A Beginner’s Guide: How to Set up a Home Network

Last Updated on April 2, 2020

Here’s the deal: the first home network setup was created in 1999. Since then, setting up a home network has become wildly popular among individuals and companies alike. Why is that?

Because your home network is literally the fastest way to stream entertainment on YouTube, Netflix, and more. Wondering how to set up a home network? Here’s a beginner home networking guide!

Why You Need a Home Network Setup

Curious about why you need a home network setup? We’ve got you covered. First of all, there are tons of perks to setting up a personal home network, like easily sharing software and hardware between several devices or computers.

Nevertheless, there are also pros and cons for wireless and wired networks. Just like a cell phone plan with various lines for every family member, your home networks lets various users go online at the exact same time.

But here’s the catch: the configuration for wired and wireless networks is completely different.

Wired networks need extra cables to sync devices to your central hub, which can be very tricky when it comes to logistics. In addition, the more users sharing a single internet service provider, the slower your connection will be.

Home Network Perks

Don’t want to wait to watch your favorite shows?

With a home network setup, you’ll be able to catch up on Stranger Things and build a business empire at the same time.

And get this: you don’t have to be a tech pro to get it right either.

Even though you can share files on both wired and wireless networks, only wireless networks allow you to work without plugging in any crazy cables or hardware. Another huge perk is that everyone on your home network can access Wi-Fi enabled devices like smart outlets without dealing with messy wires too.

Are you still scratching your head? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be confusing. All that you really need to know is this:

• Wired networks have better connectivity than wireless networks, but need more hardware.
• Wireless networks are super portable and convenient but are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

In a nutshell, the home network that you choose to set up depends on your personal needs and preferences. Sounds simple to us!

Understanding the Lingo

Now that you know why you need a home network setup, it’s time to understand the lingo. Before we dive into the world of wireless computer networks and routers, we’ve got to get to know the basics first. For starters, here are a few key terms that’ll help you get started:

• Bandwidth
• Broadband
• DSL
• Browser
• Ethernet

Here’s the breakdown. Your network bandwidth is the amount of data that your internet service provider can deal with, which is usually calculated in megabits per second. Think of it this way: the larger your bandwidth network, the more data you can process at once.

Broadband

How about broadband? Basically, this tech term is another word for a speedy internet connection. It was originally used in comparison to slower, dial-up connections which used a phone line to connect to the internet. Needless to say, it’s all about broadband nowadays.

In case you didn’t know, DSL stands for “digital subscriber line.”

That being said, DSL is a broadband connection that uses phone lines. However, it uses extra hardware on your end and your telephone provider’s end to have a higher network bandwidth.

Want to know a secret?

Chances are, you’re using a web browser to view this article right now. That’s because your browser is an app that lets you read websites online. Every page has a uniform resource locator, or URL, at the very top of the web page.

For those that are unaware, some of the most popular web browsers include:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari

Lastly, ethernet is a local area network. Unlike wireless local area networks, your ethernet uses wires to connect to the internet.

In the market for the ultimate home network? For those that want to be ultra-connected, there’s nothing better than a smart home!

Getting Your Equipment Together

Want to learn how to get your home network equipment together? You’ve come to the right place.

Whether you have a wireless or wired local area network, you won’t need too much equipment besides the standard router and modem combo.

Naturally, the more complicated the network, the more cash you’ll have to shell out on equipment. Let me explain. Your network adapter is the connection between your network and your device, receiving and sending data on wireless and wired networks.

If you’re using an ethernet cable, you’ll need to make sure that your home or office has its own RJ-45 jack, which is a bit bigger than a standard phone jack. The craziest part is the wireless network adapter chips are already built into the motherboard of your computer.

In addition, you can even use a universal serial bus, or USB, to connect to wireless or wired networks.

Hardware Essentials

Now that we’ve got that down, let’s talk about the two most important pieces of hardware for personal networks. These include essentials like:

• Your modem
• Your router

Not sure what a modem is?

Your modem lets your computer receive or send data on the internet using an outside connection.

And check this out: if you have a personal computer that’s hooked up to a modem, you already have a home network setup. Also, your router is what allows you to expand your home network to link multiple devices to the internet in a wireless or wired network.

For those that want to set up a smart home network, you’re definitely going to want to get the most powerful router on the market. Not only is this the best way to manage all of the devices in your smart home, but it’s also super secure.

You can’t beat that!

Best Home Network Modems

Best Home Networking Routers

Setting Up Your Home Network System

Dying to know how to set up a home network system? Thanks to set up apps and software, it’s actually incredibly easy to put your own home network together.

However, it’s good to know that your home network will vary depending on whether it’s based on a wireless or wired system.

Wired vs. Wireless

While wired systems involve a bunch of ethernet cables, wireless local area networks are much more user-friendly. You actually have a couple of options to set up your wireless local area network.

For example, the peer-to-peer mode lets wireless devices and computers talk to one another. Meanwhile, the infrastructure mode uses a central hub to send messages to your devices.

To put it simply, the peer-to-peer mode is pretty limited because it only lets you share files from device to device. Meanwhile, infrastructure mode allows you to access your printer, internet, and additional devices on your network at the same time.

Want to go wireless? Join the club. If that’s the case, you’ll have to choose either infrastructure mode or peer-to-peer mode on your Wi-Fi adapter.

For those that are connecting to an access point or router, you’re going to want to set each wireless adapter to infrastructure mode. Additionally, you can share your Wi-Fi connection in peer-to-peer mode by transforming your laptop into a mobile hotspot.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you keep your devices close to one another in case your router fails.

Setting up your home network with a router and a browser? First of all, you’ll want to plug in all of the necessary cords and cables to show the router’s programming interface.

Then, your router device manual should pop up on the screen. Feeling stuck? I highly recommend that you look at a home network diagram for help!

All About Home Network Security

Do you want to know all about home network security? You’re not alone.

First things first, your router is your biggest defense against cybercriminals.

Your router gives you the ultimate firewall protection which will keep your home network safe from internal or external threats. Nonetheless, it’s not exactly a replacement for your standard anti-virus hardware.

However, some routers can even beef up your network security while protecting your smart devices too. On top of that, your router will typically have password protection capabilities as well.

That way, your wireless device can easily connect to your Internet network.

As if that’s not enough, additional security benefits include:

• WiFi Protected Access2 protocol
• WiFi Protected Access protocol
• Wired Equivalent Privacy protocol

Even though most network routers have a set password, you can create your own strong password by mixing up different symbols, numbers, and letters.

MAC Address Filtering

Are you using a newer router to connect to the internet? If that’s the case, then your router probably comes with a bonus security feature like MAC address filtering.

MAC address filtering lets you figure out which Wi-Fi enabled devices can connect to your network using special identities, or MAC addresses.

Unfortunately, the MAC address of your device is preset in the factory before it’s shipped out to stores. That means that you won’t be able to change them, even when you first take your device out of its package.

However, the biggest downside is that it would take a long time to initially set up and be extremely difficult for your guests to log in to your home network.

Worried about your home security? It pays to set up a smart home security system!

More Home Network Tips

Craving more home network tips?

First of all, you’ll need to put your router in an area close to your home network if you’re using a wireless home network.

Another word of advice is to make sure that your router is far away from other appliances like microwaves. That’s because these types of appliances may disrupt your computer’s wireless signal.

Consider this: it generally costs a little more money to set up a wireless home network, but that doesn’t mean you’ll go broke.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t cost much to set up wired and wireless home networks.

The price point for things like access points and routers have dropped over time. Besides, the more you pay, the less likely your personal home network will give up on you prematurely.

So, if you have an internet service provider with high network bandwidth, you’re going to want to buy high-quality devices to match it!

Find Out How to Setup a Home Network Today

Still not sure why you need a home network? Not only do they speed up your internet connection, but they also allow you to hook up several different devices at the same time. As if that’s not enough, your home network will automatically connect to smart devices too.

From understanding the lingo and getting your equipment together, to setting up your home network and figuring out internet security, our handy guide has everything you need to know to get the job done.

Having a hard time untangling all those wires? It doesn’t hurt to invest in a wireless home network system. That way, you’ll never get tangled up again.

What’s the bottom line? Find out how to set up a home network today.

Want to learn more about home networks? Check out our guides on wireless routers, smart home lighting, smart plugs, and more.