Computers have to hook together somehow. The most common choice is to use wires, or network cables between computers and other network devices. The alternative is not to use wires, meaning wireless.
This chapter discusses the ways in which you can use physical wires to connect devices. Some of those wires will be new, and some of those wires may be in your home, apartment, or business at this very moment, waiting for you to discover their value in a networked world.
Let me gather your choices together here so you can find what you need to get your network up and running. Your network will likely include wired and wireless connections. Information on how to select and use wireless devices is in Chapter 15, but this chapter will help you decide where to use wires and where to go wireless.
For the wired connections, you have a full toolkit of options to cover a wide range of installation situations. Here are your major choices and a quick overview of their strengths and weaknesses.
Here's a look at the good points of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Ethernet wiring:
* Widely available, and UTP connections are included in every network device
* Highest networking speeds
* Inexpensive
These UTP characteristics may give you pause:
* Neat installations require drilling holes in walls and floors
* You may feel tethered, especially if you use a laptop or other portable device
Good and bad points aside, when your network components are in one place, using UTP patch cables makes great economic and installation sense. Running inexpensive patch cables between your cable/DSL modem, router, computer, and other networking devices works great, especially if you can hide the cables under a table.
HomePlug devices send Ethernet networking signals through the power lines in your home or office. The connections are not as fast as UTP Ethernet, but these devices are great tools for linking areas to your network without having to run any UTP wiring through walls or floors.
HomePNA (Phoneline Network) devices were an early competitor to the HomePlug groups. Although still available, HomePNA trails far behind HomePlug
Cable TV type coax cables are the transmission media of choice for some new vendors. These have value in new installations tying in home entertainment devices, but are not yet mature and won't help retrofit an existing home or office.Buy the book on Amazon here.