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In the network shown in
a gigabit connection through the router to the storage server. With a high-speed router this
connection allows for extremely fast backups or quick access to large files on the server. The PC
connected through a pair of Powerline HD adapters is limited to the 200 Mbps speed of the
Powerline HD connection. Although any of the links in this example would be sufficient for high-
traffic applications such as streaming HD video, the use of older devices such as 10 Mbps Ethernet
or 802.11b wireless would create a significant bottleneck.
In planning your network, think about which tasks will have the heaviest traffic flow between
them. Examples are:
•
A media center in one room streaming high-definition video from a server in another room
•
A storage device that is used for backing up your computers
Overview of Home and Small Office Networking
Technologies
Common connection types and their speed and security considerations are:
•
Broadband Internet. Your Internet connection speed is determined by your modem type,
such as ADSL or cable modem, as well as the connection speed of the sites to which you
connect, and general Internet traffic. ADSL and cable modem connections are asymmetrical,
meaning they have a lower data rate to the Internet (upstream) than from the Internet
(downstream). Keep in mind that when you connect to another site that also has an
asymmetrical connection, the data rate between your sites is limited by each side's upstream
data rate. A typical residential ADSL or cable modem connection provides a downstream
throughput of about 1 to 3 megabits per second (Mbps). Newer technologies such as ADSL2+
and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) increase the connection speed to tens of Mbps.
•
Wireless. A high-speed wireless router can provide a wireless data throughput of up to 300
Mbps using technology called multiple input, multiple-output (MIMO), in which multiple
antennas transmit multiple streams of data. The use of multiple antennas also provides
excellent range and coverage. With the introduction of the newer WPA and WPA2 encryption
and authentication protocols, wireless security is extremely strong.
To get the best performance, use newer adapters such as RangeMax adapters for your
computers. A high-speed router might be compatible with older 802.11b and 802.11g adapters,
but the use of these older wireless technologies in your network can result in lower throughput
overall (typically less than 10 Mbps for 802.11b and less than 40 Mbps for 802.11g). In
addition, many older wireless products do not support the latest security protocols, WPA and
WPA2.
NETGEAR RangeMax Next Wireless-N ExpressCard WN711 User Manual
Figure
3-1, the two PCs with Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet adapters have
v1.0, March 2008
3-3
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