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Networking without tears

JACK KAPICA

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 5:57 PM EDT 01/11/07

Three products make networking, backup and connecting to the Internet much easier for small businesses or home users with anywhere from two to eight PCs ...Read the full article

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  1. Some Guy from Ottawa, Canada writes: Windows XP has the easiest network setup wizard I have ever seen. It comes with everything except the doe-eyed, smiley faced kindergarten teacher talking hight-pitched goo-goo to you.

    What is so difficult about running a network setup wizard? The wires only go in one hole.
  2. Frank Curry from Toronto, Canada writes: Interesting article, however my Windows 2000 machine print via the network OK, I just checked it.
  3. Erik D. from Canada writes: To Some Guy from Ottawa: Have you tried to network a MAC and your Windows XP, or say a Windows 98 machine to your Windows XP machine? If everything is running one operating system, then yes, networking is easy and can be done using the network setup wizard, otherwise it tends not to work that well.
  4. D D from Toronto, Canada writes: I haven't specifically tested the HomePlug mentioned in the article, but I have tested a competing product from D-Link. This "home networking over the power lines" thing, as far as I've been able to tell, hides one dirty little secret, which for some reason doesn't seem to be featured in advertisements or advertisement-reviews like this one... They only work when both plugs are on the same circuit, ie when they are on the same fuse. I live in a home that has many different circuits, and the likelihood that an electrical outlet in some part of my house will happen to be on the same fuse as the electrical outlet that my internet connection is plugged into is, frankly, low. When I tested it, I found that only 2 other outlets were on the same circuit. One was in the same room, which wasn't entirely useful, and the other was in the garage, which would be great I suppose if I wanted to access the internet while sitting in an unheated room alone with my lawnmower. Other devices on the same circuit included the lights in my hall, which I suppose could access the internet quite nicely.

    I'm no expert, I haven't tested a bunch of these products, but I think reviewers should be a little more critical in their evaluation, as I have found this type of device to be quite useless, except for the gee-whiz factor of performing a neat electronic trick.
  5. Andrew H from London, Canada writes: OK....brutal first sentence. Why on earth would a "non-technical" person know or be expected to know how to create a computer network?? Why is that embarassing if they don't know??

    Second./....actually Mac computers are FAR easier to create networks on....like they literally just have to be plugged together on the router port and you click "file sharing" ON. It's that simple. I would say Windows is what gives me the headace....
  6. M Spiker from Stittsville, Canada writes: D D you shouldn't have a problem unless you have 2 feeds from Hydro. HomePlug won't work across a transformer (like the one outside your house) but it shouldn't be affected by fuses/breakers (when they are closed it is all one circuit.
  7. Hugh G Rexyon from Canada writes: Regarding the HomePlug questions..... Your home electrical panel has 2 110 volt feeds that come into the panel from the Hydro tansformer at the street. each of these feeds, which are refered to as phases, power half of the panel. The neutral and ground are common to each of the sides of the panel. When a circuit requires 220 volts each of the 110 volt feeds are used in conjunction with the neutral and ground to provide the required voltage. My theory is that for HomePlug to work properly both units would need to be connected to circuits that are on the same 110 volt feed or phase. You should also ensure that the outlets in your home are not wired backwards with the phase and neutral reversed. You will not notice any difference when your light or appliance is plugged in but in certain situations it can be dangerous (lethal) if this is the case. In a 110 volt plug the neutral should be connected to the larger of the two openings in the plug.
  8. Earl G from Comox, BC, Canada writes: Actually you can have problems between circuits in a home. Half the circuits are on one "Leg" the other half on the second "Leg". These two Legs are not connected except through the transformer on the pole and through resistive loads in the home, such as the hot water tank, electric heat or stove etc. If the plug-in network is not on the sale leg there would likely be problems as they would have to communicate through a transformer or resistive load.
  9. H P from the Comox Valley from Vancouverislandopolis, Canada writes: I'm not familiar with these three network software tools.

    I was having some problems networking my old Win98SE to my new XP system (using LinkSys cableing and hardware, and the Windows wizard); I may have inadvertently removed some seemingly redundant protocols, then attempted to reinsatal them.

    Anyhow, I knew there was minimal traffic between the computers, just not enough to connect, apparently. Then I ran across a fully functional trial version of Dell's Network Assistant, and it was a snap, as this program does the 'heavy-lifting." It does have pop-up reminders, but those can be shut off, when the program's not in use.

    I'm so happy with it, I should buy it soon (about $40).
  10. TheWay ISeeIt from Calgary, Canada writes: I have two PCs running Windows XP wired to a wireless router connected to a cable modem. Both PCs can access the Internet, no problem but neither of them shows up in the other's Network Neighborhood nor can I access the printer on one machine from the other. This product sounds like the solution but I think I should be able to do this without it. I just can't figure out how!

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