Understanding the Home Networking Mumbo Jumbo

As our homes become more entrenched with technology, one of the biggest issues is trying to keep up with the it. One example of a fast moving technology is home networking. It seems just a few years ago, our only choice was a wired network with Cat 5 cable. Not anymore! We ran a great across a great article at Computerworld.com that goes into your choices for setting up a home network. The article starts by explaining the types of networks:

A network lets you connect multiple PCs and other devices together so that they can share resources such as printers, files or an Internet connection. There are three major types of home networks: Ethernet networks that make connections over special (Category 5) wiring; power-line networks that use existing electric wiring and outlets; and wireless (Wi-Fi) networks based on components that send data over the airwaves using radio frequencies.

The article covers these areas:

Wireless Networks

• Wi-Fi standards


• Draft-N vs. Pre-N


• Older and slower standards


• 2.4 GHz vs. 5.4 GHz

Wired Networks

• Power-line networks


• The Ethernet option


• Network components

Key Features

• Network Type


• Speed and Range


• Security


• Hardware Support


• Firewall Features

And much more. This is an excellent article you'll want to check out to make sure you're getting the most out of your home network.

At Computerworld.com

Read More in: Home Networking | How To

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