power-line network |
Online gaming and entertainment
If you want to transfer large files over the network while streaming audio from a computer to your stereo, or if you like to play bandwidth-intensive, multiplayer games, then set your sights on a high-bandwidth solution, such as 802.11n, Ethernet, 802.11a, or dual band.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| Cable/DSL broadband router | Connects your Internet service to your network |
| Wireless access point | Connects wireless adapters to your network |
| Wireless adapter | Connects computers to your wireless network |
| Power-line adapter | Connects computers to your power-line network |
| Digital-media adapter | Connects TVs and stereos to your network |
Business travelers can now stay connected anywhere using wireless hot spots. Whether you are in an airport, a cafe, a public park, a shopping mall, or a parking lot, you may find yourself smack-dab in the middle of a public or commercial hot spot. With the right gear, hot-spot hopping is easy. Opt for a PC Card with a sensitive antenna, an external antenna connector, or a high-power output, and find out which wireless ISPs are available in your area. Or do away with hot-spot hunting altogether and get a cellular modem card that taps into the cellular providers' data networks. You can be online on the bus, in your car, or in the park--wherever you can get a cellular signal.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| Wireless notebook | Connects to hot spots with its built-in adapter |
| PDA with built-in Wi-Fi or CompactFlash adapter | Connects to hot spots with its built-in adapter |
| Wireless adapter | Connects notebooks to hot spots |
| Range-extending antenna | Increases the range of your wireless adapter |
| Wireless Internet service | Gives you Internet access at a variety of locations |
| Cellular modem card | Connects to the cellular data network anywhere you can get a cellular signal |
You don't need to be a rocket scientist to connect two or more houses wirelessly or to share an Internet connection with an entire building or neighborhood. Whether your objectives are philanthropic or commercial, building a hot spot can be done for less than the cost of a high-end notebook.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| Shareable or resalable Internet service | Allows you to connect the general public to the Internet |
| Wireless access point with removable antenna | Allows you to tailor your coverage area |
| Wireless adapter | Allows your clients to connect to your service |
| Range-extending antenna | Increases the range of your wireless access point |
| Power over Ethernet injector | Lets you power an access point on a mast |
You don't need a full-blown local-area network to sync up your PDA with your computer or to transfer photos from your notebook to your printer. Bluetooth is designed for just such casual, close-range connections.
| Key components | |
|---|---|
| What you need | What it does |
| Bluetooth adapter | Connects to other Bluetooth devices |
| Bluetooth printer kit | Connects your printer to other Bluetooth devices |
| Bluetooth-enabled notebook | Connects with other Bluetooth-enabled devices |
| Bluetooth-enabled PDA | Connects with other Bluetooth-enabled devices |
