Create a ninja network

How to set up your network for speedy and discrete performance

NETWORKING IS HARD. In terms of setting up your electronic gear, it’s probably the most technical thing you’ll have to do. It’s full of buzzwords and jargon, and it’s not always clear to the layman how you should proceed or what is good practice and bad.

So this month, we’ve gone back to the basics once more to take a walk through setting up a home network properly. We’ll start by looking at the most critical element — the router — so you can understand how best to configure it, where to place it and its overall role in tying your network together.

Google Nest Cam HD

See and hear what's happening while you're away

Last year, Google bought Nest (the smart-thermostat company) and Dropcam (the internet security camera company), and this camera combines the know-how of both manufacturers. It is designed for indoor use and connected to a mains adapter via the supplied three-metre microUSB (you could also use a USB battery pack for limited periods).

FixMeStick

A USB drive that promises to remove malware

Malware can attack your PC over the internet, denying you access to your files and even making your computer unusable. Protection is built into Windows 8 and 10 (Windows Defender), but this won’t catch everything.

CCL Nebula 200i

A complete Windows 10 PC at a reasonable price

Gamers are a funny lot. When they’re not lurking in dark rooms full of empty pizza boxes or out committing heinous game-inspired crimes, they’re provoking PC manufacturers to build ever-wackier desktop PC cases with shark-fin grilles, water-cooling pipes, LED lights and curvy orange bits. Frankly, they’re a bad influence and a menace to society.

Acer Extensa EM2610 003

A middle-of-the-road desktop PC

Nobody ever got fired, they used to say, for buying IBM. A machine from that stalwart of business computing might not be the most exciting, but it would be a safe choice. Dull but worthy. Reassuringly uninspired. You might well think the same of this desktop PC from Acer. The Taiwanese company may not be the world’s most innovative company, but it is the world’s fourth bestselling personal computer manufacturer.