What you need to set a Network when Computers are in different rooms

To help determine which network technology best suits your needs answer these questions:

• How many computers do you have?
• Where are they located—are they in the same room or different rooms?
• Are any of your computers laptops?
• Do any of your computers have network adapters installed? If so, what are their types (Ethernet, HPNA, or wireless)?

Apply your answers to the following examples of home network layouts and configurations. These suggest how to use the different hardware choices available and can guide you in deciding which hardware you need to buy.

Computers are in the different room

In this network example, you've recently purchased your new Windows XP computer and set it up in your home office. You have moved your older computer into your child's room. The new computer—which is the ICS host—has an Ethernet network adapter attached to an external DSL or cable modem.

If there are phone jacks located near each computer, purchase:

• One external USB HPNA network adapter for each computer.

Home phoneline network adapter (HPNA) kits are available that make it easy to network one or two computers together. You simply plug the network adapter into the USB port on the computer and into the phone jack. The computers are then networked together.

As in the previous setup example, another solution is to purchase wireless network adapters for both computers. Simply plug an adapter into the USB port on each, and the two computers can communicate using radio signals.