Home Network - Top 5 Tips

Introduction

A home network allows computers to communicate. These days many homes have more than one computer and often have other devices such as game systems that also use in the Internet. A home network allows all of these devices to get online wirelessly, without each individual device having their own separate router and service provider. When setting up a home network there are some tips that should be followed in order to both keep your home network secure and to enable all devices in your home to get the best signal strength possible.

Step 1

• Change default password settings.You will want to change the router's password from the default password to one of your choosing. Make sure that anyone connecting to your router must have a password. Most people already do this, however, there are some who leave their system unsecured. This enables anyone close enough to pick up your signal to get on the Internet through your signal. 

Step 2

• Move your router. If you find that some devices are not getting a strong signal, you may have to move the router. Placing in a location that is central to the devices that will be using it often helps. As does moving it away from an outside wall. Placing a router near an outside wall will weaken your signal. Try these steps to strengthen your home network signal. You may also want to move it from the floor if that is where it is located. If the router is in your home office, a metal file cabinet could be blocking the signal.

Step 3

• Set up sharing between computers. A home network allows sharing between computers. This sharing can include files and computers. Allowing one computer to access the printer on another computer makes it easier for each user to handle their own printing jobs. A child in their bedroom can sent homework to the printer in the home office to be printed. This way you need only one printer for the entire house, rather than one for each computer. 

Step 4

• Change your routers channel. Most routers will have a default channel that they are set on. If you have problems with your home network signal strength try changing the channel. You may be getting interference on the default channel. Experiment with the channels available to find which one gives you the best signal. There are 11 channels to choose from.

Step 5

• Keep the firewall on the router enabled. This is for your security. You may even want to install firewalls on all the computers in your home network.

Tips

Experiment with moving the router to different locations if signal strength continues to be a problem. Walls could be blocking the signal or metal of some sort.

Never give your password out to anyone not on your home network.

Change your password if you think someone may have access to it.

If you have no choice but to place your router near an outside wall, change the antenna. A standard antenna will send the signal in all directions, you can buy one that sends the signal in only one direction. This keeps the signal from being sent outside and wasted through the outside wall.

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