Networking Systems Connecting With Multi-Computer Households

If you have more than one computer at home--and an estimated 23 million homes and growing do--networking is a logical next step that can open a new world of sharing files, printers, Internet connections and playing network games.

Tired of transferring files with floppy disks? No problem with networked computers. Fed up with everyone fighting over a single Internet connection? Just set up Internet sharing over the network so everyone can split one modem. Ready for a game of multi-player “Diablo” in which you can scream at your teammates instead of typing? Networking is the solution.

The choices for home networking have been limited. Traditional ethernet is fast, but requires installing special wiring and knocking holes in walls. The new class of phone-line, wireless and power-line networks, are a snap to install since they do not need new wiring, but they are very slow.

It was only a matter of time before companies figured out how a home networking system that is both fast and easy to install.

The first to achieve this feat are the next generation of phone-line networking systems, which transmit computer information at a different frequency than telephone conversations. Thus, users can talk on the phone and share computer files at the same time without interference. The systems use the same jacks and wires that are already installed in a home.

Networking computers may seem like an exotic project, suitable only for geeks and the techno-obsessed. Setting up a network is still not a task for neophytes, but if you are comfortable installing computer equipment and software, the phone-line systems are about the easiest on the market because they have been designed specifically for home use.

Phone-line systems were introduced last year, running at a speed of well less than 1 megabit per second.

The big change has been an improvement in speed, up to 10 mbps. That may seem arcane, but it is an important step--marking the coming of age of phone-line networking.

At 10 mbps, these devices are no longer a compromise that consumers have to settle for, but rather a decent solution that even small businesses might find attractive.

Ten mbps is where moving files and programs between computers begins to seem transparent. It is really the minimum network speed that anyone should consider, no matter what the makers of 1-megabit systems say.

Several companies now have 10-megabit phone-line systems on the market, but to keep things simple, I looked at just two product lines, from Intel and 3Com, both heavyweight hardware companies that have been leaders in the home-networking market.

Intel’s AnyPoint

Intel was among the first companies to introduce a phone-line system. It now offers two 10-megabit models: a $79 card that fits inside a computer and a $99 external unit that plugs into a USB port.

The USB model is the best choice for those who want the simplest installation. All it takes, if you have a USB port on your computer, is to plug it in and install the software--about an hourlong process if everything goes smoothly.

The devices then plug into a home’s phone jacks using regular phone wiring, and as long as all the devices are plugged into jacks with the same telephone number, the system should work.

The only drawback to the USB system is that it is noticeably slower than the AnyPoint model that fits inside a computer.

The internal card model, selling for about $79, is a better choice for those who expect to transfer big files or who just want more speed, although the speed difference is not that great.

For example, one 41-megabyte file--equivalent to about 30 floppy disks or 40 200-page novels--took 14 minutes to transfer using Intel’s 1-megabit system. The same file took about 1 minute 40 seconds using the USB model and 50 seconds using the internal card.

The key to these networking systems is the installation software--programs designed to avoid all the fiddling with Windows that is usually needed to set up a network.

Intel’s AnyPoint software asks its questions in plain English and does a respectable job of guiding users through the configuration process so they can share files and peripherals.

The only problems I encountered with the AnyPoint system were in setting up my computers so they could share a single Internet connection--a touchy procedure even under the best circumstances.

After removing the software and reinstalling, Internet sharing worked fine, although I can guarantee that, because of the variety of computer setups out there, not everyone will have a smooth experience.

3Com HomeConnect

3Com’s offering in the phone-line networking market is the 10-megabit HomeConnect system, which uses a card that users have to install inside their computers.

If you’re not used to opening your computer it might be best to avoid this device, because a network card is not the best choice to learn on.

But those who have installed graphics cards or internal modems would not find it very different.

The 3Com device runs as fast as Intel’s units but comes with one of the simplest network installation programs available--HomeClick from Microsoft.

The program asks its questions clearly and is even simpler than Intel’s software. Configuring a network is centralized into one program, making the process relatively painless.

Everything from printer sharing to multi-player games and Internet sharing worked fine on the 3Com HomeConnect system from the first try.

One caveat about the 3Com system, which costs about $75 a unit, is that it requires at least Windows 98 Second Edition to run Internet sharing.

The HomeConnect kit includes a disk that will upgrade any Windows 98 version to Second Edition, but if you have Windows 95, you’re going to have to update your operating system--not a pleasant experience.

The 3Com system is still easy to recommend and will become even better later this year when the company releases a USB version that you can just plug into your computer without having to open it up.

Both Intel and 3Com’s phone-line systems are based on a common standard: the Home Phone Line Networking Alliance 2.0 standard.

That means you can mix and match devices, running 1-megabit devices with 10-megabit devices and USB models with internal card models. You can even mix and match devices from different manufacturers.

Within the year, Intel is promising to deliver a product that will allow consumers to mix and match phone-line and wireless networks.

These advancements are quickly making phone-line networking the most viable option for the home.