Sharing Your Broadband Modem

The introduction of high-speed Internet access to a wide consumer audience is perhaps the most important new technology for home networks. The term broadband refers to fast Internet access technologies, such as cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), which transmit data many times faster than an analog (56-kbps) modem.

Cable modems provide high-speed access, between 300 kilobits to 1.5 megabits per second, over regular TV cable lines. You can see a cable modem, from Linksys, in Figure 1.7. DSL connections provide similar speeds to that of cable over regular phone lines.

Figure 1.7. A cable modem provides much greater speed for connecting to the Internet than a 56-kilobits per second analog modem.

Both cable and DSL connections offer fast Internet access that will make your network much more useful. Connecting your wireless network to a broadband connection provides you with a fast link to the Internet without tethering your computer to your modem.

Broadband by Satellite

A less commonly used broadband technology is satellite Internet access, such as that provided by EchoStar (www.echostar.com) and DirecWay (www. direcway .com). Satellite Internet access is often a good option for those in rural areas who cannot get DSL or cable Internet access. Though this is a wireless technology, the companies that sell satellite Internet access provide little in the way of options for sharing Internet access among computers on a network.

Using a home network to share broadband Internet access provides three main benefits:

1. You won't tie up your phone lines . Broadband Internet connections do not require that you use your analog phone line to dial up to your Internet service provider.

2. You get an "always-on" connection . In most cases, broadband connections are "always-on" so that you don't need to dial in and enter your user name and password each time you want to access the Internet. You just launch your Web browser or e-mail software and get to work.

3. Multiple computers can share the connection, simultaneously . Each person in your home or office can browse Web pages, send e-mail, and download files at the same time. You can also set up your network to share an analog, 56-kbps modem, but when sharing Internet access, the faster the connection speed, the better.

These benefits aren't limited to wireless LANs. However, a wireless network connected to a broadband Internet connection offer greater flexibility than a wired network. And since you won't need to wire cable to create your network, you can get started sharing files, Internet access, and peripherals right away.