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Before we go too far, you first need to know how a network works. Whether you are at home or work, if you have an Internet connection, you have it through Dialup, Wireless, DSL, Cable, or Satellite. In a network setup, a router will be placed between your modem and computer. This router becomes a traffic light that controls network traffic, including your Internet connection. Most routers have ports that allow you to plug indevices (computers, printers, etc) and connect them to the inside of your network. Once a router is configured properly, all the computers plugged into the router will automatically be connected to the internet!
 Routers come in many sizes and flavors. If you have a laptop or PDA that you would like to wirelessly connect to your network, you will need to make sure you have a wireless router. In the past there were clear options between wireless and non-wireless routers, but now you would probably have to hunt a little in order to find a non-wireless router. When it comes to cost, brand new routers usually sell for $40 and up. Many times the more expensive routers will offer features that most people do not need, but it is also good to remember that the cheapest router may not be as stable and trustworthy as an average priced router.
While connecting desktop computers to the network is easy, connection wirless devices like laptops is not always the same. In order to have a solid and secure network, the wireless functions of a router should either be disabled or password protected. Quite often people either forget this step or lazily bypass it. It can take more time and effort to set up a password on the router and wireless devices, but going without can easily cost you an unwanted network attack.
Remember, if in doubt, the techs at Nomad have tons of experience with setting up routers and would be more than happy to make a service call and help you out.
Now that your network is much more developed, keep in mind that it is also possible to share a printer among all your connected devices. Yes, it is possible to be completely wireless with your laptop and print a page! Getting a printer set up to run on your network is considerablly more complicated and goes beyond the scope of this article. You can always contact Nomad for more information on getting your printer connected into your network.
If you like the idea of sharing a printer on your network, then you may also like the idea of being able to share files among your networked devices. Once set up, any type of file can be sent from one computer to another via the network. This works great if you want to back up files on a computer or if you simply want to transfer documents, pictures, or music from computer to computer.
 Networked homes can easily expand into the entertainment realm as well. Gaming systems like the Xbox, Play Station, and Wii can all be plugged into a network. This allows for friends to challenge friends either in their own home with multiple systems or online with countless others.
Networked entertainment does not stop with gaming systems. Technology is moving in such a way that computers are being hooked up to TV's to record shows. Also, through the use of an existing network (wired or wirless), some manufacturers make devices that allow music to be streamed from your computer to your stero.
As first mentioned, you may have an Internet connection through dialup. In case you were wondering, it is possible to share this type of connection as well. The process for sharing dialup is very similar to the router-based solution, but with a slight twist in how the sharing is achieved. At this point, unless you know what you're doing, it would be a great idea to have a Nomad technician come on site and hook you up.
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