Graphic By: Tim Tuley
 

Networking Your Apartment
| Published 04/30/04

Networking your apartment will be extremely easy. You have some choices to make, but basically your equipment is all the same with a few minor exceptions. You will need Ethernet cables, a router and a cable modem. Also make sure everyone's computer has an Ethernet card. It looks like it has a phone jack, but the port is a little larger. The cards are basically standard, but if someone is lugging an older computer from home, it may not be on there.

When you get here, your only option for cable internet will be Charter Communications, which is located by the Radford courthouse. They usually offer some sort of starter membership, like a free month of cable, and they will supply the cable modem.

For a router, go to Best Buy or another electronics store. You can pick up a regular four-port router for around 40 dollars, but you can also spend more and get that wireless one you have always wanted. Why get wireless? If someone has a laptop or perhaps the you are in a house where the rooms are on different levels, it might be wiser to go with a wireless Ethernet card. It will save you the hassle of hiding that ugly 50-foot Ethernet cable. Wireless transfers at a slower rate, but for the basic internet use, you will not even realize a difference. Also as my roommate has proven, it is great to be able to bring that laptop around the house and be connected.

Once all the equipment is bought and the cable company has directed service to your house, simply pick a room for the router and modem to go into and set it up. The modem will connect to the wall with an Ethernet cable going from the modem to the router. From there, you have the Ethernet cords going from the router to each individual computer (unless one has a wireless card, in which the wireless router will broadcast the signal to another computer). One of the computer's will have to install the drivers for the router, but once that is done it should all be plug-and-play and ready for the internet.

Now if this is your first year off campus, be prepared. Sometimes the massive amount of students using Charter services can cause the connection speed to slow down or even to cut off. Expect lagging connections and down services during the initial weeks of school. If that happens, keep track of the days you lose service and the company will reimburse you that money by taking it off of the bill. Also, you can reboot the system by turn off all the computers connected to the internet, unplug the router and modem. Wait a few minutes because hooking the stuff back on and turning the PCs on. Sometimes, this will reinitialize the service. If you need help, call Charter, and they will direct you through it.

Well, that was not so hard, was it? Once you understand the concept, you will become a networking genius in your apartment. Sure, it isn't as great as the blazing fast T1 in the dorms. It is not as reliable either, but it is internet, and it sure as hell beats dial-up.

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