To build any kind of network you're going to need hardware. Time was when that inevitably meant a network switch (a device that connects all the different parts of a network together and ensures data goes to the correct destinations) to which everything had to be cabled, but no longer. A number of more popular alternatives are now available, such as Wifi wireless networking and Homeplug (sometimes called Powerline) where data is carried over your domestic AC mains wiring. Each has its pros and cons, so let's kick off by discussing some of these, starting with a traditional wired network (more correctly referred to as a local area network or Lan).

Virtually every PC or laptop you can buy will have an adapter for cabled networking built in, making it a cheap and attractive option. The switches to which the adapters have to be cabled are affordable now too. Bandwidth is unlikely to be an issue, with Gigabit networking standards (l,000Mbits/sec) commonplace on most products. The only major drawback is the need to run cables everywhere.
Trail wires across the floor and the result can be messy and hazardous, but a proper installation that tidies the cables away will be expensive, even if you do it yourself. On top of this, it's almost inevitable that, however many you have and wherever you put them, cabled ports will never be in the right place.

Wifi is a lot more flexible because it requires no cables or fixed ports. And that now makes it the preferred technology for most home and small-business networks, with serviee providers increasingly bundling wireless routers as part of their broadband packages. But not all PCs come with a Wifi adapter as standard. Most notebooks-do, but not desktops, which adds to the cost.

Wifi bandwidth can be an issue too. The latest 802.11 n (also referred to as draft-N or Wireless-N) products are pretty fast, delivering real speeds of around 100Mbits/sec, but that's still far short of what a cabled Gigabit network can do.

Range is another issue with Wifi, although there are several ways of extending wireless reach, such as adding extra wireless access points or using wireless 'bridges' to link different Wifi networks together. But because these can be complex and expensive to install, many users opt for Homeplug, which uses the AC mains wiring in your house or office to network devices together.

For example, you can run an ordinary network cable from a router to a Homeplug adapter in a nearby socket, then plug in a Homeplug Wifi extender almost anywhere else in the same property. Wifi notebooks within range of the extender can then connect to the router, with data between the two units carried over the AC cabling.

Homeplug can also be used to build complete networks without Wifi, although the bandwidth isn't fantastic. The latest Homeplug AV products, for example, are rated at 200Mbits/sec, but in practice deliver less than half that. Still, they compare well with Wifi and are ridiculously easy to install: just plug them in and they work, finding each other and building a network without any user intervention.

Homeplug networking isn't without issues. Despite its popularity, few products have Homeplug technology built in (yet) and the adapters are still expensive compared with Wifi alternatives.

Be wary of compatibility claims too. Interoperability between manufacturers isn't a problem but the latest HomeplugAV devices (up to 200Mbits/sec) can't be used with earlier Homeplug 1.0 products (up to 85Mbits/sec). They can be used alongside each other but can't communicate together.

Finally, don't assume that you have to stick with just one of these technologies. It's fine to mix and match cabled, Wifi and Homeplug networks to suit your needs. A Wifi router, for example, will also have cabled ports to which you can attach PCs, cabled switches and Homeplug adapters. Sure, there are differences when it comes to setup and management, but all support the same networking protocols and applications and can be made to work together easily.