The home networker can choose from either wireless or wired designs. Wireless networks provide more mobility to a person in and around their home, and they make especially good sense for laptop networking. Networks with wires or cables, on the other hand, usually cost less than wireless, may perform faster and more reliably, and make good sense for desktop networking. Choosing between wired and wireless options can be difficult, but making an informed decision here can save money and increase one's overall satisfaction with their home network.

Wired

There are several mediums available to users in which they can achieve a wired network that will work. Many product manufacturers offer technologies that claim to be excellent solutions for consumers who wish to enjoy a wired network, but do not want to spend the time and/or money to run cables throughout their dwelling. This being said, there are only two, Fast Ethernet and Giga-bit Ethernet, with which you will be happy. The other mediums that exist include phone line, power line, and USB networking. Because of this, this workshop will only spend time on implementing an ethernet network.

Advantages

Speed - Currently the standard home networking equipment is capable of 100 Mbps, even with the latest wireless developments this is still twice as fast. One can buy "Giga-bit" ethernet equipment that will operate at a maximum of 1000 Mbps, which would be twenty times greater than the fastest form of wireless; currently there are few advantages to buying this equipment, although one may wish to do so since it may eventually be the home standard.

Security - You can feel assured that no one with another device in the neighborhood can get onto your network with only a firewall between your LAN and your WAN (the internet). With wireless, people can connect to your network as long as they are in range of your access point. This means that, without the proper security measures, it may be possible for anyone to get on your network and start browsing your sensitive information. Having a wired network ensures that there is only one location (your gateway) where people can try to gain access.

Disadvantages

Difficult Installation - Installing your network will require the extra step of running CAT 5 cables throughout your house. You may need to drill holes, cut and crimp cables, or live with cables running through you living space.

More Planning - If current trends continue, one could soon have to need to expand their network beyond the original set-up. In fact, this may be desirable as you buy new equipment to replace old equipment that has become obsolete, or as new network capable appliances appear in the market. (Can you imagine a refrigerator that orders food by itself?) It is also entirely possible that one would wish to keep their obsolete equipment connected for storage, sharing, or multimedia purposes. Because of these opportunities, one needs to consider this possibility of expansion when planning their network layout. When designing and/or adding onto your network, you will only want to run one wire, and that wire will need to run to the closest room that has network connectivity. Example: There is no reason to run two wires to a separate floor, run one wire down to the closest room, and then run a separate wire from that room to the next on the same floor (you would need some form of hub or switch to accomplish this).

Wireless

Wireless networks are the fastest growing category of networks; they have been proven reliable, and easy to install. With the advent of the 802.11g, a wireless network can satisfy most with regards to bandwidth. The main drawback of wireless networks is their relative security; it is very easy to find and join unprotected wireless networks and browse all of the data on them.

Advantages

Simple Installation - There are no cables to run which makes installation far easier if systems are located in rooms far apart. There are no cables, no crimping tools, or drilling involved in installing a wireless network. If, however, there are signal obstacles between your workstation and your access point you may need extra access points and/or repeaters.

No Cables - If you rearrange the placement of the systems you will not have to worry about running new cables to these locations.

Laptop Mobility - Your laptop can move with you through anywhere that receives an adequate signal while maintaining seamless connectivity. This is perhaps the most beneficial feature that wireless offers.

Flexibility - One can extend networks to areas where cabling is not practical; you could share a network connection with your trusted neighbors.

Scalability - Additional equipment can easily be added to the network; you simply plug in the new device, configure to conform to your security and IP scheme, and the device is ready to go.

Disadvantages

Construction Barriers - Barriers in your home can prevent the wireless signals from reaching desired locations.

Security - Unless properly and adequately configured anyone crossing within range of your wireless network will be able to join your network behind any firewall you may have set up. A wireless network without proper security would be similar to a wired network user running a port out to the sidewalk so that any person who passes by could connect.

Speed - Currently most wireless components operate using the 802.11b standard which has maximum speeds approximately 11 Mbps. Recently 802.11g devices have been released which are capable of 54 Mbps transfer rates. Still, these speeds are shared among all wireless users and could diminish greatly depending on the interference in the area.