Setting up a Wireless Network in Your Home – P2

In setting up a wireless network in your home we need the Broadband internet connection from your Internet Service Provider, then another device called a Modem which was discussed in detail on my last post is also needed, this device will be provided by your ISP when they setup and configure the internet connection on your home. Now we go to that third device that we will need to complete the setup of the wireless network in your home. But before we go there added information once your internet connection has been setup and the modem configured properly by the ISP of your choosing you can now test the internet connection by connecting your laptop or desktop to the modem via a cable patch. This means you will need a cable with connector at both ends to connect to the modem, since the modem has no capacity to distribute the internet connection by itself and only one computer can be connected to the modem via the cable patch. This cable patch should be included together with your modem. This will allow you to verify your internet connection via your laptop or desktop.

Now since our objective is to setup a wireless network in your home we will need one more device that will allow us to distribute the internet connection and allowing our entire internet capable device to connect without using a single piece of cable or wire. For these we need a wireless router, the function of these routers is to distribute the internet connection via radio signal or via cable connection. Which can be both achieved via this device called a Wireless Router. Now why do we need to include the word wireless, because there are two kinds of router the wireless one and there is the cable only router. The main difference of the two is that the other one the cable only router has no antenna therefore it cannot send radio signal and therefore cannot distribute internet connection to any computer or internet capable device. This type of router is mainly used in business where the need for wireless connection is not required or necessary. Now what is a wireless router?

Wireless router

A router sends information between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can connect computers to your network using radio signals instead of wires. There are a few different types of wireless network technologies, including 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend using a router that supports 802.11g because it is fast and provides a strong wireless signal. The wireless router is the one that is going to distribute the internet connection in your home to all devices within range typically 150 to 300 feet but may vary depending on the structure present in the area of location where the router is located. Now by connecting a wireless router on the modem the wireless router will now be able to distribute the internet connection in your home. 

But wait will my neighbor also get connected as well? The answer to that is a big YES they will be able to get an internet access if they are near you or typically within the range of the wireless router. To solve this problem we need to secure our wireless router. Now wait a minute how to I do that? I do not know anything about wireless router. Some say that is it easy to setup a wireless router in your home, well I say it is not because there are a lot of configuration inside a router and first of all a technical background of accessing the router via the internet protocol address is require before one could access the configuration of a wireless router. It would require a couple more articles to write about setting up a home wireless router because we need a lot of information regarding what is the common configuration used for most type of router available for home used.  For now get a qualified technician to setup your wireless router and to make it secure allowing only you and your household member to have access to the internet connected in your home. Once the wireless router is properly setup and secured not even your neighbor can have access to the router to your internet connection. Because if they try to connect to a secured wireless router they connection will require them to inter a password that will grant them an internet connection. 

Try as they may if they do not know the password for connection they will not be able to connect therefore giving you a piece of mine that you and only the member of your family will be able to have access to the wireless router. Another when setting up all your wireless enabled devices to connect to the router for the first it will require you to input a password for the connection once this is verified to be correct then your device will registered and every time you open your laptop, tablet and Smartphone they will be able to connect immediately to the wireless router automatically. The password verification is only done once; this is on the first time connection only every succeeding connection by the registered device will be dome automatically. Also only new device will be required to register for internet connection to the wireless router. How about for desktop computer, how will it connect to the wireless router? More on my next post.

Continue to Part 3 of this post:


Quick Tips:

Positioning the wireless router

Put your wireless router somewhere where it will receive the strongest signal with the least amount of interference. For the best results, follow these tips:

• Position your wireless router in a central location. Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible to increase the strength of the wireless signal throughout your home.
• Position the wireless router off of the floor and away from walls and metal objects, such as metal file cabinets. The fewer physical obstructions between your computer and the router's signal, the more likely that you'll be using the router's full signal strength.
• Reduce interference. 802.11g networking equipment uses a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency. This is the same frequency as most microwaves and many cordless phones. If you turn on the microwave or get a call on a cordless phone, your wireless signal might be temporarily interrupted. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5.8 GHz.

10 Ways Net Neutrality Laws Affect Your ISP

This Article is a guest post from Ms. Coleen of  Phonetvinternet.com and here is the link from the original article located at 10 Ways Net Neutrality Laws Affect Your ISP

The subject of network neutrality on the web is a hotly debated issue with the potential to drastically alter the future of the internet. Net neutrality laws as currently written address three key issues: transparency; no blocking; and no unreasonable discrimination . Opponents argue for tiered services that distribute the cost of services according to usage. In either case, the effects on internet service providers would be significant. 

Here are 10 ways in which net neutrality laws affect your ISP:

Neutrality laws would require transparency among ISP’s, to disclose their network management policies. In other words, your ISP needs to be up front about pricing, network performance, and how it provides access to services without discrimination.

They would ban unreasonable blocking or discrimination by fixed-line providers, but show more leniency toward wireless networks. Wireless providers would only be prohibited from blocking applications that compete with their own, but would be free to block others.

ISP’s would not be permitted to favor their own applications or services over those offered by their competitors. Consumers would be able to choose those apps and services they preferred, regardless of which ISP they used.

There would be no tiered services. Sites owned by large corporations could not gain a competitive advantage over smaller competitors by paying for faster load speeds.

An ISP could not pick and choose how to distribute its available bandwidth. As in the 2007 case of Comcast blocking P2P sites during peak times, an ISP would be prohibited from blocking specific sites for the sake of improving network performance.

An internet service provider could still block illegal or harmful content (child pornography, spam, malware, etc) or slow down its entire network to preserve bandwidth under the proposed new laws.

Pricing of ISP services could be significantly impacted. For instance, if an ISP was also a video content provider, it might be induced into offering deeply discounted packages in order to compete with third party competitors.

As argued by net neutrality opponents, an inability to set up tiered services or to assess additional charges for access to third-party services would likely mean that your ISP would pass along their loss of revenue in the form of higher initial access fees. So you may not have to pay extra for access to Netflix once you’re logged onto the web, but your ISP may charge you a higher subscription rate before you can log on.

Your ISP could potentially be in a position to alter the e-commerce landscape at large. That is, if neutrality laws don’t pass, and your ISP is able to charge more for tiered services, those who cannot afford to pay for faster access would no longer be able to compete with those who can.

Ultimately, net neutrality will determine whether your ISP can itself compete on a level playing field where consumers can choose freely between its services and those of its competitors.


 This Article is a guest post from Ms. Coleen of  Phonetvinternet.com and here is the link from the original article located at 10 Ways Net Neutrality Laws Affect Your ISP

Computer 101: Why Do We Need to Share Networks Resources?

First of all what is a computer network resource? Computer network resource are those item that is being used by the whole network this may include shared printer as stated in previous blog, shared disk drive or a file server with several large amount of drive, shared scanner and any other devices that can be shared over a network. Again back to the question, why do we need to share network resources? Well the answer to this question is explained below.

1. Save on Cost or Money

All business needs financing or money to run, in fact almost all things that we do today needs money. This is true with business, if top management can save as much money as it cans then it will do it. One way saving cost in operating a business is to reduce the cost of consumable being consumed by the business an example of this is the cost of buying an ink for a printer. I already elaborated on this on my previous blog. Another cost that can be controlled or can save a sum of money the paper being used in printing document for the daily transaction and report of the business. Because we buy lots of bundle of paper for regular used to create hard copy of reports and transaction. Why not instead of a hardcopy for filing, archiving, meting and others use instead a digital copy wherein the said report can be view on the screen of each computer or laptop or devices that can display them. This will also reduce the trash the business is producing, less paper and trash less cost and more money to be saved or diverted to other important projects. Also less paper, less paper clip, staple wire and other paper accessories. For storing and archiving of reports the file server will act as the central storage of all documents with a back up copy of course for safety.

2. Save on Time, Less Time Do More.

How do we save time, we save on time by being more productive in a given amount of time. Like if the goal was to have 50 transactions completed in five hours, then maybe we do 60 or 70 in the given time. This can be done with the used of shared network resources, like digital copy of document instead of having a hard copy one employee can request another for a digital copy of the same report without living his/her place and moving about just to get a copy of that report. By not leaving your place one do more while waiting or the time it takes for the document to arrive from an actual delivery of a person compare to a document being sent to the server and then to intended receiver of the document or just plain interoffice email is very big. In computer world a 5 minute waiting time is already to slow compare to just a few milliseconds to wait for the digital copy to arrive in your computer from the other computer where it originates. Also sharing an actual document in real time is slower compare to sharing it via the network. It doesn’t need to be distributed by hand wherein the person responsible to distribute it will have to go floor by floor just make sure the document is delivered to the correct person.

Money and time are two most important resources in a business the third is manpower or person of that organization or company. It more resources is being spent and the company is producing less chances are that company will not last longer in a highly demanding world of business. The more it can save the better for that company to keep on growing and free of debt.

Computer 101: The need for a Simple Peer to Peer Network

A Peer to Peer Local Area Network is a LAN that has no true servers connected in the network. All workstations on the network can share files and resources within the network. A peer-to-peer network is commonly composed of computer with fully loaded software like the operating software and different types of application program installed in the entire computer within the peer-to-peer network. To further illustrate this network setup. Lets say your in a small office and this small office has ten computers and each has it’s own printer. If one employee needs a copy of a certain report then the employee who have that report needs to print the said report and photo copy it the number of times that it requires so that every employee that needs it will have a copy of it.

Linksys 48 Port Switch from Cisco Systems

This image was taken from Wikipedia.org

Also since all computers have each own printer, then the cost of just buying an ink for several printers is very huge. There should be at least one reserved pack of ink for each printer. But them there are ten printer to supply to, multiply it by ten them you need at least that minimum amount just to make sure very printer can be able to print daily without interruption. Also if the office needs to have a shared internet for each personnel then this would be a problem since internet connection for commercial or business use is expensive compare to internet for home usage. Another thing is the supply of paper needs to be in a constant flow since a lot of paper will be used to communicate between employee and the boss. Also all employee needs to be updated properly on a daily and weekly basis.

To solve this one would think that we need a very expensive device to link all the computers in the office? The answer is a big NO; a simple office only needs a simple network that can share resources like paper, printer, files and internet connection. It doesn’t needs a full blown big local area network to solve the problem mentioned above. First we need a first level Network SWITCH not a HUB but a Intelligent SWITCH. Then we need one or two box of Unshielded Twisted Pair Cable depending on the size of the floor area of the office. And last but not the least we need connector called RJ45 to put at both end of the UTP Cable. One end of the cable will be connected to the Network Switch while the other end is connected to the computer. Do this repeatedly until all the computer in your office is connected to the network switch.

Okay you’ll ask how I will know that I did the proper UTP cable configuration. Sorry my fault, before you begin any connects you needs to know the proper UTP configuration so that those RJ45 will not be wasted. Or if you do not have the necessary technical background to setup a small peer-to-peer LAN then, suggest it to your company to have it installed by a professional company. Okay lets say the network is up and running, then the next step is hire somebody who has the proper technical knowledge and expertise to manage your network and all it’s resources. You’ll say I though that was going to save some time and money, but is sound it already cost more to have a small LAN and a person to mange it. Yup the initial investment is big, but if you study the long term cost then you’ll see that all the initial investment is worth it.

The paper that needs to be bought would be dramatically lessen, every employee can share a report electronically and a lot faster compare to the old ways of having it given to each one by hand. Another is the entire office can share only in one or two printer compare to the ten printer the office previously needs. Also the ink that will be needed will be very much lessening compare to the old ways of ink storing. And also every employee can have an internet distributed via the network. Then the office will become more productive will less maintenance cost of consumable item and therefore save more time and money to operate.

Computer 101: Computer Network Basic Part 2

On the previous post we explained the function of the client or workstation computer and server computer. To complete our basic computer network a third component is needed and these is where the Hub or Switch come in. The basic look for this two network component is a rectangular size box with lots of square shape holes in the front face.

This square shape holes is called PORT. The function of these ports is to connect the patch cable from your client computer and or the server computer. Normally these ports come in even numbers from 4, 8, 16, or 32 ports per devices. They also have lights per port to indicate proper connection and data collision. If the lights of the port that has a patch cable connected to it is blinking then it means there is flow of data from the ports to the client computer or form the server computer and vice versa.

Basic Network Component

Normally an orange light is use to indicate collision in a network. The function of the Hub or switch is to link the client computer and server computer. They also see to it that a data does not get lost during the transmission from the server to the client that is requesting it. In today’s most demanding LAN a more evolve Switch is being used rather than a simple hub. Switch has more brains packed into its circuit compare to a normal hub. But a hub is less costly than a Switch. If your network is a corporate type then a switch is more suitable to do the job. For a less demanding network like a internet cafe network then a hub is well suited for this job in terms of function and cost.

Image via Wikipedia

Now earlier I mention the word Patch Cable. Now what is that and how does it function in a network. The term Patch cable simply refers to the standard twisted pair cable plus the RJ45 plastic connector. The cable is so called twisted pair because when you open up the inside of the main rubber like cover of the cable you will see five pairs of smaller wire which has a color code twisted by two. So there are five pairs of twisted wire that comprises the main twisted pair cable. Also the RJ45 connector has ten small teeth like metal wherein a crimping tool is needed to force these small teeth like metal to bite those individual pair of cable inside a twisted pair to complete a patch cable.



But I say but you cannot just connect those small cable with the RJ45 connector in any fashions there is a proper way of doing it. This proper way is called standard cabling. In this standard cabling there is a set of color code that we need to follow in order for the patch cable to work. Also you have to make sure that the code is correct and that the wire inside the RJ45 is properly and tightly crimp. Otherwise we risk the network not work properly and wasting the RJ45. Once the twisted is crimp onto the RJ45 there is no way to removed it other than cutting the cable and the RJ45 can no longer be used.

We will not go into the color coding of each cable here.I did a small explanation regarding on how assemble a patch cable so that we would have the basic understanding on how it works in the network. But there are far more concept and information regarding your computer network than compare to what we have talk about in this blog. We haven’t touch on the type of Topologies involve, type of LAN involve whether it is a peer-to-peer network of a client-server network. Another thing is in a common corporate LAN of today, there are more than two server’s involve. To name a few there’s the common File server, the Domain controller which usually comes in two then there’s the Print Server where all the printer resources is located. 

Then there the Exchange Server for all the emails and there the Application server. There is no fixed number of servers that a corporate LAN can have. It can be two or more depending on the needs of the company. The entire server mentioned above has each own function in a network. They several of this to handle specific jobs for the network. It would troublesome if only one computer server is assign to do the entire task mentioned above for a server. Imagine one person doing five or more works simultaneously. So the need for each specific server to do each specific job assign or program to it. More network component as the network goes bigger and wider from LAN to MAN to WAN or the Ultimate WAN the INTERNET.

Computer 101: Computer Network basic

In today’s age and time, the computer network has evolve into a system that has integrated every available devices capable of plugging itself therefore becoming part of the bigger collection of computer devices that has been connected.  But before we proceed let go back to the basic of computer network. What is computer network? Better yet what is the proper term to describe a computer network.  There are three correct and right term to describe a computer network. Yup there are three, this is because the location or land area where the network is very important in describing the kinds of network.

Local Area Network

For a computer network located on a single building big or small, it doesn’t matter how many floor’s are there as long as it is in one building then it can be classified as a LAN or Local Area Network. Now the word LOCAL is pretty straight forward you already know what it means. Before we go into the other two types of network we will focus on this network the LAN. What basically is a LAN, as the name implies it is a network located on a small area typically a building whether large or small but one single building only. Remember scope of the location for a LAN is one single building only. If there are two or more building then it is no longer a LAN but the next type of network called a MAN or Metropolitan Area Network.

 But let’s focus on the LAN. What are the components of a LAN? The basic components of a typical LAN are the workstation, server and network component such as HUB, SWITCH and ROUTER. This is the BASIC components, which mean there are other computers of a more highly developed LAN. But the first two basic component of a LAN is the workstation and the server. What are they and how do they function in a LAN. First the WORKSTATION, well it one can also be called the client, terminal, node and other term that a person uses to gain access the information stored on a server. Those terms that have been mentioned all describe the function of the computer that a person uses to do his/her work, process job, access data, store’s data from the or to the server. A basic example of this is the LAN in an internet café where. People paid for certain length of time to use the computer on that internet cafe to play network games, do a typing job, read the online version of their favorite news paper, read their emails, chat or talk online with their family or friends. Still other do documents printing, image capture or scanning an image to upload it online via your favorite social site. Look for jobs, watch a favorite movie or video or download all kinds of stuff from the internet or just simply looking for information.

 

All of the things mentioned above and much more cannot be achieve or it cannot be done without using a workstation, client or a terminal.  So basically it is a computer that a real person uses to get information or do a job in a LAN or network. Now for the server which located at the other end of the communication line. The server is basically a computer that holds all the information. A person needs to use a client or workstation to access this information located on the server computer. Imagine if in an typical office where there are ten worker that need different types of information and as stated before all this kind of information is located on the server, but they do not have a network. So getting that different type of information will take time because each worker will to take in turns to use the server. But with a network and each ten worker has each own computer to access the server simultaneously as compare to individually using the same computer directly. Then more time is save and more job is done is a short possible time consumed.

That is the basic function and role of these two kinds of computer on a LAN or network. Yes they both computer’s but the hardware and software component is very different, the server is the more stronger or powerful one because simply put it, it need s to be because it function require it to accommodate simultaneous job request from the workstation or client computer. It has more memory; larger hard drives faster processor and a bit different set of software installed in it compare a more user friendly software installed on a workstation or client computer. Not all people in a company can used or has access to the server directly, only one or two person is allowed direct access or usage of the server computer, compare to a workstation or client computer where almost all employee in the company can use these type of computer. More on this topic on my next post.