HomeLAN
So - you think a Home-LAN would help you, your family, your budget, and your sanity, huh?

If you've got 10-15 minutes to read through this web-page,
you'll know when you're done:
How  MUCH time, effort and most importantly, money it will take...

If you can answer "YES" to more than 2 of these questions, then you probably want a "HomeLAN"...

Further: a "HomeLAN" - really "implies" two things - not necessarily related, but typically 'assumed' to be the case:

  1. a 'high-speed' internet connection (over 500,000 bits per second (most dial-up modems do about 40,000 bits per second)) that is fast enough to allow everyone in the family to share this single higher-speed (higher-efficiency) connection
  2. an ability to have file and/or printer-sharing amongst family members

The two concepts & functions of a Home-based-LAN can be separated, but they are typically all 'packaged together'

AND - if you live in South Florida - you’re probably in an area where you can also get “BellSouth.Net's xDSL” and/or “Adelphia.Net's Cable Modem” high-speed internet access.

AND, - if you're still a "little fuzzy" on what (conceptually) the Internet is and does, here's a short explanation and a bit of vocabulary: ClickHere

So - what’s the ‘problem’ here, why haven't you done this before: - it’s three things:

  1. time (a few hours to study, before you get it, a few hours a month, on-going)
  2. money (about $300 one-time / about $54 each month)
  3. knowledge

We can help with the Knowledge area, - the time & money are up to you - but here is a very very brief outline of the details of these three items:

1.) YOU need the time to:

a.) investigate a high-speed internet connection with BellSouth.Net's xDSL
OR Adelphia's cable-modem service

estimate: 30 minutes
outcome: you ‘probably want’ BellSouth.Net's xDSL, but in some areas, only Adelphia's cable modem service will be available; the outcome is you have to choose which one.

SIGN-UP: - estimate - another 30 minutes...  using home information and credit-card information

b.) read and understand exactly what a HomeLAN will do for you and make sure your goals and expectations will be answered by traversing further down this path

estimate: 30 mins one day - then 30 minutes a week later
outcome: agree or disagree with the concepts & functionalities that a HomeLAN will provide for you. - make sure this concept will really solve your needs, but most importantly commit the time to learn (at least some of) the technical details, but more importantly the security risks & compensations.


c.) learn some of the basic technical concepts - particularly relating to security, - and be willing and able to both evaluate the risks of being “on the net” and how that affects you / your family’s security & well-being.

2.) Money - as with almost everything else in life, there are both one-time (sunk) costs, as well as on-going monthly costs: My example here is with BellSouth’s “xDSL” service - but the Adelphia Cable-Modem service has similar costs associated - and these change - periodically...

One-Time costs:
  • sign-up-for-service(BellSouth or Adelphia): appx: $75
    • sometimes this is waived; sometimes a promotional price
  • ‘Ethernet’ xDSL /cable digital modem (from BellSouth/Adelphia)
    • appx: $100, but "typically free after rebate"
  • Router-Switch(routing & security devices): appx: $ 59
    • the 'router-switch' is frequently included in the same physical 'box' as the 'digital cable modem' but sometimes this is not the case -
  • Bill’s “HomeLAN” charge: $150 **
TOTAL One-Time Charges: appx: $300


** this ‘consulting’ fee includes, but is not limited to:

1.) access to the ‘What does a HomeLAN do for you and is it what you want?’ document. - you need to read this - understand it and agree to it before you embark on the remainder of this wild ride...

2.) (typically) an on-site visit of about an hour to help you set-up / plug-in / configure / get working all of the ‘parts & pieces’

3.) access to the ‘HomeLAN_101’ document that helps you and your family understand what is happening / how things are connected, why you and your family must change your ‘computer operations paradigm’ somewhat to be “on the net” and sharing resources in your home.

4.) e-mail-help - (typically 24 hour turn-around) for 3 months after your HomeLAN is set-up - a way for you, your family to ask questions, via e-mail, and get responses - related to your HomeLAN, it’s functionality, security, economics, expansion, etc.

5.) other items as yet, un-specified...

last updated: Tuesday08Mar05;  revID: 2i;  Moz_1.7.5_on_OSX10.3.8_____________________file created:  07Mar02