Access Points: Wired Solutions

Excerpt from “Internet Access Points”

Gateway

A gateway is a wireless router bundled with a modem. This allows one piece of technology to complete two tasks and like a router is bundled with extra ethernet ports on the rear.

Switch

If you have a lot of wired enabled devices or you just prefer to be plugged a switch, or ethernet hub, will be your best choice. A switch is almost like a router except for the fact that it only has ethernet ports and does not broadcast a network signal making it more affordable. So it’s the main job is to transfer the incoming network signal to all of the other ports. For smaller homes and businesses you may find that a four-port switch will be ok, but for the larger business, you may need sixteen or more ports. For these reasons, companies make these switches with a wide range of port options. just for the ports because there is no wireless.

Powerline Network


In many homes, there is not a wired connection, and wiring it with ethernet cables can take time, money, and many struggles. So what’s an alternative to ethernet? A power line network, which uses your existing electoral wiring to send your internet signal. The way it works is on the beginning side of the network you wire in the signal from either your router or modem into an adapter that is plugged into the wall outlet. It is important that you plug it in the wall and not into a surge protector because the protector might filter out the data. Then at another outlet plug in a receive into the outlet. No longer does your router have to stay in one place, or you can extend your wireless connection by purchasing a wifi extending powerline. Be careful if you live in an apartment and use this option because if anyone living around is one the same circuit that can take your internet for free.

Daisy Chain

All of these options allow you to daisy chain off of each other. Meaning staring from your modem you can plug in a router, switch, or powerline, and you can plug in a router to a router, a switch into a switch. Although you can’t really plug in a powerline into a powerline because if you do it once the signal the already going through all of your wires. But you can plug in a switch to a router, or a router into a powerline. You have the option to mix and match all of the options that you would like to provide your home or business with the best wire or wireless connection.