All of us have put themselves the question:'How can I build a local area network that is right for me?' and 'What should I choose:wired network or wireless network?'.

In this article we will try to show up the advantages and disadvantages of this 2 types of networks and let the reader choose which is the most suitable for them.
Computer networks for the home and small business can be built using either wired or wireless technology.

Wired LANs use Ethernet cables and network adapters. Although two computers can be directly wired to each other using an ethernet crossover cable, wired LANs generally also require central devices like hubs, switches, or routers to connect more computers.

Regarding the installation ethernet cables must be run from each computer to another computer or to the central device. It can difficult to run cables under the floor or through walls, especially when computers are in different rooms.

Cost: A wirred doesn't cost much because ethernet cables, hubs and switches are inexpensive. Ethernet cables, hubs and switches are extremely
reliable, mainly because manufacturers have been continually improving ethernet technology in the last decades.

Wired LANs offer superior performance. Traditional Ethernet connections offer only 10 Mbps bandwidth, but 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet technology costs little more and is available. Although 100 Mbps represents a theoretical maximum performance never really achieved in practice, Fast Ethernet should be sufficient for home file sharing, gaming, and high-speed Internet access for many years into the future.
For any wired LAN connected to the Internet, firewalls are the primary security consideration.

WLAN technologies all follow one of the three main Wi-Fi communication standards:
- 802.11b was the first standard to be widely used in WLANs.
- The 802.11a standard is faster but more expensive than 802.11b; 802.11a is more commonly found in business networks.
- The newest standard, 802.11g, attempts to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b but is very expensive.

Wi-Fi networks can be configured in two different ways:
- "Ad hoc" mode allows wireless devices to communicate in peer-to-peer mode with each other.
- "Infrastructure" mode allows wireless devices to communicate with a central node that in turn can communicate with wired nodes on that LAN.

Both Wi-Fi modes require wireless network adapters, sometimes called WLAN cards. Infrastructure mode WLANs additionally require a central device called the access point. The access point must be installed in a central location where wireless radio signals can reach it with minimal interference. Although Wi-Fi signals typically reach 100 feet (30 m) or more, obstructions like walls can greatly reduce their range.

Cost: Wireless equipment costs more than the equivalent wired Ethernet products.

Wireless LANs suffer a few more reliability problems than wired LANs, but we say not enough to be a significant problem. 802.11b and 802.11g wireless signals are subject to interference from other home applicances including microwave ovens, cordless telephones,etc

Wireless LANs using 802.11b support a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a and 802.11g WLANs support 54 Mbps. Wi-Fi performance is distance sensitive, meaning that maximum performance will degrade if computers are at a long distance away from the access point.

Overall, the performance of 802.11a and 802.11g is sufficient for home Internet connection sharing and file sharing, but generally not sufficient for home LAN gaming.
In theory, wireless LANs are less secure than wired LANs, because wireless communication signals travel through the air and can easily be intercepted.
WLANs protect their data through the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption standard, that makes wireless communications reasonably as safe as wired ones in homes.

Conclusion
Which is better?
-If you are very cost-conscious, need maximum performance of your home system, and don't care much about mobility, then a wired Ethernet LAN is probably right for you.
-If the cost is not the problem, you like being an early adopter of leading-edge technologies, and you don't like wiring your home or small business with Ethernet cable, then you should certainly consider a wireless LAN.

written by Cristian L.