Choosing the Right Internet Connections


Once your phone system is under control, it's time to think about your Internet access. Today's agents rely heavily on the MLS database to track local listings and even download disclosure packages and other documents. Furthermore, e-mail is a handy way to exchange information with clients and other agents, especially electronic copies of disclosure packages and other items that you would otherwise need to pick up in person from your office or another agent's office.

High-Speed Access at Home

In much of the country, high-speed Internet access is now available to homes, making it much easier to have a home-based business yet be well connected to the rest of the world. Having high-speed Internet access is a must for real estate agents, so they can quickly search the MLS database, receive and send large disclosure packages, and stay in touch with clients via e-mail.

DSL versus Cable Access

You have two basic choices for Internet access for your home office: cable and DSL. Whether you choose DSL or cable, you'll get a device called a modem in your home to which you connect your computer(s). If you have just one computer, it generally connects directly to the cable or DSL modem. If you have several computers, you'll connect the computers to a broadband router, which in turn connects to the modem. Either way, that modem attaches to your cable line if it's a cable modem or to your phone line if it's a DSL modem.

The cable TV company and the phone company are vying to expand their offerings into new areas such as Internet access, so both offer discounts if you bundle Internet service with their other services. (Some cable companies even offer phone service.) Bundling services can make good sense, as long as the service meets your needs in terms of reliability and customer service.

As of early 2006, cable Internet service costs around $45 per month, while DSL service costs about $20 per month. Either could be cheaper or costlier in your area, depending on how much competition there is where you live, but as a rule cable costs more. That's because cable Internet speeds are usually three to six times faster than DSL speeds. Do you need that speed? Most of the time, no. At least not for real estate. A 1 MBps connectiona common DSL speedis fine for e-mail, Web browsing, and transmitting attachments. You'll certainly notice how much faster everything is with cable service, but only you can decide if that's worthwhile.

What might tip you in favor of cable is if your family is also using high-speed Internet access. The benefit of the higher cable speeds really becomes evident as multiple people use the Internet at the same time. And although you can have cable service for the family and DSL service just for your office, chances are the cable service can provide enough speed for everyone, so having an independent provider for your business Internet use is just not necessary. (If you deduct your Internet service from your business taxes, be sure that you figure out how much of the Internet cost is for business use and deduct just that portion.)

Of course, if you work mostly out of your broker's office, you can use the Internet connection there. In that case, a dial-up connection at home might be fine for occasional, limited useand DSL service would certainly be sufficientif family Internet access isn't an issue.

Managing Your Phone Lines

I strongly recommend that you have a dedicated home-office line to keep your personal and business lives separate. But that business line of course could be a cell phone instead of a landline. Landlines are usually much cheaper than cell phones, but the convenience of a cell phone can outweigh its higher cost, especially when you're not in the office.

The questions then become whether the price of the additional minutes is cost-effective and whether you want all business calls to go to your cell phone. (I find it harder to manage interruptions when using a cell phone, since I usually don't have paper, pencil, or other resources handy. That's why I have a home-office landline whose number I use in my ads, cards, and other outreach methods. I keep my cell phone number more private, using it only for active clients and so on, so I'm less likely to get solicitations, dinnertime or late-night messages from other agents, and general inquiries on it.)

Of course having a cell phoneeither as your primary business line or as a secondary business lineraises the question of whether you should have a separate cell phone for personal calls and one for business calls. Theoretically, I'd say yes, but in practice, the cost of multiple cell phones, not to mention the inconvenience of carrying them around and remembering which phone is for what is just too high. But you can use features like caller ID that are typically included with your cell phone plan to screen calls, helping separate business and personal use.


Throughput speeds vary widely based on how you connect to the Internet, as the chart shows. Wired technologies are in violet, cellular technologies in orange, and other wireless technologies in green.

Wireless versus Wired Access

With your Internet service selected, the next question is how to connect your computers to the Internet. You can use a wired (Ethernet) connection or a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection. Ethernet connections are fasterat least twice as fastas Wi-Fi, but require running the Ethernet cables from each computer to your router or cable/DSL modem. Wi-Fi connections don't use any wires except to connect the Wi-Fi access point to the modem or router. And some routers and modems come with Wi-Fi built in, so there is no separate access point to connect.

You'll also need an Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter in or attached to your computers, printers, and any other devices you want to connect to the Internet and to each other. Most laptops come with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections built in, and most desktop PCs come with Ethernet connections built in. For other devices, Wi-Fi adapters cost $30 to $75 each, which can quickly add up, while Ethernet adapters typically cost $10 to $75 each. (The highest prices are typically charged for the adapters, called print servers, used to connect printers to the network.)

Of course, you can have both wired and wireless connections on the same networkjust connect a wireless access point (or a wireless router that can function as an access point) to your wired router. If you use a wireless router connected this way, be sure it is set to operate as an access point and that it is connected from a regular LAN port on your wireless router, not from the WAN portotherwise, it might not work. (Don't worry about what WAN and LAN meanjust check the labels on your equipment or the manual to be sure you make the right connections.) Check your router's instructions for details on how to connect a wireless router to a wired router and then set them up to work with each other properly; there is no standard method.

CD Resource: For wired and wireless routers, links to Belkin, Buffalo Technology, Cisco Systems, D-Link, Hawking Technology, Linksys, Netgear, and SMC Networks.

High-Speed Access on the Road

When you're away from the office, accessing the Internet is trickier. Chances are you'll use one of three methods: connecting via dial-up modem from someone's phone line, connecting via someone's network, or connecting through a subscription to a Wi-Fi hot spot service.

In your laptop bag, be sure to carry a phone cord (also called an RJ11 cable) and an Ethernet cable (also called an RJ45 cable), so you can connect to the Internet via a dial-up or a network connection. I suggest you get a cord that automatically spools the wire to save space in your bag.

You'll need a dial-up account to connect via modem: Most companies that provide Internet access for your home provide a free or low-cost dial-up option when you're traveling, so be sure to ask about dial-up options before spending money on a separate account from a company like AOL, EarthLink, MSN, or PeoplePC.

Watch Out For Wi-Fi Variants

Like everything else when it comes to technology, Wi-Fi wireless networkingalso known as 802.11comes in several variations.

The best is 802.11g, because it's pretty fast and widely compatible. An 802.11g device runs on both the 802.11g and the slower 802.11b networks. Likewise, an 802.11g network lets both 802.11b and 802.11g devices access it (although if it detects an 802.11b device, an 802.11g network will make all devices run at the 802.11b device's slower speed).

The 802.11a technology is not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g, so you should not buy an 802.11a device. But if 802.11a comes at no extra cost as one of several technologies on the same card or access pointsuch as an 802.11a/g combinationit does no harm.

Definitely avoid all the proprietary technologies offered by wireless vendorsthose with labels like Super G, G Plus, SRX, MIMO, 108, and pre-Nbecause the extra speed they promise only occurs if all the equipment on the network comes from the same vendor and uses the same special technology. That's a big if, and is essentially just a tricky way to get you to pay more than you should.


Using Networks at the Broker and Elsewhere

If you connect over someone else's networksuch as your broker'syou need to configure your laptop to work properly. Changing the configuration can get complicated, so you might need some help.

The basic issue is that networks have a router that manages all the connections, and your laptop needs to find this router. Routers have a unique network address, which may or may not match the one at your home. (Routers in different locations can have the same address because the address is seen only in that specific network, not across the Internet.) If the network address is different, you might need to tell your laptop where to find the router you want to connect to. Also, most routers automatically give your laptop its own temporary address when connected to them. But some routers expect your laptop to have a predefined address, called an IP address. So you might need to set this IP address as well when you switch networks.

In Windows XP, choose Start > Settings > Network Connections > Local Area Network, then click Properties to open the Internet Protocol (IP) Properties dialog box. Scroll down the list until you see Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), select it and then click Properties. Normally, both Obtain an IP Address Automatically and Use the Following DNS Server Addresses should be selected, letting the router figure out the best settings.

An automatically spooling Ethernet cable (top) and phone cord (bottom) are great space savers. You can find them in most consumer electronics shops, as well as at online retailers and auction sites.

But if choosing these automatic options don't work, first try to change the router address by clicking the Advanced button in the Internet Protocol (IP) Properties dialog box. Then adding a new gateway (router address) in the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box that appears by clicking the Add button and entering the router address provided by the network manager.

If manually entering the router address doesn't do the trick, you might need to change the IP and DNS settings in the Internet Protocol (IP) Properties dialog box, using settings provided by the network manager. You'll probably need an IT person's help at this point. Just so you know, IP Address is the laptop's address, Default Gateway is the router's address, and DNS Servers are the addresses for using the Internet from that router.

In Mac OS X, choose > System Preferences > Network. In the TCP/IP pane, the Configure IPv4 pull-down menu should normally be set at Using DHCP, which lets the router and laptop figure out the right settings automatically. If the automatic settings don't work, select Manually in the Configure IPv4 menu and enter the IP address (laptop address) and Router settings as instructed by the network's manager. For access to the Internet, you might also need to enter addresses in the DNS Servers area.

Accessing the Internet Using Wi-Fi Hot Spots

Additionally, you can access the Internet through a Wi-Fi hot spot. Using a hot spot requires having an 802.11 wireless radio or card in your laptop, which is now all but standard equipment. (Several versions of Wi-Fi technology are available, but the only one you want to buy new is 802.11g, although if you already have 802.11b equipment, that'll work, too.)

Wi-Fi hot spots have a range of a few hundred feet and are typically found in cafés that are happy to rent you a table, either by charging a daily or monthly Wi-Fi access fee (as Starbucks does) or by hoping you'll buy enough coffee and snacks to make it worth your taking up their table space (as many local coffee shops do). More and more, cities are providing free or low-cost wireless hot spots in downtown and other dense areas to encourage business usage. And brokerages are increasingly installing Wi-Fi hot spots for their agents, because it's often a lot easier and cheaper to install a wireless network than it is to install individual network jacks at each desk.

Wi-Fi hot spots use the same technology as a wireless network in your home. Thus, you'll have the same connection requirements for a Wi-Fi hot spot as you do at home (described later in this chapter), plus you might also have to log in to your Wi-Fi account from your Web browser to get Internet access.

CD Resource: For 3G cellular service, links to AT&T Wireless/Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and Verizon Wireless. For cellular modems, links to Novatel Wireless, Sierra Wireless, and Sony Ericcson.

The two network setup panes in Windows XP let you override the automatic address management when that doesn't work. Get the correct settings from the network's manager.

Securing Your Connections

However you connect to the Internet, you need to protect your computers from hackers (who try to steal information from your computer) and malware (soft ware that can damage your computer, steal your financial account information, or do other nefarious things). Chapter 1, "The Right Office Tools," covers software tools for your PC such as antivirus and antispyware, but you should have more protection than that.

Make sure your computer's firewallwhich blocks many intruders and malwareis turned on. In Windows XP, do so in the Security Center (Start > Settings > Control Panel > Security Center). In Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) or later, do so in the Sharing system preference ( > System Preferences > Sharing, then go to the Firewall pane). For other operating systems, you can buy an Internet security tool such as those from Symantec and McAfee. Also, be sure your router or modem has a hardware firewall built inand ensure that it is turned on. (See the manual that came with your hardware for details.)

If you use a wireless connection, be sure to turn on wireless securityit's usually off by defaultand require the use of a password for connecting to the Internet. Follow the instructions that came with your access point. The best type of password is secured using a technology called WPA-PSK (or just WPA), although older equipment and operating systems won't support it. In that case, use the older WEP technology for password security.

You also need to make sure your laptop's wireless hardware isset to use the same security settings as the wireless access points or routers you are connecting to. (Your home office network may use different settings than your broker's does.)

In Windows, either use the soft ware that came with your wireless card or notebook, or use Windows XP's settings. Be forewarned: Windows' network management controls are hard to find and provided through a series of dialog boxes and tabbed panes, making it hard to follow the instructions that follow. (Feel free to complain to Bill Gates about the incredibly bad user interface his company created for these settings.)

In Windows XP:

  1. Choose Start > Settings > Network Connections > Wireless Network Connection, then click View Wireless Networks.

  2. Click Change Advanced Settings, then select the wireless network connection to change.

  3. Click the Properties button to set the security type and, optionally, enter your password for automatic log in later.

Fortunately, you can save these various settings as profiles and switch among them as needed. I recommend you save profiles for those connections that you make often, such as for your home or broker's office or for a Wi-Fi hot spot you frequent. To create and save this profile, use the software that came with your wireless card or use Windows's built-in settings:

  1. Choose Start > Settings > Network Connections > Wireless Network Connection.

  2. Click View Wireless Networks.

  3. Choose Change Advanced Settings.

  4. Go to the Wireless Networks tabbed pane and click the Add button.

  5. Complete the connection and security information.

  6. Click OK to save the profile.

The profile's name will be the same as the SSID you entered when creating that profile.(The SSID is the name the router was given by the network manager, and it will appear in the list of available networks automatically.)

The two wireless network setup panes in Windows XP let you set up security settings for your laptop (click Properties to display the pane at the bottom) and save connections as profiles for easy selection later (by clicking Add in the pane at the top).

On the Mac, you'll be prompted for a password when it detects a new wireless connection; if the Mac doesn't detect the security protocol (such as WPA or WEP) in use, you can manually select the protocol in the Wireless Security drop-down menu.You can store passwords in the Keychain utility by selecting the Add to Keychain checkbox in login dialog boxes, such as when you connect to a network.



The Tech-Savvy Real Estate Agent
The Tech-Savvy Real Estate Agent
ISBN: 0321413660
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 100
Authors: Galen Gruman

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