Windows 8 In Depth

Choosing a Network and Cabling System

For a simple home or small office network, you can choose among four types of network connections:

• 10/100BASE-T Ethernet over CAT-5 cables—These cables look like telephone cables, with a fatter version of a telephone modular connector at each end. This networking scheme is dirt cheap and ultra-reliable.

• 802.11n or -g wireless networking—Wireless (Wi-Fi) networking sends data over a radio signal, so no cabling is necessary. It’s easy to set up, but it can’t be used over long distances, and in some buildings the signal might not go as far or as fast as the advertising leads you to believe it will.

• Phoneline or powerline networking—You can purchase network adapters that send data signals between your ...