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GigaFast's HomePlug Network
Written by: Michael Mardings
One of the easiest wired networks that I've ever set up.
There are generally considered two basic choices for networking your home; wireless and wired. HomePlug has taken networking to a slightly different direction. As the name implies, it's networking through the plugs in your home.
There are two aspects to this story. The first is in the concept of HomePlug. HomePlug is actually an industry standard in networking throughout your house. They've tested it over and over again and now they've figured out a foolproof safe way to use you're your home's power lines as a vehicle to send signals from one device to another. It doesn't interfere with your current electricity, but piggy backs onto it.
One of the companies that uses the standard is GigaFast Ethernet. This will be one of the simplest stories I've ever written. Basically, they have an ethernet bridge that plugs straight into your electrical outlet on one end and your cable modem or DSL in the other. Each computer, then, can use a USB HomePlug wall adapter to connect to the wall and that's it. That's your network at home.
If you've noticed that I've stretched out that description, that's part of the point. The network is that easy; it's literally a matter of plugging in. With a wireless network, my concern was security and whether the signal made it from the second floor to the basement. The only time you'll have a security issue, is if somebody breaks into your home and plugs in. As for set up, it really was a joke, just plug it into your USB and you're done.
I really couldn't see a bad side to this network as basically you're going to plug in your computer or laptop near a plug and that's where your network can be. With the ethernet cables, it's a different story. For anybody who wants a no-hassle/easy-to-set-up network, this is perfect.
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