What you need to set up a home network
Before you decide what hardware to get for your home network, decide what type of network technology (the way PCs in a network connect to or communicate with one another) you want to use. This article describes and compares the most common network technologies and lists hardware requirements for each.
Network technologies
The most common types of network technology are wireless, Ethernet, and Powerline. When choosing a network technology, consider the location of your PCs and the desired speed of your network. The costs of these technologies are similar. The sections below compare these three technologies.
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Wireless networks use radio waves to send info between PCs. The four most common wireless network standards are 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11a.
A wireless network| Speed | |
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802.11b: transfers data at a maximum rate of 11 megabits per second (Mbps). Downloading a 10 megabyte (MB) photo from the Internet under ideal conditions takes about 7 seconds.
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802.11g: transfers data at a maximum rate of 54 Mbps. Downloading a 10 megabyte (MB) photo from the Internet under ideal conditions takes about 1.5 seconds.
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802.11a: transfers data at a maximum rate of 54 Mbps. Downloading a 10 megabyte (MB) photo from the Internet under ideal conditions takes about 1.5 seconds.
802.11n: depending upon the number of data streams the hardware supports, 802.11n can theoretically transmit data at up to 150 Mbps, 300 Mbps, 450 Mbps, or 600 Mbps. Note The transfer times listed aren't necessarily achievable under typical conditions because of differences in hardware, web servers, network traffic conditions, and so on.
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Ethernet networks use Ethernet cables to send info between PCs.
An Ethernet network| Speed | |
Ethernet transfers data at up to 10, 100, or 1000 Mbps, depending on the type of equipment used. Gigabit Ethernet is the fastest, with a transfer rate of up to 1 gigabit per second (or 1000 Mbps).
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Ethernet cables must be run between each PC and a hub, switch, or router, which can be time-consuming and difficult when the PCs are in different rooms.
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Powerline networks use existing home electrical wiring to send info between PCs.
Hardware requirements
There are several kinds of hardware used in home networks:
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Network adapters. These adapters connect PCs to a network so that they can communicate. A network adapter can be connected to the USB or Ethernet port on your PC or installed inside your PC in an available Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion slot.
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Network hubs and switches. Hubs and switches connect two or more PCs to an Ethernet network. A switch costs a little more than a hub, but it's faster.
Ethernet hub
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Routers and access points. Routers connect PCs and networks to each other (for example, a router can connect your home network to the Internet). You can use routers to share a single Internet connection among several PCs. Routers can be wired or wireless. The word “router” is often used to refer to devices that also include other functions built in, such as a broadband modem, access point, and switch.
Access point (left); wireless router (center); wired router (right)
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Modems. PCs use modems to send and receive info over telephone or cable lines. You'll need a modem if you want to connect to the Internet. Some cable providers supply a cable modem—either free or for purchase—when you order cable Internet service. Modem-and-router combination devices are also available.
Cable modem
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Network cables (Ethernet and Powerline). Network cables connect PCs to each other and to other related hardware, such as hubs, routers, and external network adapters. Powerline adapters are often external and connect to a PC with either Ethernet cables or USB cables, depending on the type of adapter.
A variety of cable types
This table shows the hardware that you need for each type of network technology.
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Technology
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Hardware
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How many
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Wireless
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Wireless network adapter
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One for each PC on your network (laptops almost always have these built in)
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Wireless access point or router (recommended)
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One
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Ethernet
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Ethernet network adapter
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One for each PC on your network (most PCs have these built in)
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Ethernet hub or switch (only needed if you want to connect more than two PCs but not share an Internet connection)
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One (a 10/100/1000 hub or switch is best and should have enough ports to accommodate all PCs on your network)
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Ethernet router (only needed if you want to connect more than two PCs and share an Internet connection)
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One (you might need an additional hub or switch if your router doesn’t have enough ports for all of your PCs)
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Ethernet cables
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One for each PC connected to the network hub or switch (10/100/1000 Cat 6 cables are best, but not required)
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Powerline
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Powerline network adapter
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One for each PC on your network
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| | Ethernet router | | One, if you want to share an Internet connection |
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Electrical wiring in the home
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One electrical outlet for each PC on your network
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It's a good idea to find out what kind of network adapters your PCs have, if any. You might decide to go with a certain technology because you already have most of the hardware, or you might decide to upgrade your hardware.
A combination of technologies might work best for your environment. For example, you might use a wireless router, which accommodates both wired Ethernet connections for desktop PCs and wireless connections for laptops, plus an additional Powerline connection to a media server.
