Plug the cable into the ports, and then click the Next button. The last wizard box

Chapter 8 ✦ Using Alternative Cabling Methods Repeat the process to connect two computers over the phone lines. This card works with Windows 98, NT, 2000, and XP. One card costs around 25; remember, you have to have two cards. You also need to purchase extra phone line wire. 2Wire PC Port The 2Wire PC Port is a high-speed USB-to-HomePNA adapter you can use to share an Internet connection cable, DSL, or dial-up with multiple computers, after you set up your phone line network. You plug the PC Port into your computer’s USB port and a phone jack. You must run the installation CD that comes with the PC Port, and then you’re ready to share the Internet connection. Costing around 45, the PC Port is compatible with Windows 98, 98SE, Me, NT 4, 2000, XP, and Mac OS 8.6 through 9.x. The following are included with the PC Port: ✦ Twenty-inch standard USB cable ✦ Six-foot standard telephone cable ✦ Y-adapter to provide an extra phone jack for a telephone ✦ Installation CD Linksys HomeLink Phoneline Bridge The Linksys HomeLink Phoneline 10M Ethernet Bridge provides a bridge between the Internet andor your Ethernet network and your phone line network. The bridge contains a 10Base-T 100Base-TX RJ-45 Ethernet port, an Uplink port, and a HomeLink RJ-11 port. You can plug Installing a Phone Line Network Just to give you an idea of how simple it is to use a phone line network, here are the steps to installing the Linksys HomeLink Phoneline Network. First, you must choose a server or host com- puter; this computer should be the one with the modem and Internet connection, if you plan to use the modem-sharing software. Follow these steps:

1. Turn off and unplug the PC, remove the cover, and locate an open PCI expansion slot. For

more information about installing network cards, see Chapter 9.

2. Remove the strip that covers the bay, and slide the HomeLink card into the slot. To make

sure that the card is properly seated, firmly snap it into the slot. Secure the card, carefully, with the screw. 3. Replace the cover on the computer, and plug the computer into the power outlet. 4. Plug one end of the telephone cable provided into the HomeLink card’s telephone port, and plug the other end of the telephone cable into a wall phone jack. 5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for any additional PCs you want to connect to the network. 6. Turn on the server PC. Windows will recognize the HomeLink card. Insert the HomeLink CD-ROM and follow the directions on screen to complete setup. Repeat with the other PCs on the network. HomeLink includes complete written instructions for installing the HomeLink software and for configuring the PCs on the network. Part II ✦ Planning and Setting Up Networking — Hardware and Software your cable modem or DSL modem’s connection into the bridge and to a phone jack, and you can then access the Internet from your phone line network. The Linksys HomeLink Phoneline bridge is an excellent product; however, the bridge costs around 185. The bridge is compati- ble with any operating system, as long as the computer has an Ethernet port. NETGEAR’s Home Phoneline Adapter NETGEAR has a home phone line PCI adapter card you can use to turn your computers into a network. The card works on the phone lines without disturbing or disrupting your phone ser- vice. NETGEAR says the technology makes it possible to have a 10 Mbps connection. You can share your modem with this phone line network, and the card is compatible with Windows 98, NT, and 2000. It costs around 30 per card. Linksys PC Phoneline Adapter Card If you use a notebook on your phone line network, you can get Linksys’ HomeLink Phoneline 10M Integrated PC Card. This card can connect to any 1 Mbps or 10 Mbps network. The CardBus PC Card uses two standard RJ-11 telephone ports. You can use the card to share files, printers, CD drives, and Internet access cable modem, DSL, andor dial-up. This card is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, and Me. The cost is around 65. Phone line adapters for Macs and Linux You can use many phone line network cards with a Linux machine; however, the problem is finding the correct driver for your distribution. More and more phone line NICs are becoming supported. You can find the appropriate drivers by searching the Internet under your specific distro. Many phone line cards are available for the Macintosh, depending on your operating system and the required driver. Generally, all you need is a USB port and an adapter to connect nearly any phone line card to a Mac. ✦ For around 60, the Diamond HomeFree Phoneline External Adapter works with either a PC or a Mac. The Diamond doesn’t interfere with incoming phone calls and lets you share resources, such as scanners and printers, between computers. ✦ For around 90, you can use the Farallon Home Phoneline Adapter, which will work with Windows 98 or a Mac operating system. Xcom, D-Link, and others also make phone line NICs for Macintosh. Using Your Home’s Electrical Wiring for a Network You can also use your power lines for your home network, if you’re certain your home’s elec- trical lines are high quality, safe, and reliable. In a power lines network, you use electrical out- lets in your home to attach computers for sharing files, printers, Internet accounts, and peripherals. Don’t use a network that runs on your electrical wiring in a small-business office. The connec- tion is slow and the heavy use of other wired products in your business will most likely inter- fere with data transmission; for example, a company that has fax machines, copiers, shredders, and other electrical devices drawing the power is not ideal for a power line network. Small Business Tip