Home networks can be great or they can be a huge pain in
the butt. Set aside some time this weekend to fix your annoying network
issues, boost your Wi-Fi reception, and add some great new features.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Before we get started, it's important to have a good grasp on basic
networking skills like how your router works and what you can do with
it. If you need to brush up your knowledge, check out our Know Your Network
Night School lessons. It'll help you pick out a great new router (if
you need one) and teach you how to use its basic functions or even go as
far as installing custom firmware to do even more.
Wire Your Home Effectively
Wireless isn't all it's cracked up to be. Networking with Ethernet cables is still a lot faster, so
going completely wired in your home
is a great way to improve network efficiency and speed. Most people
like to avoid additional cables running throughout their house because
it involves a mess or the difficult work of fishing those cables through
their walls. That doesn't have to be the case, however, as you can
often hide your cables alone the edges of the wall, cover them with
tape, and then paint over that tape to make them appear flush.
Alternatively, you can buy
FlatWire and just paint over the wire that will lay flush on any surface. Alternatively, don't hide your cables at all and
create an attractive design instead.
