What is a home network and why do I need one?
Simply defined, a network is a group of computers and devices that are interconnected, either physically or wirelessly, to enable the sharing of resources and information.
The most common reason why people set up a home network is to share a broadband Internet connection with multiple computers. But there are many other good reasons to have a home network.
- Sharing: First, you can share pictures, video, and documents between computers. You can also share devices such as printers so that everyone in the house can print to a single printer rather than purchasing a printer for each computer.
- Streaming: With a media player, you can stream not only your own photos and videos to your home entertainment center but also video content from content providers such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, as well as video from popular video sharing sites like YouTube.
- Parental Controls: Parents, concerned about the content that their children are viewing on the Internet, can easily set up Internet-based parental controls.
Most importantly, all of this can be done over a wireless network. There’s no need to rewire your home for wired network connections.
Connecting a portable computing device such as a Smart phone, an iPhone, iTouch, iPad or other portable computing device, is another great reason for a wireless home network. It can greatly improve your connected experience. Virtually all of these devices are equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, so that you can access the Internet using your broadband connection at home rather than the phone company’s cellular data connection. If you purchased the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad or an iTouch, then you definitely need a wireless network.
