These days there are a few options available for home networking; there’s traditional Ethernet using copper cabling, there’s wireless (or Wi-Fi) networking and there are powerline devices which allow you to use the electrical wiring in your home to transmit network data.  Each of these mediums has their own advantages and disadvantages and in this article we’ll be looking at each medium in turn so that you can decide which is best for you.

Traditional Copper Ethernet

Ethernet is the name given to traditional “wired” networks which use cables with RJ45 connectors (think phone connectors but bigger) to transmit data between devices.  Normally a network using Ethernet will be arranged so that all devices are connected to a central “hub”, offering the shortest point between any devices on the network.  This “hub” may be an actual network hub, or another type of network device such as your home broadband router.  The Ethernet standard has been around since the 1980′s and performance has increased steadily over the years, with devices now capable of transmitting and receiving data at 1Gbps (one Gigabit per second).

The advantages of a wired Ethernet network are mainly speed, reliability and cost.  Ethernet still provides the fastest home networking experience available, almost all devices in the home will be capable of 100Mbps (Mega bits per second) if not the 1Gbps figure mentioned above.  The technology is also reliable, the network is an enclosed system using its own cabling, so rarely experiences interference from other devices.  Ethernet is also cheap to implement as the cost of cables and network hardware is relatively low (for home use anyway).  This type of home network is also the most secure, it is very difficult for people to access any devices attached to your home network without physical access to your home.

There are disadvantages to Ethernet as a sole means of home networking.  For one, you always need a network cable attached to your device in order for it to be connected to your home network and the internet.  Many smaller devices (PDA’s, smartphones) don’t even come with Ethernet ports anymore, meaning you wouldn’t be able to use these devices properly in the home.  Those devices that do have Ethernet ports can only be used where you have a network cable, which can be restrictive and messy.  Running a full Ethernet distribution at home can also look untidy if not done properly; cables tacked to skirting boards never look good.

Wireless Networking

Wireless technology has become more and more popular in the home in the last few years.  Most user devices (laptops, PDA’s, even home computers) now come with some form of wireless connectivity.  The technology uses the same principals as Ethernet networking, but the medium for transmitting the data is not copper cabling, but a wireless signal sent and received by your devices.  Most wireless equipment transfers data at 54Mbps, which is slower than a cabled network, but there are technologies available allowing transfer rates of upto 600Mbps.  It’s worth considering though that these speeds are the optimum speeds that the devices are capable of, and will drop significantly depending on the signal strength, which in turn is affected by distance from the connected device and any obstructions.

The advantages of a wireless network are that it allows the user to connect to the home network from anywhere within range of the wireless base station.  This is great for use at home because it means you can sit comfortably on the sofa while using your wireless device to access the internet and other devices on your network.  It can also be a relatively cheap system to set up providing you don’t need the faster speeds mentioned above.

The downside of wireless technology is that it is far more susceptible to attack from outside than a wired network.  Eavesdroppers no longer need physical access to your network in order to access your system or use your internet connection.  Providing they are in range of your wireless base station they will be able to see and access your wireless network.  This problem has been mostly resolved by the introduction of encryption in the form of “wireless keys” which are input upon connection to the network.  Once input the network will then allow the device access to network resources until the connection is closed.  This in itself is not foolproof, though; new ways to get around the wireless encryption are constantly being devised and it can be quite difficult and time consuming to make sure your home network is secure when using wireless networking.

Powerline Networking Device.

Powerline again uses the same principals as Ethernet and wireless technologies, but this time the medium for transmission if the electrical cabling in your home.  This technology is still in its infancy, having only been available commercially for a couple of years, however it’s a good way to answer some of the shortcomings of both Ethernet and wireless networking (though it does have some shortcomings of its own).  Basically the technology employs devices that plug into a mains socket in your home and then transmit a signal down the copper electrical cables to other devices connected in the same way.  To connect these devices to your network you would need to use traditional Ethernet cables.

The advantages of this system are that it allows you to have a cabled home network without the need to run bespoke Ethernet cabling around your home.  It is also slightly faster than a wireless network, with devices operating at around 85Mbps (again, this is a theoretical figure, the actual figure will depend on the distance the signal is transmitted and the quality of your home wiring).  Powerline is also less susceptible to “drop outs” that sometimes occur with wireless networks due to interference from other sources.  The transmission distance of powerline is also greater than that of most wireless equipment, making it perfect for “black spots” (areas where a wireless signal doesn’t reach).

There are disadvantages to the powerline system as well, the most important of which is security:  Currently there is very little protection offered on powerline compared to wireless networking.  This is important because although the system is designed to allow networking from anywhere in the home where there is a power outlet, the signal can actually travel past the fuseboard of your home and onto the mains feed into your property.  This is especially likely to happen in apartment blocks where wiring is often closely connected between homes.  The problem here is that those in neighboring properties may be able to access your network and internet connection over a powerline connection.  Powerline is also comparatively expensive, and there are no guarantees as to how the devices will perform as this relies almost entirely on the way the electrical cables are wired up in your home.  In my opinion, powerline should only be used as a last resort where it is not possible to run either an Ethernet cable or have wireless network coverage.

Conclusions

There are advantages and disadvantages to all these systems.  Ethernet is best used where large amounts of data needs to be moved or where the data is sensitive or important.  Wireless is a great solution for the home, just be aware of the security issues and take steps to protect your data.  Powerline is useful, but bare in mind the security issues that come along with using it.  I would personally always use Ethernet for devices that aren’t mobile (home computers, games consoles, media players, etc.) as you are guaranteed the best possible connection and the best security for your data.  In a world where quick access to data is becoming paramount, it is almost a requirement to have a wireless network, but it’s important to make sure that your wireless network is protected as much as possible from those outside your home.