Set up your first network for less than £10

Buying your second family PC seemed like such a great idea at the time. At last, no more queuing to use the system. No need to wait for the kids to finish playing games before you can check your email. And no constant “are you done yet?” because you’re creating spreadsheets and they want to download MP3s.

Unfortunately it didn’t quite work out like that. Maybe the old Windows XP machine is upstairs now, but it’s your Windows Vista PC that’s connected to the internet. You’ll be pestered almost as much as you were before, unless you go one step further, and link the two systems together in a home network.

Once your systems are connected, life will become very different. You’ll be able to share internet access, and other hardware, too. If the kids are doing their homework upstairs and want to print it out on your printer, downstairs, once you’re set up they’ll be able to do so in a couple of clicks.

You’ll also be able to quickly back up data from one system to the other – handy if you’re infected by a virus or have some other kind of data disaster. And if you have young kids and want to protect them from the worst of the internet, then there are significant advantages in doing things this way. With the right combination of software and hardware you’ll be able to monitor what they’re doing online, block certain types of sites, maybe even limit their access to particular times of day.

It’s an impressive feature list, but don’t rush out to buy anything yet. It pays to consider your networking options first. There are three common technologies you can use to connect your PCs:

The first option is a conventional network crossover cable. Your PCs almost certainly have network ports already (check the manual to be sure), so all you need buy is the cable to run between them. We found a 98 foot crossover cable available for only £10.94 at Amazon, for instance, so you won’t pay much. Although you will have the hassle of trailing it under carpet, and maybe drilling through walls.

The second option is to use wireless adapters, which means no need for cables at all. Much less setup work, but speeds will be reduced, perhaps considerably if the two PCs are a long way from each other. And now you’ll have to pay for the wireless network adapters, which cost from £15 to £60 each depending on performance.

If those options don’t appeal, then maybe you’ll prefer the third: powerline networking. Here you buy an adapter for each PC, plug it into a nearby power socket, and the system then shuttles data around your home’s electrical wiring. This delivers the no-hassle convenience of wireless, with usually significantly better speeds, but you’ll pay more with prices starting from around £50.

It’s all a balance between price, convenience and performance, then, but don’t make any decisions yet. There’s another important issue you need to consider.

Network layout

Shared internet access is a key feature of any network, but there are two very different ways of doing it. One answer comes with Windows, and it’s called Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). If your Windows Vista PC was connected to the internet, then you’d enable ICS, and after setting up a home network your Windows XP PC would be able to get online, too.

This may sound good enough, especially as ICS comes with both Windows XP and Windows Vista for free, but there are some problems. ICS isn’t always easy to configure, for instance. It doesn’t support all applications (instant messaging probably won’t work). And using a software solution means your Windows Vista PC must be switched on all the time if your Windows XP system is to get online.

A better solution is to buy a combined router and modem to manage the network for you. Connect your PCs to the router, instead of directly to each other, and they’ll both be able to get online, even if the other is switched off.

Routers can help improve your PC security, too. They typically include powerful hardware firewalls and intrusion detection systems, perfect for keeping hackers out of your system.

Surprisingly, routers shouldn’t add much to the cost of your network. Two basic wireless adapters will cost from £30; a basic wireless router and single wireless adapter lifts this to £50. Not that much extra, and the easier setup means it’s a price well worth paying.

What to buy?

That’s quite enough network theory, then: it’s time to get practical. Which networking technology is right for you?

If you’re looking for a fast, very cheap solution, your PCs are less than 100 feet apart, and you don’t mind doing a little preparatory DIY, then we’d opt for the Ethernet cabling solution. Go to shopping.com, choose the Crossover Cable Type, and pick the cable length you need.

If you hate the idea of messing around with cables, and just want something cheap and easy, then a couple of 54Mbps USB wireless adapters will do: total price £30. A PCI wireless adapter card will be more reliable still, and an even better choice if you don’t mind opening up your PC to install it: prices are around the same.

Budget wireless solutions might be slow, especially if your PCs are a considerable distance apart (more than 100 feet, say). If you need good performance, then the latest “Pre-802.11n” wireless adapters could help, priced from about £50.

You might get improved longdistance results from powerline networking, though, which uses your home electrical wiring to transmit data. Solwise, for example, sells a pair of 85Mbps adapters for £52.49, or individual 200Mbps for £60.56 each. If you’re willing to spend a few pounds extra to get the best system, though, we’d recommend you also buy a router with built-in modem. It won’t be too expensive as you’ll buy this instead of a network adapter for your main PC. Again, a price comparison site like uk.shopping.com can lead you to the bargains, or you can search regular online stores like Dabs.

Don’t choose solely on price, though. This can lead you to older kit that may not be compatible with Windows Vista, so read the small print carefully before parting with your cash.

First steps

You’ve found the technology that suits you, and set it up with the instructions we’ve provided. So what now?

A good place to start is by sharing a folder. On the Windows XP system, create a new fo
lder called something like C:\Shared. Right-click that, select Properties > Sharing, check Share this folder on the network and click OK. Finally, make a note of your PC’s name, if you don’t know it already (Control Panel > System > Computer Name).

Now go to the Windows Vista PC, click Start > Computer, then press Alt and click Tools > Map Network Drive. Enter the computer name, followed by the folder name (\\XP_PC_NAME\ Shared), and a new Explorer window should appear. That is the C:\Shared folder on the XP system, and you can drag and drop files to and from it just as though it was on your own hard drive.

You can share folders and printers on the Windows Vista PC, too, so they’re available from the XP system. Access the Vista Network and Sharing Centre (Control Panel > Network) and turn on whatever you need in the Sharing and Discovery section (printers will probably need to be reinstalled before they can be shared; see the manual for details).

It’s not all about working, though. If you’re running Windows Media Player 11 or later on the XP system, then launch it, click Tools > Options > Library > Configure Sharing, select the icon for your Windows Vista PC and click Allow > OK. Select Computer > Network on the Vista PC and you’ll now see a Media icon: double-click on that, and you’ll be able to use the network to access any music, pictures or video you have stored on your XP system’s Media Player library.

It’s an impressive feature list, especially as the technology is very reasonably priced – so what are you waiting for? Buy an adapter or two, set up your own home network, and start getting the most out of your PCs.

Setting up the Windows Vista PC