Grey Wolf Computer Systems

What is a home network?

A home network is simply a way of connecting more than one computer so they can communicate with one another. Networking your home computers offers a number of capabilities and features that your individual computers may not have had before. By connecting your computers on a home network, you can:

v Share files between computers

For example, if you have a project you’ve been working with on your laptop and want to copy it to your home computer in the den, previously you would have to copy the file to a disk and then install the disk to the second computer. This is slow and many large projects won’t fit a single disk. With a home network, you can copy files from one computer to the other without even leaving your desk.

v Share a high-speed DSL Internet connection

You may have heard of DSL, the new way for you to get a high-speed Internet connection for your home that is considerably faster and more reliable than a 56K modem. Without a home network, if you want to get more than one computer on DSL, you could pay as much as $50 a month extra for the privilege. With a home network, you can have several computers on DSL, searching the Internet simultaneously, and without the extra monthly fees.

v Share a standard Internet connection

Even if you don’t have DSL, you can share a normal dial-up Internet connection among multiple computers in the same way, without having to pay any additional monthly fees or compete for phone lines.

v Share a printer

If you have multiple computers and you don’t want to deal with the hassle (not to mention the desk space) to having a printer for each one, a network allows all the computers connected to one another to share a single printer.

v Network gaming

More and more people are getting into the hobby of computer games. If you enjoy playing the latest games on your computers, you and your friends or the other members of your household can play together over a network, making computer games a social – rather than a solitary – experience.

What do I need to network my computers?

All you need are two or more computers that are running Windows 95/98 or newer. We’ll take care of the rest.

How do the computers connect to one another?

Each computer connects via a special cable to a device called a “hub” or through wireless hardware. A hub is a small, white box that acts as a ‘traffic cop’ to direct communication between the computers. If you want to share DSL across your network, we add an additional box called a “router” to do so. If you prefer wireless networking, a wireless router or "access point" and wireless devices installed in each PC or laptop are all that is needed.

Does this mean that I’m going to have wires strewn everywhere in my house?

No, of course not. We have a number of ways of making sure the network wires are hidden and out-of-sight. As a viable alternative, we can install a wireless network. This eliminates the need for any wiring and allows access from anywhere in the house.

Can the computers be in different rooms?

Sure. It may take a little longer to install cables, but as long as the computers are in the same building, it can be done. Again, wireless makes this type of installation considerably easier.

How much does this all cost?

A typical two-computer network where both computers are in the same office with DSL-sharing can cost about $300 to $400 using cable connections, with wireless slightly more at about $500.

Great! When can I have you do this?

Just give us a call and we will set up an appointment within the week for your initial consultation.

I have more questions!

Call Grey Wolf Computer Systems at (831) 476-1524 and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you might have.