TECH: Is Your Home Wired for the Web?
By Dean Davis
According to recently published statistics by
websiteoptimization.com, and others, US broadband, high-speed Internet access, penetration has reached approximately 43% of US homes, and is likely to reach the mid-way point by June, 2004.
Consequently, consumers with newfound networking communications power, or broadband, are actively seeking viable options for sharing the digital lifeline amongst other computers and compatible equipment within the boundaries of the home, and in some exciting examples, sharing broadband with neighbors within a given area.
For those who have recently crossed the digital divide, I will present part one of a three part series on how to share high speed Internet access with the computers in your home.
Your Shopping List
There are 3 typical requirements for obtaining and sharing high speed access, otherwise known as implementing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). They are:
- Broadband Internet connection (Cable/DSL/Satellite)
- Wireless Broadband Router or Wireless Access Point
- Wireless Network Interface Cards (NIC)
1. Broadband Internet connection (Cable/DSL/Satellite)
Broadband is delivered to our homes, by Internet Service Providers (ISP), most commonly via cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). DSL access is delivered over standard Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines, inherent in all homes, and cable access is delivered via the same cable that delivers television channels.
You can obtain broadband service and equipment online or at a local electronics store such as Circuit City or Best Buy. In most cases, broadband can be installed entirely by the consumer, without the help of the ISP’s support staff, and its competitive pricing of approximately $40 per month provides an attractive incentive for home users to commit to broadband.
Once the broadband equipment has been acquired, physically installed and powered, the equipment will attempt to, either automatically or via human and software intervention complete the logical installation of the service. The logical installation is usually straightforward and entails the following steps:
- Registration of the internal unique Media Access Control address (MAC) within the cable/DSL modem with the ISP
- Obtaining a valid Internet Protocol (IP) address along with other vital configuration information required to enable the broadband service.
Wireless Broadband Router Or Wireless Access Point
If all steps were completed successfully, a simple browser-based test such as attempting to access a remote web site such as Google will yield a positive experience (i.e. a fast page download). However, this installation by default provides only high speed Internet access to one computer. In order to expand its reach, you will need a wireless broadband router or a wireless access point. Some affordable choices with street prices include:
- LinkSys WAP54G - $80
- SMC Barricade G - $80
The wireless broadband router should be connected to your cable, DSL or satellite modem. Once connected, the router shares the broadband connection with your other computers via wireless antennas and wireless NIC cards. As an added benefit, it provides instant security by denying inbound, unsolicited traffic into the home.
In some cases, a router that shares the broadband Internet connection may already exist in the home; sometimes they are provided by companies to ensure connectivity to corporate headquarters. Consequently, you should implement a Wireless Access Point instead. The benefits to deploying a Wireless Access Point include enabling wireless communications in a traditionally wired environment; its ability to work in conjunction with existing routers; and its ability to install bridges throughout the home to extend the wireless signals.
Additionally, both models ship with a built-in 4-port switch that enables traditional wired connections plus wireless connectivity.
3. Wireless Network Interface Cards (NIC)
In order to realize wireless data communications on individual computers, you will need a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC) per machine. Some affordable choices with approximate street prices include:
Laptops
- SMC EZ Connect SMC2835W - $50
- LinkSys WPC54G - $70
Desktops
- SMC2802W - $65
- LinkSys WMP54G - $70
Getting started may seem daunting, but if you follow these three easy steps, you can easily upgrade your connection and make it accessible to all members of your household.
Resources
For general information on Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) products, please see www.linksys.com and/orwww.smc.com.
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