More of us now are living with more than one PC in our lives. It may be you've upgraded and left the old one for the kids to mess about on or you have a laptop for work. Whatever the reason it makes sense to have all your PCs networked together.
With networking you can share information, securing important information on more than one hard drive, share internet connections, play games and endless other ideas yet to be thought up....
There are basically 2 types of network:
FIXED
This is a hard wired network needing a LAN Network card in each PC and if only 2 PC's simply a cross-over Network cable between them.
If you want to connect more than 2 PC's then a Network Hub is required that each PC connects to giving access to all computers on the network.
WIRELESS
There has been a rapid development of Wireless Network technology (WiFi) over the last year and it is now rivaling fixed networks in cost but is vastly more flexible, especially for the laptop user who does not want the complication of having to sit in a fixed location to connect to the network.
Again we have two options. If you wish to connect only 2 PC's or a PC and a laptop you need just 2 Wireless network cards and set them up as a Peer-to-Peer network. Cost less than £60 DIY but a certain level of Networking knowledge is needed to set up successfully , especially to share some Internet providers services. AOL is particularly difficult but it can be done.
If you want to connect more PCs/laptops together then a Wireless access point is the answer. Again these come in two basic formats. Firstly a simple access station that will connect all PC's together on a wireless Local Area Network, costing around £120 for two wireless cards and station, or secondly a Broadband wireless router that will give all users on your network access to your single broadband connection. These are becoming ever more sophisticated with firewall protection as standard, a must for directly connected networks. Router and 2 Wireless Network cards will cost around £150 DIY but again some expertise is needed to set up.
An added bonus for laptop users is the ability to connect to WiFi stations that are popping up in various locations. Check out BT Openzone here.
All hardware requirements can be provided to locations throughout the UK and networks set up throughout West Yorkshire. Please e-mail your queries/requirements here and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Useful links
File & Printer sharing in Vista
click here to send e-mail | home