Networking Made Easy: HomePlug

Have you ever wanted to move your printer, but couldn't because there was no network connection where you wanted to put it? Did you upgrade to a cool new TV, set top box, or iTV box but when you tried to connect them to your home network there was no network connection where you needed it? I have experienced all of these scenarios.

My first thought was to use WiFi to reach the printer or set top box. The problem is, my printer and set top box don't support WiFi. Technically, my set top box does support WiFi, but if you have ever tried to stream video over WiFi you will find it is not as smooth and consistent as you would like it to be. So, with WiFi out, what other options do I have? I could move my printer and entertainment center to where I do have a network connection. That's not going to happen!

Ah, I can simply run an Ethernet cable across my living room floor for the entertainment center and run an Ethernet cable up the stairs for my printer. Problem solved. Well, until my wife got home and demanded that the wires "go away". A little construction work? There is a better way.

HomePlug To The Rescue

What is HomePlug? HomePlug uses your existing electrical wires to carry the network signal from one place to the next. Much like your phone line twisted pair wire or your cable Coax cable carry your broadband into your home and throughout your home, HomePlug uses your electrical wires that already exist in your home to carry the signal. The electrical wires carry your local network traffic throughout your home.

You don't have to modify your electrical wires in any way. They will continue to carry electricity throughout your home too. You simply plug in HomePlug Ethernet Adapters to any available outlet. It's really that easy. Here is a step-by-step of how I connected my printer to my home network after moving it to my upstairs office.

1. Plugged a HomePlug Ethernet Adapter into an outlet near my router.
2. Plugged an Ethernet cable into my HomePlug Ethernet Adapter and the other end into my router.
3. Plugged a HomePlug Ethernet Adapter into an outlet near my printer.
4. Plugged an Ethernet cable into my HomePlug Ethernet Adapter and the other end into my printer.

My printer showed up on all my computers throughout my house. It was really that simple. I did the same thing for my Apple iTV box. I was happy because it only took me a few minutes to get everything networked. My wife was happy because there were no wires.

I did some additional research and found a supplier of HomePlug Ethernet Adapters that seem to be the price leader with the best performance and reliability. I liked them so much, I became a reseller. You can purchase them directly from my store at www.danoybarra.com.

Dano Ybarra is a global executive, serial entrepreneur, father, husband and Internet pioneer. To learn more about Dano Ybarra and to read, view or listen to this article please visit www.danoybarra.com. You can subscribe to any of the available formats of the article at this site.The original post can be found at http://bit.ly/fxa5Sj

Networking really is easy with HomePlug. Happy Networking.