The most appropriate way to create the perfect home theater is to select THX-certified equipment. To achieve maximum results in audio and video playback quality, you need to properly design the room, make the arrangement of all the furniture and equipment components, and set up your home theater.

The room for a movie theater

There are some rules of the room equipment, which should be respected:

1. The place for the chair should be away from the speakers.
2. It is important to have free space around the chair, it should not stand near the wall.
3. The high back of the chair will dampen the sound.
4. You should not make the room too empty: you will hear a strong echo in it.
5. Do not go overboard with damping sound waves with special wall upholstery. Excellent damping of sound: furniture, various shelves, carpets, fabrics.

Placing and adjusting the TV or screen

Calculate what size screen is suitable for the parameters of your room. The horizontal viewing angle from the chair should be 40º.

You can use a formula to determine the size of the diagonal: Translate the distance from the chair to the screen into inches. Multiplying this distance by 0.84 will give you the screen diagonal size. For example, the distance from the chair to the intended screen is 85 inches, then consider this – 85 x 0.84 = 71.4. This means the screen should be about 70 inches.

THX recommends placing the TV vertically at eye level so you are looking at the screen perpendicularly. Increase the viewing angle, in some cases, by no more than 15º.

If you have not adjusted your TV panel at all, there is a good chance that it does not show perfectly. Of course, you can adjust some parameters “by eye,” but it is better to use special test discs. These Blu-ray test discs can be useful for the beginner as well as the expert. The program will help to significantly improve the image quality. Unfortunately, most test discs have an English interface. The most popular ones are:

1. The Disney WOW disc is a great test option for beginners and will help optimally improve picture quality. It has a lot of versatile test patterns.
2. Spears & Munsil HD test disk – this option is more suitable for advanced users and professionals. It has unique test measures of scaling and de-interlacing. This disk can be called a godsend for DC owners.

The test for manually tuning a TV panel

The pictures can be watched from a USB flash drive connected to a TV receiver. There are several reference zones in the proposed test, to properly adjust the picture. Only five parameters need to be adjusted:

• boundaries, picture format;
• level of brightness;
• contrast level;
• color correction;
• Image sharpness (focus).

Picture Boundaries and Format

There are arrows in the picture corners. They should be in contact with the edge of the screen with their sharp ends. If the size is set incorrectly, the picture will be cropped and the clarity will decrease. The menu items for changing the picture borders can be named: Overscan, Pixel-to-Pixel, Full Pixel, Original, Just Scan.

The brightness level

If the brightness level is set correctly, all 32 colors with sharp contours will be visible at the bottom of the picture. At low brightness, grayscale will blend in with the darker areas.

At high brightness, there will be a fusion of gradations with the light areas.

Contrast level

To adjust the contrast, use the same grayscale scale. Correct adjustment, as in the previous case, implies that all areas of the scale are visible. If the adjustment is incorrect, some areas of the skin will change to negative.

After completing these manipulations, it is advisable to go back and look at the brightness scale – whether the values have changed. Then perform the contrast check again.

Color correction

The color of the facial skin in this test is an indicator for proper correction. Try to find a balance between visible darkened areas and visible light areas. For a natural display, reduce the saturation, trying to avoid undercolor.

When adjusting, white remains white, with no admixture of hues. You should look closely at the color bar: there are translucent squares on it. They must be visible in the background. You can adjust their visibility by adjusting the saturation.

Image sharpness

You can check the image clarity when two lines intersect. These lines should not have shadows and should be surrounded by halos. Most of the time, clarity is rarely adjusted due to good factory settings.

Some televisions have a “Gamma” parameter. The color bar and picture are also used to check this parameter.

Speaker system placement and tuning

The most popular home theater speakers are 5.1 and 7.1. The number “1” means that the system has one subwoofer channel. The numbers “5” and “7” show the number of elements in the set.

All the speakers are equidistant from the listener, and arranged in a circle.

The speakers are arranged in a similar way for a 7.1 system.

In modern AV receivers for unsophisticated users of DK, there is a mode of automatic speaker debugging. All you need to do is to connect a microphone to the receiver and place it in the place where the viewer will be sitting. The microphone is set at ear level. After the automatic tuning is turned on, after some time (sometimes testing takes about 30 minutes), the unit will find the best frequency response, ideally suited to your type of auditorium. After the debugging procedure, you can adjust the sound by running a test disc, for example with music, and manually remove the annoying frequencies.

By following the above recommendations, you can set up your home theater on your own and save money without hiring professionals. Of course, if you have very expensive, professional equipment, and you have high quality requirements, then calling a professional to install your home theater in that case is ideal.

Of all the common smart home myths, common smart home myths, common smart home myths, the one that just won’t die is the idea that smart home gadgets are just gimmicks. That might have been true five years ago, but it’s not. Many smart home gadgets today are extremely practical.

Energy monitoring is one area where this is especially true. By monitoring your energy use, you can identify all the ways you’re wasting money (and damaging the environment, if you care about those things). And because these are smart monitors, you can connect and view real-time energy usage reports on your mobile device or online.

Sure, energy monitoring devices can have a high initial cost, but the long-term savings easily make up for it. Interested? Here are some of the nifty gadgets for energy monitoring.

Individual Point Monitoring.

1. WeMo Insight Smart Plug.

The WeMo Insight Smart Plug is literally a portable outlet that plugs into a regular outlet. You then plug any device into the Insight, and the Insight will monitor how much power that device uses – lamps, coffee makers, heaters, TVs, or any other device you want.

Insight connects to the WeMo mobile app to provide real-time energy usage reports. You can also control Insight from the app, turning it on or off remotely from anywhere. It’s a little pricey, especially if you want more than one, but elegant enough to improve your daily life

2. TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug.

The TP-Link HS110 Smart Plug is pretty much the same as the WeMo Insight Smart Plug: an outlet that plugs into a regular outlet. Similarly, it comes with a mobile app that you can use to view power usage reports and remotely turn devices on/off. It’s cheaper than Insight, but unfortunately more.

Just make sure you get the Wi-Fi Plug with energy monitoring ! TP-Link makes other models in this line, including the regular Wi-Fi Plug and Wi-Fi Plug Mini, which do not monitor the energy used by the connected device.

3. WiOn Smart Mains Filter

If you want more value for money, the WiOn Smart Surge Protector should be at the top of your list. Instead of paying for one outlet, you get six outlets per lane. Four of the outlets are individually controlled through the WiOn mobile app, while the other two outlets are always on. No smart hub required!

But perhaps most notable is that it’s not just an extension cord, it’s a surge protector. If you don’t know why this is important, check out our article on why you need a Shortcut, it protects connected devices from – you guessed it – power surges!

Whole-House Monitoring

4. Neurio W1-HEM Energy Monitor

The Neurio W1-HEM Energy Monitor is a small device that plugs into the breaker panel in your home. It monitors detailed information, such as when certain devices start and stop and how much energy they actually use. This is very useful for detecting energy leaks around your home.

With the Neurio mobile app, you can see how energy is being used in real time. (Unfortunately, the Appliance View feature is a paid upgrade.) Over time, it will tell you tips on how to save even more energy. And you can even use Neurio to notify you when a certain device or appliance is on or off.

To learn more about how Neurio Energy Monitor works, check out our article on how smart energy monitors can really save you money.

5. Sense Energy Monitor.

The Sense Energy Monitor plugs into the breaker panel in your home and “listens” to all the electrical devices in your home to “understand” where your energy consumption is going. It tracks the power for each device/device and allows you to view usage in the Sense mobile app.

No smart hub required! As of this writing, it can’t detect every device , but it can identify most of them and continues to improve over time. If you have solar power in your home, Sense can also measure solar power production with a $50 update.

6. CURB energy monitoring system

The CURB energy monitor is similar to the above systems: connect to the breaker panel and measure your energy consumption. But it has some additional qualities that the others don’t have.

CURB wants to be a “mint for energy” (that is, a Mint for tracking personal finances). Not only does it help you pinpoint big leaks and wasted energy, not only can you monitor your electricity remotely, but you can even set up “energy budgets” for all the different energy connections in your home. You set it up once, and CURB identifies each device/device on its own.

7. Brultech GreenEye Monitor

Brultech GreenEye Monitor is another home device that connects to the breaker panel, can monitor up to 32 individual channels if needed and displays usage statistics via a mobile app. With the commercial version, the Brultech GEM can even monitor multi-family houses.

One unique aspect is that the Brultech GEM has four pulse output readout inputs, which means it can connect to water, gas and motion detection systems. It also has an input to read certain types of temperature sensors.

Human dependence on the World Wide Web is growing rapidly. We are used to transmit important information using common wireless standards, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS. At the same time we are not afraid that it can be stolen easily. The radio channels that are used in wireless data transmission can be easily hacked by intruders. To protect against this Wi-Fi jammer is invented.

Even if you do not own some corporation with a multimillion-dollar budget, the prospect of giving a stranger access to personal information in social networks is unlikely to please you. Having the necessary equipment, even a schoolboy can easily obtain any passwords, bank card numbers and other information.

Why do you need a Wi-Fi signal jammer?

The sustainable Wi-Fi signal jammer engages in its work a range of frequencies that block spy gadgets. In addition to data protection, the suppressor is used in cases such as:

• ensuring the operation of medical equipment. Radio signal can interfere with its normal functioning. That is why you can often find this kind of device in hospitals;
• protection against competitors. For serious companies, this has long been a necessary measure. Wifi jammers protect not only the Internet, they also block radio frequencies that are used by spy equipment. For example, hidden security cameras, bugs;
• prohibiting access to the Internet during school hours. Educational institutions use a communication signal suppressor to disable students from accessing the network during classes so that they are not distracted. This technique also contributes to fair exams and quizzes;
• security. In the subway, they are installed to protect against terrorists. Thanks to the jammer, it will not be possible to activate a bomb remotely.

Wi-Fi jammer is used in places where the work of any data transmission devices is undesirable. It is easy to use and can block communication standards Bluetooth Wi-Fi or GPRS.

What is a radio wave jammer

The Wi-Fi jammer is a device of compact dimensions. It prohibits any transmission of information through wireless radio channels. For this reason, it is also called a suppressor. A jammer is a handheld device that operates on a frequency of 2.4 to 2.5 GHz. The suppression radius depends on the model and is 20 – 30 meters. The range of some stationary samples reaches 200 m.

In addition to Internet access, this device blocks the operation of security cameras and bugs. This makes it indispensable in the fight against espionage. Depriving neighbors of the Internet is not the only purpose of Wi-Fi jammers, they are also needed by large companies and the government to protect confidential information.

How Wi-Fi jammer works

Safe operation of the network using this device is provided by the interference it generates. The suppressor, operating at a certain frequency (for Wi-Fi it is 2.4 -2.5 GHz), creates “white noise” – radio interference that overrides the other waves. Because of this, communication between phones, tablets, and other devices with the outside world is completely lost.

Data exchange between the router and devices takes place at 2402-2480 MHz. The suppressor can be tuned in this range by turning off the desired communication frequencies. In this case the power and range of some devices reaches such values that it is possible to deprive the whole house of the Internet. Such powerful suppressors are large in size, are powered from the mains and are used to disable Wi-Fi in offices of large companies and educational institutions.

Classification of jammers

There are several types of these devices. They differ in their characteristics, such as power, portability, the ability to select the frequency range. There are small pocket models with 15 m range and stationary jammers of industrial scale, the suppression range of which is not limited by Wi-Fi. By class they are divided into:

• portable. The simplest and most compact samples. Their power and range are insignificant. With these jammers it is easy to block the radio signal, for example, in public transport or cafes. Autonomous battery operation allows you to use them wherever and whenever you want;
• stationary. This is a more powerful version of suppressors. They work from the mains and have a larger range, which in some models is up to 200 meters. Such a device is a simple and reliable way of jamming Wi-Fi in the whole building. It is used by large companies to protect the information, and in places where the use of mobile devices is prohibited (hospitals, schools, etc.);
• multi-frequency. This is the most powerful communication suppressor. Can be set and work in any range (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPRS, GSM, GPS, etc.). They have an intelligent mode of operation, which allows you to fine-tune the frequencies and the strength of influence on them.

The use of wireless Internet and the need to protect data on it has led to a large variety of Wi-Fi jammers. Models differ in their price, characteristics and capabilities.

Selection criteria

If there is a need to protect personal information it is a good idea to get a suppressor. Given the large variety of these devices on the market, making the right choice is not easy. To do this, you need to pay attention to such things as:

• compactness. If there is no need for a powerful device, there are models that can easily fit into a purse or backpack and run on a rechargeable battery. Their range is small (10 – 20 meters). But for certain tasks this will be quite enough;
• battery power. It is the battery power that determines the quality and duration of operation of portable Wi-Fi jammers. Mobile jammers are very sensitive to power consumption and current;
• The range of the suppressor. The range is the main parameter of any such device. Here you need to consider not only the characteristics declared by the manufacturer, but also the presence of walls, their thickness and material in the place of use. Blocking the wifi signal is hampered by obstacles;
• the range of operating frequencies. If, in addition to Wi-Fi it is necessary to jam other communication standards, there are models that have such a possibility. To do this, they are equipped with additional antennas.

These parameters directly affect the cost of the jammer. The simplest models are cheap. If you have the desire and certain skills, it is not difficult to make such a device yourself.

Jamming Wi-Fi signal by another network

You can partially or completely jam the signal by using your access point. Here you will need a special software such as Aircrack-ng. This software works through any wireless adapter. The main thing is that it must support network monitoring.

You may need it if your neighbor has rebooted the link you are using. Once the program is running, the first thing to do is to determine the communication frequencies that you want to jam. Then switch to the desired channel and increase the power of your access point to the maximum. This will partially jam the neighbor’s router and greatly reduce the data rate.

Protection against Wi-Fi jammers

Principle of jammers is based on jamming, sending control frames and overlapping the airwaves with “white noise”. In wireless networks the control frames (service information), unlike data, are not encrypted and don’t pass authentication check, which makes the network vulnerable. An attacker can take advantage of this to carry out Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.

An IEEE 802.11w-2009 amendment has been approved to improve the security of 802.11 management frames in wireless networks. Unfortunately, the Management Frame Protection (MFP) mode does not work on all Wi-Fi access points. It should be noted that when MFP frame protection mode is turned on, wireless devices can see a decrease in throughput.

Unfortunately, because of the low prevalence of the frame protection mechanism in the iron solutions and a significant decrease in the speed of data transmission into the network, not many experts in this technology take advantage of this feature. In the end, we get that it is almost impossible to fight devices of this class with software. Devices which could “jam” the jammer also does not exist.

The most effective possible protection in this situation – buying special wallpaper, which includes metal, blocking the penetration of unnecessary radio frequencies from outside. Blocking Wi-Fi wallpaper – this is too expensive and extreme method of combat, but in some situations it is the only way out.

Laziness is considered to be the main engine of progress. It is this quality of man, according to many, determines the further development of systems “facilitation of life. Looking at such a concept as intelligent lighting, you will doubt the truth of the original judgments. This kind of automated technology does create simplicity, environmental friendliness and enviable savings. But this product would not have come about without the complex thought processes of scientists and the painstaking work of developers. Let’s take a closer look at the issue.

The cost of electricity consumption in our time is growing with geometric progression. And there are several logical explanations. Let’s start with the individual. The development of NTP offers us an increasing number of high-tech equipment for work and life. At work, it is usually computers, tablets, scanners, printers, modems and so on. At home it is equipment for home life and entertainment.

Looking at the issue from a more global perspective, private purposes pursued by individuals and companies do not increase the state’s energy capabilities. In order to provide people and companies with the proper amount of electricity, any country chooses one of three methods to solve the problem. They are applied consistently until they begin to work together:

Raising the cost of the resource as a measure to encourage more economical circulation

own investment and leveraging private capital to develop more economical technologies

expanding capacity by building and finding new sources of obtaining the missing resource

As a derivative of the second solution appeared solid-state light sources or LED lamps. Modern LED technology was the impetus for the development of a new generation of intelligent light control.

The origins of intelligent lighting

Initially, lighting control was achieved through dimmers. Devices directly control the power of light sources by mechanical or electronic means. The principle of mechanical dimmers is based on the use of variable rheostats. Semiconductor transistor switches are used to provide the functions of electronic devices. Both are usually switched in series with regulated light sources.

The disadvantages of controlling lighting with dimmers are:

• Distortion of the sinusoidal shape of the regulated voltage
• Interference, including radio-frequency interference
• Incompatibility with fluorescent lamps
• Necessity for additional installation of an electronic ballast
• Local applicability (controller and source are in the same room)

The precursor of dimmers was another system that was never used in the corporate environment. For example, in the late 1970s, scientists developed the X10 protocol, which used power wiring as the medium for the control signals of the electronic modules.

The disadvantages of power wiring as a lighting control medium are:

• low speed of operation
• Instability and frequent failures
• High “pollution” of electrical networks hinders signal transmission

The next step in the development of lighting control technologies were the systems that use LON, DALI and BACnet protocols. The advantage of this technology is the centralized principle of connection (the presence of a controller) and the possibility of interfacing with other automation systems:

• fire safety
• burglar alarm
• heating and air conditioning
• ventilation
• and so on

In the process of automation take part motion sensors control light, more on which we recommend you to read in our article of the same name.

An important disadvantage of intelligent lighting technology of the previous generation is the separation of control systems and power supply. This leads to the need to install and maintain multiple cable infrastructures at once:

• power – supplying power to the light sources
• control low-current – ensuring communication with sensors, electric light units, controllers
• additional – video surveillance with/without integration with intelligent lighting system, computer network, etc.

As a rule, the number of wires grows in proportion to the size and functionality of the company. The result is a veritable web that is difficult to control, maintain and repair.

The next generation of intelligent lighting

The most important advantage and a real technological breakthrough in the field of IE was the possibility of using a single cable infrastructure. The interconnection of communication systems and power supply to the luminaires has been achieved through:

• LED light sources
• The evolution of PoE, or Power of Ethernet

LED light output is about 10 times more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs. This also applies to the level of energy consumed. According to analysts, by 2017 about 87% of U.S. companies will switch to LED lighting. We dare to suggest that about the same mark will reach the world statistics.

The technology of the RoE allows you to transmit data and electricity together over a twisted pair of Ethernet cable. The evolution of RoE is associated with an increase in power throughput, allowing more devices to be connected to the system. Modern PoE equipment assumes the capacity of the connected devices up to 60W. It should be noted that the declared maximum is still far from the capabilities of the technology itself.

Principle of operation of an intelligent lighting system

As mentioned earlier, the modern ISO is based on a single cable wiring, which includes:

• data exchange
• control
• power supply

The heart of the system, as before, is the controller or controller-injectors, which provide a centralized power supply and remote control of lighting fixtures.

Increasing demands for flexibility and functionality require an increase in the number of controllers. In this case, the Director becomes an important addition to the complex. The latter also allows a process of integration with other applications and systems. Data collection is provided by sensors installed near or inside the LED luminaire. Typically, the sensor is a miniature set of sensors (light, temperature, motion) and contains a gateway to communicate with the controller. Typically, the standard gateway connector is the RJ-45 type.

For connection of new generation systems to fluorescent light sources, universal gateways with a sensor unit and the probable need to install an additional relay can be used.

The system is monitored and controlled via special software that is pre-installed in the controllers. Access PC, tablet or smartphone, usually through a web interface.

The tasks of the software include:

• data collection and storage
• analysis and reporting
• status monitoring
• system management
• security

The enviable benefits of intelligent lighting

• Reduction of power supply costs of lighting systems by up to 80%
• Reduce design, installation and commissioning costs by up to 50%
• Get detailed information about power consumption, room temperature and personnel presence
• Increase of safety level of complex conjugated systems

The degree of functionality, flexibility and efficiency of systems depends largely on the level of modification and equipment configuration. Due to the high efficiency and positive prospects for cost reduction, the cost of intelligent lighting in the company will pay off very quickly.

Let’s leave aside the technical descriptions and the language of the instructions. Let’s talk about home computer networking in simple, almost everyday language. You don’t need any special knowledge to read this article. After reading it, you’ll know exactly what a home local area network is.

When do I need a home local area network?

You’ve noticed that computers in the house are like television sets. One used to be enough for the whole family, now they try to put televisions in every room and in the kitchen, and some in the bathroom.

Now almost any family tries to provide computing equipment for every member of the family. It doesn’t matter if there is a desktop in every room or if everyone has a mobile device. In any case, within the apartment and even more so in a private home, all the computers and computer devices can be combined to work together. This union and is – a home local network or home computer network.

Home local network: definition.

So, home local area network is a combination of two or more computers and/or peripherals and other computer devices to perform joint tasks. Typically, home local network is connected to the global network Internet via the LAN network provider (Internet connection).

Home local network: examples

Here are a few trivial, but meaningful examples of home networks.

Example #1, the simplest: You have one desktop computer in your house. It is in a remote and private office. However, the computer’s printer is in the common room and is connected to the computer with a control cable. Connecting the remote printer to the desktop is an example of a simple home network.

Example #2, uncomplicated: You have two computers scattered across the rooms in your house/apartment and one ISP with one cable going into the apartment.

In this case, one option for your home computer network would be to connect the two computers in your home to the ISP’s cable through a common home gateway (router).

It does not matter if the ISP has a fiber optic cable FTTH network or a twisted pair ADSL network. The home computer network will be a twisted-pair cable from each computer to the router.

Example #3, complicated: The modern man, relying on the new possibilities of the Internet is not limited to a few desktops in one dwelling. Wearable smartphones, tablets, laptops, and televisions all “want” Internet access.

In this scenario, a home computer network is designed and built not only wired, but also wireless.

A wired home network is called a LAN network. A wireless home network is called a Wi-Fi network. Both networks require separate or combined equipment.

For example, the home’s main router can be:

• Wired;
• Wireless;
• Combination.

Home Local Area Network: Why you need it

In conclusion, I would like to summarize and try to identify the benefits of home local networks. As I see it, these are:

First, cost savings. The ability to connect a lot of devices to one provider’s cable is economical.

Secondly, a home network gives full independence to use any device inside and even outside the apartment. With a properly configured home network, you can easily go from desktops to mobile devices without doing anything more than griping.

Third, the right router leaves you with the prospect of expanding your home network.

Fourth, a home network will allow you to use shared peripherals from all access points. Shared printer, scanner, shared storage or shared cloud.

Fifth, I don’t think this is a good idea, but a home network will allow you to communicate with your housemates without leaving their rooms, including sharing movies, links, and other information.

Top 5 best wireless router for your home network

Today, there are some categories of technical devices that are almost identical in price and functionality. These devices include routers.

To put it simply, for the unsophisticated user who does not pay attention to the numerous technical features and parameters of each model, the choice of router does not matter much, because almost any model will more than satisfy his modest needs for a high-quality wireless Internet connection.

Therefore, if you need a device for organizing Wi-Fi network in a private house or an apartment, feel free to choose any model from our list below, instead of comparing numerous parameters. Well, if you need a router for more specific purposes and tasks, then you simply can’t do without a serious dive into the subject.

Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A

Low-cost Wi-Fi router in a high-quality composite material case has four fixed broadband antennas for stable and fast connection of various stationary and portable devices.

Sufficient Wi-Fi coverage with simultaneous 2.4/5 GHz data transfer is combined with a high-speed wireless connection.

The device is equipped with two LAN ports for networking between units of stationary equipment via cable.

Working configuration is set up through the web-interface. Connection security is provided by WEP, WPA and WPA2 standards.

Specifications:

• Wi-Fi operating frequencies – 2.4/5 GHz;
• 802.11 b, a, g, n, ac standards support;
• wireless speed – 1167 Mbps;
• Internet connection – WAN;
• LAN-ports – 2 × 100 Mbps;
• network infrastructures – DHCP, Firewall, NAT;
• Encryption – WEP, WPA, WPA2;
• dimensions – 188 × 25 × 101 mm;
• features – comes with a Chinese plug, Smart Home ecosystem.

Pros

• good data transmission speed;
• stable signal in two bands;
• affordable price tag;
• up-to-date design.

Cons

• no support for IPTV;
• not enough LAN ports;
• no possibility of attaching to the wall.

TP-LINK Archer A9

Specifications:

Bands: 2.4/5 GHz;

Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac;

Maximum speed: 1900 Mbps;

Number of LAN ports: 4;

Port speed: 1 Gbps;

USB port: 1xUSB 2.0 Type A;

Number and type of antennas: 3 external fixed and 1 internal, 20 dBm.

This router is great for your home. It has a pretty high power of 20 dBm, more than most similar devices. It is provided by three fixed antennas and one built-in antenna. Two frequencies are available: 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

The 5 GHz frequency has a higher data transfer rate, but it can be difficult to overcome walls or partitions, and the 2.4 GHz frequency can overlap with other devices. Therefore, it is important that the router can operate in two frequencies at the same time. This router model has 4 ports for wired network connection of devices. Considering the above parameters, we can say that this router has a reasonable price for functionality and quality.

Pros

• high signal strength;
• large coverage area;
• user-friendly interface;

Cons

• with a large number of users there are failures.

ASUS RT-AC58U

Specifications:

• Bands: 2.4/5 GHz;
• Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac;
• Maximum speed: 1267 Mbps;
• Number of LAN ports: 4;
• Port speed: 1 Gbps;
• USB port: 1xUSB 3.0 Type A;
• Number and type of antennas: 4 fixed;
• RAM: 128 MB;
• Flash memory: 128 MB;
• Rating in Yandex.Market: 4.5.

ASUS RT-AC58U is a Gigabit household router with 4 antennas for 2.4 and 5 GHz. The device supports the 802.11ac standard and is suitable for wireless and wired Internet access from personal computers and mobile devices. The top panel has an original texture, typical of the brand Asus.

The antennas are ergonomically placed: 2 on the back side of the panel and 1 each on the right and left side sides. This allows the router to be placed to save space. The position of the antennas can be shifted at the user’s discretion.

The router supports AiDisk technology which allows you to access content on a USB drive over the Internet. The price-performance ratio is practically ideal if we take into consideration the support of IPTV technology, MU-MIMO for efficient interaction with other devices. Overpayment “for the brand” is clearly not traceable, especially if you consider the high level of reliability.

Pros

• good speed;
• does not glitch or hang up;
• user-friendly interface.

Cons

• short patch cord included;
• the LEDs are too bright (not turned off).

Tenda AC15

Specifications:

• Bands: 2.4/5 GHz;
• Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac;
• Maximum speed: 1900 Mbps;
• Number of LAN ports: 3;
• Port speed: 1 Gbps;
• USB port: 1xUSB 3.0 Type A;
• Number and type of antennas: 3 external dual-band with a gain of 3 dBm;
• RAM: 128 MB DDR3;
• Flash memory: 16 MB.

Tenda AC15 router is installed vertically. It comes with a removable foot for stable positioning of the device in an upright position.

This is a dual-band router. Supports antenna power management technology beamforming +, which increases the radius of network coverage. The router can provide a dense stream of network traffic without losing performance even when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. Suitable not only for home, but also for a small office.

The high speed guarantees comfortable watching streaming videos and modern network games without freezing.

Pros

• high speed Wi-Fi connection;;
• built-in DLNA-server;
• the ability to connect a large number of devices without loss of quality.

Cons

• vertical positioning;
• bugs in the firmware.

Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router Pro

Specifications:

• Bands: 2.4/5 GHz;
• Wi-Fi standard: 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac;
• Maximum speed: 2533 Mbps;
• Number of LAN ports: 3;
• Port speed: 1 Gbps;
• USB port: 1xUSB 3.0 Type A;
• Number and type of antennas: 4 fixed;
• RAM: 512 MB DDR3;
• Flash memory: 256 MB.

It distributes the Internet over long distances, works without fail. In terms of penetration capacity can compete with more expensive devices. Router Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router Pro will work steadily in multi-room apartments, large houses. It supports external hard drives and information backup. A built-in download manager is used for downloads. By connecting an external drive, you can store a large amount of video, audio and photo content.

Pros

• fast, powerful;
• compact.

Cons

• the interface in Chinese (can be solved by extending to Google Chrome);
• difficult to set up.

What you need to create a local network

To create your own LAN, the minimum configuration is enough to have a pair of computers, a Wi-Fi router and some cables:

• The devices themselves (computers, printers, etc.).
• Wi-Fi router or router. The most convenient device to create a home network, since almost every home has a Wi-Fi router.
• Twisted-pair Internet cables. It used to be important to use crossover cables when connecting computers directly, without routers or switch switches. Now you don’t need them, because network cards understand how the cable is connected and configure it automatically.
• Switch switches or hubs. Serve to connect devices into one network. The main “transport node”. Unnecessary but handy device, long ago ousted by Wi-Fi routers from conventional apartments.
• NAS (Network Attached Storage). Network Attached Storage. It is a small computer with a disk array. Used as a server and data storage. Also not necessary, but very useful thing. 

We have the necessary equipment, now what?

First it is necessary to determine how computers will connect to each other. If wired connection is used, we connect all cables to the router or switch and connect them to the network. There are several ways to create a LAN network.

If Wi-Fi is used, you must first make sure that your devices support this type of connection. For a computer, you may need a separate Wi-Fi adapter, which you will have to buy separately. In laptops, however, it is pre-installed from the factory. Connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi router.

Setting up detection

It is not enough just to connect equipment to each other, so we move on:

• All devices must be in the same “workgroup.” This setting is easy to configure in Windows 10.
• To do this, go to: Control Panel – System and Security – System – Advanced System Settings – System Properties. In the window that opens, specify that the computer is a member of a particular workgroup and give it a name. Repeat this action on all other PCs in the network.
• When using Wi-Fi, change the network profile parameter in the network settings. To do this, in the “Network and Internet settings” in the “Status” section, click on “Change connection properties” and select the profile “Private”.
• After that, configure the settings of the shared access. Go to the “Network and Sharing Center” and open “Change advanced sharing settings”. It is necessary to enable network discovery, as well as access to files and printers.
• Do not forget to enable PC access and disable password protection.

Now comes the important step: setting up network discovery and file sharing

It is important to ensure that all computers have the correct IP addresses. Normally the system configures this automatically, but if the LAN fails, you will need to specify the addresses manually. You can check the IP using the “adapter settings”. Go to “Network and Sharing Center” and from there click on “Change Adapter Settings”.

Click on the connection and open the properties. Next, open the properties of the IP version 4 TCP / IPv4 (may be called “Internet Protocol version 4”). The IP address is what we want. Make sure that the first computer has a different address than the second. For example the first one will be 192.168.0.100, 192.168.0.101 for the second, 192.168.0.102 for the third, etc. For each subsequent connected computer we change the last digit of the address. Note that different routers may have different IP addresses than specified. At this stage the local network is ready and functional.

Go to “Network” in Explorer. If everything is connected correctly, we will see the devices connected to the network. If not, Windows will prompt us to set up network discovery. Click on the notification and select “Enable network discovery and file access”. Keep in mind that the firewall can interfere with the LAN, so if you have problems with the network, you should check the firewall settings. Now you just need to enable the folders and files you want to share.

How do I access folders?

Click on the desired folder and go to the “Access” tab. Click “Share” and set permissions. For a home local network, the easiest option is “Everyone”. Select the access level for the other participants “read or read + write”.

Now, from the properties of the folder, go to the security tab. Click on “Change” and “Add”. Select “All” and activate the changes. The permission list for the folder must be set to “All”. If it is necessary to open access not to an individual folder, but to the entire local disk, you should enter the properties of the disk, click on “Advanced settings” and check the box “Open sharing”. With the command “\localhost” you can see which folders of the computer have local network sharing. To view files from shared folders, you must find the “Network” section in Explorer and open the folder of the desired computer.

How to connect a printer to the local network

In “Devices and Printers” select a printer and click on the Properties of the printer. In the “Access” tab, click on the “Shared access” checkbox. The printer should be displayed with an icon indicating that the device is successfully connected to the LAN.

If you want to close access to a folder, you must find the “Make inaccessible” item in the properties. If you want to disconnect the entire computer from the LAN, the easiest way is to change the PC’s workgroup.