Number 3

Home and Office Networking – Three Alternatives

As soon as you purchase your second computer for your office or home, you would be wise to consider connecting them together. This network will save you money and time because it lets you share your printer, Internet connection (dial-up, cable or DSL), and files. The three ways to network your computers are through standard network cables, phone lines and wireless. Let’s take a brief look at the pros and cons of each method.

The standard network cabling (also known as CAT-5) method is most frequently used in offices. It is the fastest and most reliable solution. Most new homes have (or should have) CAT-5 cabling pre-installed. This solution can also be the most expensive, especially in homes where installing cabling in existing walls could be difficult.

Phoneline networking is also fast and reliable. You can still use the phone to talk or send faxes while networking. It works great, especially in homes where the same phone line is already in the locations where you want the computers. But if you don’t have the same phone line in the desired locations, you will have to install more phone lines (just like installing standard network cabling.)

Wireless networking is very popular when people have laptops, which allow them to move around (or even go outside) while still being connected to the network. It is also a good alternative to consider for desktops because it may be less expensive than installing cables (phone or CAT-5.) The main problem with wireless networking are the limited range (usually less than 100’ indoors) and things that will interfere with the signal such as stone walls and metal appliances.

We at Clerc Computer Consulting have lots of experience with all these networking alternatives. Please call us at (713) 861-4183 and we will be happy to consult with you to determine and install the best networking solution for you.

Networking Isn’t Just for Computers

We find that meeting other people is a great way to get them to know about the benefits of our services. If you are interested in increasing your business or sphere of influence, please consider joining one of these networking groups to which we belong:

The Windsor Club – meets the second and fourth Thursday for breakfast at the Omni Hotel. We also meet once a month for a social activity.

PWEGH (Professional Women’s Exchange Group of Houston) – meets the first Thursday for lunch at the Racquet Club.

SNBC (Southwest Networking Business Cabinet) – meets the first and third Tuesday for breakfast at La Madeline on Westheimer near the Tollway.

The Professional Group – is for women only and meets the first Tuesday for breakfast at The Junior League.

UBC (Universal Business Consultants) – specializes in residential services referrals and meets every other month at a variety of locations.

Unlimited Professionals – is a support group that meets every third Thursday at the Palm Restaurant.

Greater Southwest Houston Chamber of Commerce – has breakfast, lunch, ribbon cuttings and many other networking opportunities each month. You can visit their web site at www.gswhcc.org.

First Wednesday – meets the first Wednesday (duh!) for lunch at a variety of locations.

East End Area Chamber of Commerce -- also has breakfast, lunch, ribbon cuttings and many other networking opportunities each month. You can visit their web site.

Please call us at (713) 861-4183 if you are interested in any of these groups.

High-Speed Internet

I’m sure you’ve seen lots of TV commercials about DSL and cable Internet service. Let’s separate fact from marketing hype and see what’s best for you.

First, let’s discuss what they have in common:

They’re both fast. Downloading a file that normally takes about an hour through your dial-up connection only takes a minute or two through cable or DSL. And you can view videos in real time instead of spending an hour to download a five-minute preview.
They both free up your phone line. If you have a phone line dedicated for your Internet connection, eliminating that phone line will just about pay for the increased cost of the high-speed connection.
They can be shared with all of your computers. We can install a router in place of your hub that will distribute this high-speed connection to all of your computers.
They can be used with either phoneline or wireless networking. We simply install the correct router for your networking needs.
They come with multiple e-mail accounts. That way everyone can have his or her own separate e-mail account.
They can be used in your home or business. Since RoadRunner is now going after business accounts, both cable and DSL are available for your home or business.
You need a firewall. It is much easier for someone to hack into your computer through the Internet when you have a high-speed connection. We prefer the use of a hardware (router) firewall than a software (program) solution since it is easier to use and less obtrusive.
They are both not perfectly reliable. Occasionally either the DSL or cable will not be available. One is not any more reliable than the other.
They are not available when you travel. If you want to access the Internet or check your e-mail while away, you will still need a dial-up connection configured on your laptop. Both DSL and cable offer dial-up solutions for this purpose.

Now for their differences:

Installation – when you order cable, the cable company usually takes care of everything so your computer is ready to go when they leave. With DSL, you usually receive a kit in the mail with an instruction manual (that’s where we can help.)
Software – cable does not require any additional software; your computer is always and immediately connected to the Internet. With DSL, software is installed on your computer (or configured in your router) that logs you into their network in just a few seconds.
Availability – not all high-speed services are available in all areas. You need to check for availability before ordering.

So which service is best for you? Your first consideration is availability – see above. The second thing to consider is your current e-mail address. If your e-mail address is through your Internet Service Provider (ISP; e.g., don@aol.com) and you don’t want to change your e-mail address, then check with your current ISP to see if a high-speed service is available to you. Changing your e-mail address is just like moving – it can be a pain to make sure everyone knows about your new address.

If you have your own domain name (e.g., dclerc@clerc.com) or don’t care if you change your e-mail address, and if both services are available to you, then either solution would work. All other things being equal, we recommend the cable service due to easier installation and no software requirement. Please call us at (713) 861-4183 so we can help you determine what is best for you, help you order the service, install and configure the DSL connection, install a firewall, and/or network the high-speed Internet to all your computers.

The Ticket Attorney

Eutsler Law Firm defends traffic tickets, handles car accident and other injury cases, and defends DWI and other criminal cases.

A traffic ticket case is a criminal case and you have important constitutional rights, guilty or not. Eutsler Law Firm protects and exercises your rights. Even in the cases that would clearly be "lost" if actually tried, in the vast majority of cases they can keep moving violations off of your record without a trial. Knowledge of the applicable law, the procedures and quirks of the particular court, and relationships with court personnel, prosecutors, judges and peace officers help them get the results you need.

Eutsler Law Firm protects your premiums, driving privileges and peace of mind. Let them "insure your insurance." Call them at (713) 464-6461 or visit their web site at www.theticketattorney.com.