Synchronous Internet Connection, in Living Room and Bedroom

Forty-eight-year-old Lee Hong-seop, who works for a trading company, is interested in his home network organization recently because after purchasing a laptop computer, the numbers of computer in his house has increased.

Searching for the most efficient system, Lee has decided to purchase the internet sharer. However, as the range of products vary greatly, including wireless and landline versions and with the varying price level depending on the type, Lee doesn’t know what to choose.

As many households establish high speed internet connections and the “one-house, two-PC” tendency has become prevalent, the people’s concerns for internet sharing have increased.

What is the best way of internet sharing for our house?

With Installation of a LAN Card, Enjoying Internet Simultaneously at Two Computers—

The cheapest way of internet sharing is the installation of an additional LAN card at the computer where the internet connection is established.

After inserting the network-connecting wire into the newly-installed LAN card to connect one computer to another, installation is over. Running the “network configuration magician” by referring to the Window’s guide, the computer automatically shares the internet with the other computers. Internet connection sharing is supported from the Windows 98SE version up to the latest versions.

The price of a desktop PC LAN card starts from 10,000 won.

This method has a major disadvantage because the internet connection is available for the second computer only when the first PC is turned on.

Comfortable and Stable Wired IP Sharer –

Internet sharer is the device that is usually installed between the PC and the high speed internet modem in order to enable simultaneous internet use. For the home, the four-port products, which can connect a maximum of four PCs simultaneously, are appropriate. The network wire originating from the high speed internet modem should be connected to the port designated as “WAN,” and each computer should be connected to the other remaining LAN ports. As for the transmission speed, the products which support a 100Mbps rate occupy the main current of the market. As for the wired IP sharer, the cheaper products deeply attract the people’s attention because their qualities don’t differ much from each other. Prices range from 30,000 won to 100,000 won.

Enjoying Wireless Network by Laptop at Home –

As for the wireless products, the wired and wireless multiple use sharer have become prevalent since last year. The mobility of wireless LAN and the stability of wired LAN can be simultaneously grasped by this device.

It would be better to look through the speed function first. Last year, the market was monopolized by the 11Mbps speed class modems, but the range of selection for the customers has been expanded with the introduction of 54Mbps modems in the market. If the internet line is connected to the high speed internet lines such as VDSL, the 54Mbps speed class modem is appropriate for covering the maximum bandwidth. The price range is from 90,000 to 150,000 won for the 11Mbps class products and 140,000 to 200,000 won for the 54Mbps class.

USB-type wireless LAN cards have attracted the people’s attention these days. This product can be utilized in both laptop and desktop computers, increasing the range of utilization.

Matters to be Attended to at Purchasing –

The existing internet modem should be checked first to see whether it is built-in or has an external modem. If it is has a built-in type modem, the internet sharer cannot be used.

As for the selection, the peer-to-peer services such as Soribada, instant messengers, and internet games should be checked to see if they are available at both computers. According to the characteristics of the modems, these services can be accessed only at one computer. The range of wireless internet reaching should be also considered when a customer wants to buy wired and wireless multiple-use modems. If one lives in an apartment, two walls can be permeated, but three walls will not allow this.

“P2P, the other additional functions, and after-service should be thoroughly checked before purchasing the product,” advised Kim Dae-sung, a clerk of computer product dealer, Techno Mart (www.tm21.com)

Hye-Jin Kwon hjkwon@donga.com