Creating a Wireless Home Network!

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Creating a Wireless Home Network!
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Course Outline

• Why would you want to know how to create a home
  network?
• What is a home network?
• What are some of the advantages of a home
  network?
• Should I move to wireless or not?
• Commonly used wireless networks...
• Comparing wireless networks
• How to proceed...
• Typical hardware components...
• Do I need a cable/DSL modem?
• Do I need a router or switch?
• Do I need an access point?
• Can I get them all in one box?
• Do I have other components to be networked?
• How to add a desktop PC
• How to add a laptop PC
• How to add a PDA
• How to add a printer using wireless
• How to add a printer without wirelessjust share
  the printer
• How to play video games through an Xbox

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Why would I want to know how to create a home
network?

• Reduce multiple service providers to one!
• Move from dial-up to DSL!
• Share files among computers!
• Share a single printer among computers!
• Maybe, you just wanted to learn more about
  creating a home network!

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What is a home network?

• A home network consists of two or more computers
  that can communicate with each other through
  cables (Ethernet wires)or radio waves (wireless).

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What are some of the advantages of a home network?

• One broadband Internet connection can be shared
  among multiple computers.
• Files, printers, scanners, disk drives, and other
  devices can be shared.

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Should I move to wireless or not?

• When moving from a dial-up Internet connection to
  a DSL Internet connection, I was given the
  choice
• I could connect through aDSL modem using
  Ethernet cables OR
• I could connect through awireless DSL modem

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Commonly used wireless networks...

• You can choose from
• IEEE 802.11b, 2.4 GHz _at_ 11 Mbps
• IEEE 802.11a, 5.0 GHz _at_ 54 Mbps
• IEEE 802.11g, 2.4 GHz _at_ 54 Mbps
• Some components are compatible with all three
  wireless networks.

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Comparing wireless networks...
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How to proceed...

• 1. Choose a networking technology.
• 2. Select hardware components.
• 3. Configure a network and get everything
  correctly communicating.

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Typical hardware components...

• DSL Modem/Router/Switch/Access Point
• Desktop PC, Laptop, or PDA
• Printer

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Do I need a cable/DSL modem?

• DSL modems connect through phones lines.
• Cable modems connect through Cable/TV lines.
• Both are used to connect the Internet to a router.

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Do I need a router or switch?

• Routers are used to connect one network to
  another. (For example, the Internet is connected
  to your home network.)
• Switches are used to select pathways within a
  network.

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Do I need an access point?

• An access point is used to transmit and receive
  data to and from the hardware components in an
  IEEE 802.11 wireless network(b, a, or g).

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Can I get them all in one box?

• You can buy individual components or an
  all-in-one solution (such as Home Portal).
• If you buy individual components
• DSL modem (connects to Internet)
• Router (connect Internet to local network)
• Access Point (broadcasts the local network)
• Firewall (blocks unused local network ports and
  protects network from attack)

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Do I have other components to be networked?

• Do I have additional desktop PCs, laptops, or
  PDAs?
• Do I have additional printers?
• Do I want to play Xbox video games on my desktop
  PC or laptop?
• Do I need to extend the distance that my wireless
  network can reach?

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How to add a desktop PC

• A desktop PC in a wireless network requires
  either
• wireless PCI card OR
• USB network adapterWith USB, you dont have to
  open the computer.

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How to add a laptop PC

• A laptop PC in a wireless network requires a
  wireless PCMCIA card.Intel Centrino laptops
  come with IEEE 802.11 built in.

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How to add a PDA

• A personal digital assistant (PDA) requires a
  wireless CompactFlash card.

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How to add a printer using wireless

• A networked printer requires a connection to a
  wireless print server.

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How to add a printer without wirelessjust share
the printer...

• A printer can also be connected to one computer
  and shared using Windows.
• Cable could be USB, Ethernet, or parallel.
• But, the computer must be on in order to access
  the printer.

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How to play video games through an Xbox

• An Xbox video game console can be added to a
  wireless (b or g) network.This allows it to
  be played on a desktop PC or laptop.

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How to extend the reach of the wireless home
network

• The wireless home network can be extended with a
  bridge that simply re-broadcasts the wireless
  home network.

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Review of how to add hardware components
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Wireless Home NetworkingQuestions?

• Thank you for your interest in this
  presentation!
• For further information about this presentation
  or others, contact me at rlagrande_at_sbcglobal.net
  - Ill read it on my home wireless network!