How do you know which home network is right for you? The answer is that there isn’t just one, and that’s actually the beauty of it- each home network is unique. Home networks can be configured in a multitude of ways and the key is figuring out what you want yours to do for you. Because the needs and wants of a family of four are not necessarily the same as those of a young professional living on his or her own, there are several factors to consider when evaluating purchases for your home network.What are these factors? Among the things to consider are the number of computers and other devices that will be accessing the network, whether the computers are PCs or Macs, what other types of devices you want to connect, the number of other potential networks there are in your area, and whether you will be looking to use your network for home entertainment purposes.

Last year we launched a Digital Cribs webisode series and video contests to show the different ways people use their home network and consumer technology. Check out the Digital Crib of Lincoln Schatz, celebrated video artist and creator of Esquire Magazine’s “Faces of the 21st Century,” in the video below.

Let’s take a look at why these things matter on an individual basis:• The number of computers and other devices that will be accessing the network is important to know because it is one of the factors that ultimately determines the amount of network bandwidth required for your network to function at optimum levels. The more devices you have, the more important it becomes for you to have the capabilities of Wireless-N versus an older technology like Wireless-G.• You need to consider whether you will have both Macs and PCs accessing your network because getting the different platforms to talk to each other for activities like printer or file sharing can be difficult. Even an all PC environment can be difficult to set up for these functions. If you are looking to take advantage of these capabilities, then network management software like Network Magic will be a tremendous help to you as it greatly simplifies the setup process.• Connecting additional devices, such as set top boxes or gaming systems to the network can be made easier with products like Powerline and Ethernet Bridges. Both of these technologies enable network connections to be made in portions of the home that may not be near your router.• If your home network is going to be in a highly populated area, such as a large city or apartment building, you probably want to consider Dual-Band Wireless-N. Dual-Band Wireless-N enables you to make use of two separate wireless spectrums to help avoid the traffic created by other networks in your area.• Dual-Band Wireless-N and the options it provides for using two wireless spectrums becomes particularly important if you are going to use your network for home entertainment. Streaming media devices, such as Wireless Home Audio often are built with the capability to utilize Dual-Band routers to help provide an interruption-free listening experience.While the list above is nowhere near comprehensive, it is enough to start you down the right path toward a home network that meets your individual needs. Of course, the best resource available to you for in-depth learning may be the Learning Center on the Linskys by Cisco web site. You should go check it out.Related blog posts: Linksys by Cisco Routers Now Come With Network MagicWireless Networks vs. Wired: Which Network is More Secure?Media Library HousekeepingWhat is a Home Network?