Setting up a home network for high-speed internet is easy. DSL is budget-friendly but may not be available in all areas. Cable is faster but expensive and can slow down when congested. FiOS is the fastest but limited to new developments. Mobile broadband is expensive and has bandwidth caps. A modem with a built-in router is needed, and wireless networks require compatible cards or adapters. ISPs may provide hardware for rental or purchase.
Setting up a home network to share a high-speed Internet connection is easier than ever. Whether wired or wireless, manufacturers have made setting up a home network as easy as possible. Your home network is usually a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable, or Fiber Optic Service (FiOS) connection, although mobile broadband is another possibility. To choose the best home network connection for your needs and budget, let’s consider a brief overview of each.
DSL is the most convenient type of connection for those on a budget, as plans are tiered with slower plans costing less than any other type of high-speed connection. DSL is carried over traditional copper telephone lines and is widely available. The phone can be used simultaneously with the online service, which makes it very convenient.
One disadvantage of DSL is that it may not be available in all areas. New housing developments use fiber optic lines instead of copper telephone lines. Fiber-optic lines can carry FiOS, a much faster, but also more expensive, type of home network connection.
Another downside to DSL is that it requires landline service, which some people are now skipping in favor of using cellular service. Telephone service can still be purchased solely to run DSL, but this raises the price, making it less competitive.
Wired Internet is another popular type of home network connection. Cable internet uses the same cable it brings in your TV programming and is typically billed in conjunction with cable TV. The Internet service itself is usually contracted through a third party such as RoadRunner® and is many times faster than entry-level DSL plans.
One potential downside to cable is that speeds can slow down when the network becomes congested with a large number of local users hopping online at the same time. Another downside is that cable Internet service is usually quite expensive compared to low-end or even mid-range DSL plans.
FiOS is the fastest of all home network connection options, with blazing speeds that will satisfy the most demanding user. The first FiOS packages were quite expensive, but now many fiber optic providers have introduced tiered plans with lower speeds at competitive prices, compared to cable Internet.
FiOS is the home network connection of choice when money isn’t a concern and speed is needed. The downside of FiOS is that availability is limited to new developments and areas where copper lines have been replaced by fiber optic lines. Even if all copper lines are eventually replaced with FiOS, this transition will be slow.
Mobile broadband provides Internet service over cell towers, allowing the user to establish a connection anywhere cellular service is available, even on the go. This is typically not a home network connection choice, as it is much more expensive and its main benefit is to provide services to mobile devices. Even so, cell phone carriers are marketing mobile broadband as a home option, suggesting people save money by ditching DSL, cable, or FiOS service and use one unlimited mobile broadband account for all their devices, including home computers.
Aside from the high price of mobile broadband, another disadvantage is that there are bandwidth caps associated with these plans. While the limitations are generous enough for the average user, this won’t be a good choice for heavy downloaders or torrent enthusiasts.
Regardless of the type of home network connection you choose, you will need a modem with a built-in router. Some of these devices are designed to handle multiple types of connections, such as DSL or cable, but most are made exclusively for DSL, cable, FiOS or mobile broadband. In the case of mobile broadband, modems/routers take the form of small USB dongles or ExpressCard® adapters.
When choosing a wireless modem/router for DSL, cable, or FiOS service, keep in mind that each computer that will share your Internet connection must have a compatible wireless network card or adapter installed. Wireless networks can be protected by encryption and authentication protocols. Refer to the documentation supplied with the product. In many cases, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) will provide the necessary hardware for a monthly rental fee, but you can also purchase your own equipment.
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