| A network allows a single broadband account to be | | | | 802.11a or 802.11b, two older standards, consider |
| shared throughout the home. Unfortunately, such | | | | upgrading only if you find the range, speed, or |
| networking is impractical with dial-up Internet | | | | reliability of your network wanting. |
| service--one of several reasons you might want to | | | | At the other end of the spectrum are routers that |
| consider broadband. | | | | use early variants of the latest Wi-Fi standard, |
| WHAT'S AVAILABLE | | | | 802.11n. Frequently referred to with terms such as |
| Home networking is getting a boost from | | | | "MIMO," "Super G," or "pre-n," such models might not |
| improvements in the range, speed, and cost of | | | | be compatible with the actual "n" standard, which is |
| wireless networks. If you own a laptop computer | | | | due in late 2006. They also require that you buy |
| that has wireless capability, a wireless network now | | | | matching networking adapters, even for computers |
| allows you to surf the Web at broadband speeds | | | | with built-in 802.11g capability. |
| from most places in your house, yard, or apartment. | | | | Consider one of these new routers only if you have |
| Leading brands of wireless routers include D-Link, | | | | range problems that can't be solved in other ways. In |
| Netgear, and Linksys. Wired networking is far from | | | | our tests, they were better at penetrating walls than |
| obsolete, however, since it still provides the most | | | | 802.11g routers, and some offered data speeds that |
| secure and reliable connections. Indeed, for many | | | | were twice as fast. But they were just as likely to |
| households the best solution for sharing a broadband | | | | interfere with (or receive interference from) cordless |
| connection--or a printer, music files, or digital | | | | phones and other devices. |
| photos--among multiple computers might be a | | | | Consider whether and how you'll share a printer. A |
| network that includes both wired and wireless. | | | | network lets you avoid the cost of putting a printer |
| Ethernet, or wired, networks. Wired networks are | | | | in every room by sharing one. To do this, you can |
| very secure by themselves, with no special security | | | | use a printer with built-in network capability. |
| measures necessary. They are reliable, and usually | | | | It's possible to share a non-networked printer by |
| immune to interference. They offer the fastest data | | | | attaching it to the network via a print server, a |
| transfer--up to 94 megabits per second for the | | | | device that costs $70 to $100 and is the size of a |
| common 10/100 type, enough for virtually any data | | | | large paperback. There may be issues of interference |
| application. | | | | with some printer-management software, however. |
| IMPORTANT FEATURES | | | | Any PC connected to a printer can also serve as a |
| One drawback is that you can't easily move your | | | | print server for the other computers on the |
| computer around the home. Routing cables | | | | network, though you must leave that computer on |
| throughout the home can be a hassle or expensive. | | | | when you're printing. |
| Price range: $50 to $100 for one router and a cable | | | | Consider networking issues for other devices. An |
| to connect two fairly new computers. Also, there | | | | increasing number of devices that typically connect |
| might be additional costs for routing cable through | | | | to a single computer--PDAs, printers, and video-game |
| the home. Wi-Fi, 802.11g (wireless). There are no | | | | consoles--are now Wi-Fi compatible. If you plan to |
| cables to connect or rout with a wireless network, | | | | connect any of them to your network, make sure |
| and there are minimal installation costs. Mobility is the | | | | they're compatible with the network security you set |
| key--the wireless network supplies signals virtually | | | | up. |
| anywhere around the home. You will need to take | | | | Check whether you need to buy adapters. Every |
| additional steps in terms of security, without which | | | | computer on your network will require an adapter to |
| your data are vulnerable to hackers. Thick walls can | | | | allow it to communicate with the network; the |
| reduce signal strength, which might vary in different | | | | question is whether it already has one built in. If |
| areas of the home or even within a room. Wi-Fi | | | | you're using Ethernet to connect a computer bought |
| networks might interfere with cordless phones, baby | | | | within the past three years or so, the adapter will |
| monitors, and other wireless devices. These | | | | most likely be built into the unit. The same applies to |
| networks are only 25 percent as fast as Ethernet, | | | | recent-vintage laptops, which should have built-in |
| but they're still fine for typical networking uses, such | | | | 802.11g capability. |
| as Web surfing and e-mail. Price range: $200 or less | | | | If you need to buy a network adapter for your |
| for a router and client cards to allow two computers | | | | desktop, you can choose either an internal PC-card |
| to use the network wirelessly | | | | version, which requires opening the computer case |
| HOW TO CHOOSE | | | | for installation, or a USB version, which plugs into a |
| Plan your network. You'll probably want to locate the | | | | USB port. Laptops can use either a PCI-card or USB |
| router near the source of your broadband | | | | adapter. In all cases, the cost should be no more than |
| service--usually a cable or DSL modem. The router | | | | $60. |
| and the modem will be connected by an Ethernet | | | | Resist professional installation help. Computer retailers |
| cable. But the connections between the router and | | | | might try to sell you on professional installation for |
| the computers in the network might be either wired | | | | your new network, starting at a cost of $150 or so. |
| or wireless. | | | | But wiring aside, today's networks are so easy to |
| Choose a wireless router. That is the official term for | | | | set up that you shouldn't take them up on their offer |
| the models that support both Ethernet and Wi-Fi. | | | | if you're comfortable with technology. |
| Even if you don't need wireless capability now, | | | | Network gear usually comes with instructions and |
| acquiring it costs little extra (perhaps $10 or so) | | | | access to free 24/7 technical support. And you can |
| compared with a wired model, and might spare your | | | | always come back to the retailer for help in |
| having to replace the router if you want to add a | | | | troubleshooting the network if necessary. |
| wireless device to it in the future. | | | | Shop by return policy. For all your best efforts, the |
| Stick with the 802.11g wireless standard. Wi-Fi is | | | | network equipment you've bought might not be |
| continually evolving, with new standards designed to | | | | compatible with your home. For example, your walls |
| increase broadcast range and speed, thus increasing | | | | and floors might be especially resistant to wireless |
| the network's ability to handle new types of | | | | transmission (which might be the case if they have a |
| information. The name of the standard is usually listed | | | | lot of moisture, metal, or other highly conductive |
| on the router's package, as a letter suffix to the | | | | material in them). Before you buy, check the store's |
| technical term for Wi-Fi, which is 802.11. Currently the | | | | return policies. Consider a retailer with a generous |
| most common standard is known as 802.11g. We | | | | one. |
| think it's the best choice for most people. | | | | Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., |
| The 802.11g networks we tested all had sufficient | | | | Inc. |
| range and speed to provide coverage throughout | | | | For the latest information on this and many other |
| most homes. The data speeds we measured fell | | | | products and services, visit |
| short of the standard speed for 802.11g. But all | | | | Find More |
| routers were much faster than the typical speed of | | | | Home networking with Easy Deal |
| a broadband Internet connection. | | | | ShopNdeal. |
| If you already have a wireless network that uses | | | | |