How It Works: Phone-Line Network

Reach Out and Touch Some Data

You don't have to buy or install much to get started with a phone-line network. You already have the wiring in your house; all you need are the adapters. Companies such as Diamond Multimedia and Intel sell adapters based on the HomePNA 1.0 spec that run at 1 mbps. Some cards connect to your USB or parallel port, and cost about $90. Less-expensive internal products that plug into a PCI slot will run about $50. Broadcom, sells a $90 PC Card adapter for portable computers.

Newer 10-mbps models, based on HomePNA 2.0, are available only for PCI slots. Only one company, 3Com produces the chips, which has limited the products' appearance in the market. The PCI cards cost between $70 and $80 from vendors such asWinGate 3.0 and Linksys. Kits that include two cards from companies such as Diamond Multimedia run about $129. Vendors plan to introduce USB versions within the next year.

Vendors and Products

Many people install home networks to share a printer or high-speed Internet access. To make that easier, some vendors include software that walks you through the process, such as Best Data's Home PC Link. Internet sharing software, included with Diamond Multimedia's HomeFree and Netronix You can also purchase the software separately.

Phone-line networks can also work as additions to existing networks. If you already have an ethernet LAN and want to add a phone-line network, bridges from companies such as Intel's Home Networking FAQ will let a 1-mbps phone-line network talk to a 10-mbps ethernet network.

With an estimated 20 million people in the United States sporting more than one home computer, home networks are expected to explode in popularity, mainly because they are easier to install and use than the alternatives (such as ethernet and wireless networks). With the advent of 10-mbps data transfer and a proposed 100-mbps version due by year's end, phone-line networks will remain one of the best ways to connect the PCs in your home.

Additional Resources

• HomePNA.com
  
  
• HomePNA.com
  
  

Michael Gowan is a staff editor for PC World.