Setting up a Home Network

There are many different ways to create a home network. Because of this it is important that you plan your network before you proceed to build it, otherwise you may finish up buying hardware that you don’t need or that doesn’t do what you really wanted..

Planning the Network

Things you need to consider

Home many computers/devices
Does/will your network connect to the Internet.
Do You Have an existing Network.
Do you want a wireless network.
Do you expect to grow?
Will you be connecting other devices like Xbox or Play Station etc

Wireless, Wired or Mixed

Today all home networks are either wired networks using cat 5 UTP
cable or wireless using WI-FI or a mixture of both.

Although wireless networks are much more flexible they are:

Generally slower than wired networks (not usually a problem)
More difficult to configure
Not secure unless configure properly
Different standards can cause compatibility problems.

Having said that I would generally recommend a wireless network. However; if your network is confined to a single room and your computers are fixed (using desktops not laptops) then you will find a wired network easier and cheaper to install.

Three Scenarios

Because of the many different network permutations that are possible I am going to cover the three most common scenarios.

Home wired network and standard Broadband Router.
Home Network using Wireless Access point and standard
Broadband Router.
Home network using Wireless Broadband Router

Home Wired Network and Standard Broadband Router

This is a common configuration in older/existing networks. The Internet connection uses a standard DSL broadband router.

The home network side of the router is Ethernet. Most routers also function as hubs and will allow multiple Ethernet devices (computers) to connect.

You can also connect an external hub/switch to the Router to increase the number of devices you can connect.

The client computers can then connect to each other and the Internet. Here is the logical network diagram for this type of network:

standard internet connection using DSL router

To setup this type of network you will need to

Home Network using Wireless Access Point and Standard Broadband Router.

This is also common in older/existing networks. The Internet connection uses a standard DSL broadband router.

The home network side of the router is Ethernet. Most routers also function as hub and will allow multiple Ethernet devices (computers) to connect.

In this scenario you connect the router to the Wireless access point using an Ethernet cable and the client computers connect to the Access point using wireless.

The client computers can then connect to each other and the Internet. Here is the logical network diagram for this type of network.

Wireless internet connection using DSL router-2

To setup this type of network you will need to

Home Network using Wireless Broadband Router

Many broadband providers provide a Wireless broadband router as part of the service. This means that not only do you get an internet connection but you get a home wireless network in a single box.

In a wireless network the Router and Hub are replaced by a Wireless router which provides the same functionality. The wireless router effectively is a router and Wireless Access point in one box.

The client computers can then connect to each other and the Internet via the wireless router. Here is the logical network diagram for this type of network.

Wireless internet connection using DSL router-1