A network hub switch is a necessary tool for establishing a computer network at your home or office. They enable you to connect computers, printers, and even telephones, so that they can be used by any other device within the same network. For a business this can be useful so that you can easily transfer files and phone calls, as well as print documents for other employees. At home a computer network can be useful so that you can transfer media between different computers in your home. This way downloaded games and music can be played on more than one PC, instead of only being playable on the hard drive it was downloaded to.
Choosing a network hub switch isn’t always easy, as there are quite a few options. Unless you know a little bit of what you’re looking for, you can find yourself easily drowning in the endless selection put before you. The first thing you should consider, are how many different devices you would like to connect to the switch. Switches have a limited number of Ethernet ports, so you’ll need to purchase a switch that’s large enough to facilitate everything. If you’re connecting ten computers, you’ll need a network hub switch with at least ten ports, and so on and so forth.
Also, speed is a massive factor in your quest to find the perfect network hub switch. The speed at which a switch operates will dictate how quickly files can be transferred, and also how much bandwidth is allotted to each computer on the network. The more speed, obviously the faster the operation runs, but also the more expensive the switch becomes. Some feature Gigabit technology to facilitate very fast transfer speeds from 1-10 gigabytes per second. Other, cheaper models feature slower speeds of around 10 megabytes per second, but are also much more affordably. Gigabit is perfect for a business, but it’s cost makes it unrealistic in your home, unless you demand the utmost from your network hub switch.
Another factor to consider, is the type of switch that you want to buy. When you’re looking to purchase for the home or the office, there are two major brands that you’ll have to consider. The two largest network hub switch manufacturers are Linksys and Netgear, and chances are you’ll end up choosing one of the two. Linksys offers great options for much cheaper than anyone else, but usually only offer the bare minimum in terms of the features available. Netgear is more expensive, but usually offers more speed, as well as security with advanced firewall options for internal network security.
When you’re looking to purchase a network hub switch, you can find plenty of options at a local store, but you’ll find the largest selection online. Internet retailers like Amazon.com and Buy.com have a large selection of switches available, and feature models that just aren’t available in your area. Price varies depending upon the speed a network hub switch offers, and also the number of ports. Cost can be as low as $60 for a simple switch, or well over $500 for a deluxe model.