Set Up A Wireless Network
Having a network at home is no longer the rarity that it once was. ISPs routinely offer free wireless routers as part of broadband deals and many households now have more than one PC. Add in the capabilities of the latest versions of Windows and it’s not hard to set up and connect to a network either, so more and more people are taking the plunge.
A network can allow all of your PCs to share an Internet connection, printer or external drive as well as exchanging files between systems. The traditional way of creating a network was to run cables between each of the machines. In the early days this would often be co-ax (the type of cable used for TV aerial leads) but is now more likely to be the slimmer and more flexible twisted pair cable, similar to telephone wires. At its simplest a network involves connecting two PCs together with a cable. If you have more machines then you’ll need a hub or router from which all of the connections radiate.
Wired networks are still popular in offices where people have a fixed workstation and where security is an important factor. But in the home you probably don’t want to spend your time running cables to all of the places where you may use a PC. This has led to the rise in popularity of wireless networking, or Wi-Fi, where a router sends a wireless signal around the building that can be picked up by any machine at any point.
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Inside...
Networking essentials
- Introduction to networks: Learn the benefits of a wireless network and cut through all the jargon.
- Set up a home Wi-Fi network: Find out what equipment you need and how to get your home network up and running.
Networking and Windows
- The Network And Sharing Center: Monitor and configure your home network with the help of Vista’s built-in options.
- Connect to a network in Vista: Find out how to connect your Windows Vista PC to your new network.
- Network your home PCs in XP: Share your Internet connection between all your Windows XP PCs.
Advanced networking
- Tech talk: The Internet: Learn about the infrastructure of the Internet and how it all works.
- Tech talk: Internet firewalls: Find out how to keep your network fully protected with a firewall.
- 20 tips: Manage your Wi-Fi network. Get the most from your wireless network with our essential tips.
- Upgrade your Wi-Fi network: Improve the range and transfer speeds of your wireless home network.
Sample pages
