Feature Articles and Reviews

Feature Articles

Improving Your Home Network

Extending Your Wireless Network Coverage - Gaining More Area Out Of The Wireless Network
Multi-Building Home Networks – Extending Your Home Network To The Outbuildings
Network Management Hierarchy Terms - Understanding the terms I use in this blog
Understanding And Managing Your HomePlug Network – Knowing how to get the best out of your HomePlug powerline network

Cost-Effective Computing Setups

Using an ex-business laptop computer as a kitchen PC
Repurposing that ex-business laptop for home use – how to go about setting up a laptop that was used as a business computer as a home computer

Safe Home Computing And Networking

Making Sure Your Home Wireless Network Is Secure

The DLNA Media Network

Getting Started With DLNA Media Sharing - Setting up the DLNA-compliant network media client device for the home network
Setting Up PC-Less Network AV - Using a dedicated device as a DLNA media server

Network and Internet Activities

Video Conferencing and your Home Network - Setting up your computers and home network for long-distance video conferencing

Product Reviews

Network Software

TwonkyMedia Manager 1.0 – DLNA-compliant media manager that allows the computer to be a media server, controller or remote-controlled player

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About This Blog

This blog is written to appeal to home users; small business operators such as ”mom and pop” shops and micro-businesses; and community groups such as churches who want to get the most out of their information and communications technology, including their small computer network, using technology that is cost-effective and easy for most users to set up.

Here, the common need usually is that most of these groups don’t have dedicated IT staff on hand to assist in acquiring or maintaining their information and communications technology. In a lot of small-business or community-group cases, whoever runs the organisation typically ends up managing the organisation’s technology.

The articles are written in a manner to support the use of commonly-implemented standards where multiple vendors are able to supply products based on these standards. They are also written in a manner where there is no fear or favour in choosing or deploying a particular standard or vendor’s product.

This blog is also about encouraging the provision of safe reliable broadband Internet access that is cost-effective to all wherever they may live. This includes the provision of a reliable broadband service to rural and regional communities, thus facilitating access to Internet activities like working from home, distance education, telemedicine and the benefits of the “world wide library and news service” that is the World Wide Web.

I am also discussing areas where industry needs to work to make technologies accessible to home and small-business computer users. This includes foolproof installation of relatively-sophisticated network setups like multiple-access-point wireless networks or IP-based telecommunications setups.

At times, I have discussed issues concerning information technology in the home from a social perspective such as Internet and social network activity in the home and using the blog as a springboard for information concerning local emergencies.

Author contact details

Author: Simon Mackay

E-mail: Simon_Mackay [at] bigpond.com

Country of origin: Australia

Desktop Hardware and Peripherals
- Everything USB
- USB.Org – Website for USB Standards and Device Classes
Desktop Software
DLNA Media Controller
DLNA Media Server
- TVersity Media Server
- TwonkyMedia DLNA media software
Home Networking and IT portal
- DegroupNews (French language – Framce)
- ThinkBroadband.com (formerly ADSLGuide.co.uk)
Home Networking Standards
Internet Radio Directories
Network and IT Security
- PC Security Blog
Network Hardware
- Aztech
- D-Link
- Linksys by Cisco
- Netcomm
- Netgear
- Solwise
Network Software
Online Retailer - Europe
- MyDigitalPhotoPictureFrames.com – Digital Picture Frames available online
PDA technology
- SlotMusic
Remote-Desktop Tools
- GoToMyPC
- LogMeIn
Videoconferencing Software

Home Networking And IT Information And Discussion

Articles about home, SOHO and small-business IT and networking issues