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Wired networks
Wired networks in the home can be fairly simple. The simplest wired network would consist of 2 computers with Network Interface Cards hereafter refered to as NICs connected together with a Crossover cable. A Crossover Cable is a special network cable designed to connect two similar devices together, such as two computers, or two ethernet switches
example of a simple crossover network
A network topology that allows for more than two devices might use an ethernet switch to connect the devices.
example of a network with several devices
If you want your Local Area Network, or LAN to connect to the internet you would use a Router
example of a LAN with Internet access
Wireless networks
Wireless networks are basically the same as wired networks, except that you need the addition of a Wireless Access Point to share the network connection with computers and peripherals that are not physically connected to the network. These device will require some type of wireless NIC to connect to the wireless access point. Wireless NICs come in several varieties. A desktop computer will generally require a PCI NIC, whereas a laptop or notebook computer would use a PC-Card, PCMCIA, or Cardbus-type NIC. In some situations a USB-based NIC can be used.
example of a LAN with a Wireless Access Point
You can now purchase an all-in-one device to do all the functions we spoke about above. Wireless routers with a built-in ethenet switch and wireless access point are quite common and inexpensive. Where once you would have paid hundreds or even thousands of dollars for each of the devices described above, you can now buy a wireless gateway router with a 4-port ethernet switch for under $100
example of an all-in-one system
Wireless access point signals only travel, at most, a few hundred feet, and depending on conditions and surrounding can sometimes be hard-pressed to travel from one end of a house to the other, or from one floor to the next. You may find that you can't connect to your access point in the basement from your laptop in the bedroom, only 30 feet away, but have no trouble seeing a wireless signal from a neighbor several houses away. Such are the vagaries of wireless signals. In such a case, you may need to install an additional access point closer to where you will be working, in order to cover the entire house. This access point can be hard-wired to your ethernet switch, or you may need to use an access point in Range Extender mode somewhere in the middle. In this mode, the device receives, and then re-transmits the wireless signal, thereby increasing the coverage of your wireless LAN
example of a range-extending access point
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