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How do you create a broadband network?

Explanation of the advantages of creating a home network plus information on setup and the equipment needed.


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As more and more homes have access to two or more computers, home networking has become increasingly popular. Connecting the computers together (technically known as forming a ‘local area network’ or LAN) not only enables files to be shared and backed up easily, but also enables a single printer to serve all the computers in the house.

However, arguably the main advantage of forming a home network is that a single broadband connection can be used to provide independent internet access to each computer, saving you time and money. These home networks are relatively easy and cost efficient to set up and can be joined by either a wired or wireless connection.

Wired Networks

Wired networks are usually based on Ethernet technology as it is relatively simple to set up, supports networks with multiple computers and most importantly facilitates a high speed, reliable broadband connection. To form a network, each computer must be fitted with an Ethernet networking card (or have an inbuilt network adapter) and connected to a central network fixture using an Ethernet cable. The central network fixture ensures that each computer can access the internet independently and also share information with each of the other computers connected in the home network.

Arguably a router is the most flexible and practical device with which to connect your network. Not only because they are relatively simple to install and facilitate the connection of the computers in your home network with each other and the internet, but also because they usually come equipped with pre installed security measures. This is most often in the form of a firewall which monitors information entering and leaving your home network and is an essential part of any computer security package.

If you are new to broadband it is probably worth investing in a combined router and modem as this will give you the flexibility to expand your home network, however if you already have broadband set up, you simply need to plug a router into your current modem and you will be able to create your network. Cable routers are also available for those with cable broadband although these need to be connected to a special cable modem.

When building a wired home network you will need to connect each device using Ethernet cables, this does mean trailing wires around your home and possibly drilling holes through ceilings and walls to reach each computer. If this seems too impractical to you then you may wish to consider installing a wireless network, although these do tend to be slightly more expensive.

Although cables can be a slight imposition, once they are in place and your network is set up, your wired connection should provide you with a more secure, reliable, higher speed connection than a wireless alternative. For this reason a wired connection is preferable for those who require maximum speed for activities such as downloading large files, interactive gaming and video messaging both within and outside the home network.

See Wireless Broadband for a more detailed explanation of wireless broadband networks.