Family harmony is a wireless network

By CHRIS BARTON

This was very much a new-millennium problem.

"Dad, can I get on the computer? I need to check my hotmail."

"No, I'm working."

But I'll only be a few minutes. - No, I'm busy, I've got to get this story done.

Awwaah - you're so horrible." (Monika stomps off, but returns five minutes later.)

Dad, can I get on the computer? I need to do my homework? - No, you can't. I told you, I'm busy.

But I have to get my homework done. - Do it on the other computer.

"I can't, I need the net."

What is a father to do? As both provider and caregiver, he's letting the side down badly. The answer, of course, is to network the two computers together and share the internet connection.

But what a hassle - crawling under the house dragging a wire, drilling holes in the floor and installing network cards. It all felt like too much effort. Surely there was a better way?

There was - a wireless network. The magic arrived at our house in the form of Dave Cronin, an extremely obliging chap who runs a company called Net-Direct. Dave replaced my existing Nokia modem, which connects my computer in the study to Telecom's Jetstream fast internet service, with one from Actiontec.

The main difference was a credit card-sized object sticking out of the top of the new modem.

It was hard to believe, but Dave said the card contained an aerial and a transceiver (a transmitter and receiver). It would use something called 802-dot-11b to send and receive data to and from the other computer through the air. Yes, sans wires and through or around the walls of my house.

"Oh really, that would be great," I said sceptically.

We headed for Monika's room, where Dave opened the lid on the old hand-me-down computer and installed another one of these devices. He fiddled a bit with some settings on each computer and, lo and behold, both were soon surfing the net - simultaneously sharing the same internet connection. Dave fiddled some more and soon Monika's computer could print out documents on the printer connected to the study computer. Both computers could also share files. Magic!

In truth, it didn't happen quite that easily - there were many hours of fiddling involved (see below). But the result has meant a big improvement in family relations - although I don't think the other family members realise just how significant this development is.

I tried to tell my partner that what I had done in bringing a wireless network to the house was as revolutionary as Stone Age man hunting with a spear and bringing back a woolly mammoth. She snorted.

Still, the conversation with my daughter has really improved.

"Dad, can I use the computer? I need to get on the net."

"No, use the other one."

"I can't, mum's using it."