• Make a PC-to-PC Connection

• Get to Know Networking Equipment

• Set Up a Basic Network

• Network Your Home Office

• Connect to the Internet

• Find Networking Equipment on eBay Singapore

• Buy with Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Make a PC-to-PC Connection

Make a PC-to-PC Connection

Home networking takes less time, money, and technical know-how than ever before, but if you just want to transfer files between two computers or transfer data from your gadgets you don't necessarily have to set up a complete home network.

• Connect two computers directly: Use a direct cable connection (DCC) for an inexpensive and quick way to connect two computers and transfer files. You'll require a crossover cable, USB cable, or serial cable. Once you have the cables hooked up to both computers, simply make sure to that one is set as Host and one as Guest in your Communications Control Panel.

• Share your monitor: If you have more than one computer at a single desk then use a KVM switch to share your keyboard, monitor, and mouse with multiple computers

• Talk with gadgets: Some mobile phones and PDAs are able to use Bluetooth (a short-distance wireless networking technology) to send and receive information up to 9 metres. If your computer doesn't support Bluetooth and you want to take advantage of the technology, purchase a USB Bluetooth dongle and plug it in.

• Connect additional devices: Expand the number of available USB ports on your computer with a USB hub. If you want to attach six USB devices to your computer, a six-port USB hub will enable you to attach all the devices you want.

Get to Know Networking Equipment

Get to Know Networking Equipment

To connect two or more computers, particularly computers in different rooms, you'll need to set up a network. Know your basic hardware options when you set up a wired network or a wireless network.

Network Interface Card (NIC): Every laptop or desktop you want to put on a wired network needs a 10/100 Network Interface Card (NIC), also called an Ethernet card. Your computer might already have an Ethernet port. Every computer you want to put on a wireless network requires a wireless card that supports 802.1b or 802.11g wireless networking technology. Laptops that have Intel's Centrino Mobile Technology have built-in Wi-Fi support.

Ethernet hub: Low-cost Ethernet hubs allow computers to share average-size files as well as an Internet connection. They connect to your router, expanding the number of machines that can connect to your network, and tackle requests from different computers on a first come, first serve basis.

Cat5 cable: Cat5 networking cable lets you create a wired connection between two devices. If you work in an office, you probably use one of these to attach your computer to the office's local area network (LAN).

Router: Routers act as a switch and hardware firewall, permitting you to share high-speed DSL or cable Internet service and to transfer large files quickly. Wireless routers also include a built-in wireless access point. Some also have a built-in print server. Cisco, Netgear, D-Link, Linksys and Belkin make popular routers.

Switch:  Switches enable computers to quickly share large files and an Internet connection. Even though routers come with integrated switches, you'll want a separate switch for networks with more than eight computers.

Access point: Access points from companies such as Netgear and D-Link a ct as a hub, allowing users to access your wireless network.

Print server: When networking a printer, you can attach the printer to one computer and share it over the network, or alternatively you can hook a print server up to the printer you want to share. Wired print servers and wireless print servers permit you to share a printer without having to leave a designated computer on all the time. They are particularly convenient in home offices with more than four computers. HP, and D-Link are popular print server brands. Make sure that before you make a purchase, you verify with the seller that the print server will work with your operating system and printer.

Network attached storage (NAS): With reduced prices even home users, and not just big business, can afford NAS. They especially come in handy for small business owners who don't want any server downtime.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS): Surge protectors are ideal for computer used but particularly for people who live in lightening-prone areas and locations that suffer from frequent brownouts and blackouts. UPS provides power conditioning as well as short-term battery power that will keep your system running long enough to properly save data and shut down when the power goes out.

Set Up a Basic Network

Set Up a Basic Network

Wired Ethernet networks provide security, fast setup, and can also be more affordable than comparable wireless networking equipment. To set up a wired network: 

Why Go Wireless?

Set up a wireless network in your home that supports your wired Ethernet devices as well as your wireless notebook and PDA. You'll gain the ability to take your laptop anywhere in your house without tethering it to an Ethernet cable, and you won't need to punch holes in your walls to string cables.

Wireless networks use the wireless spectrum to send and receive data. A basic wireless networking setup, requires you to attach your Internet connection to your modem as usual, plug the modem into a router or access point, and connect your router to your desktop. Once you configure the router, laptops and desktops with a wireless card or laptops that have built-in Wi-Fi support can access the network. You can also configure most networks to encrypt the signals between connections to increase the security of your system.

Determine which 802.11 standard you want to use when you choose to go wireless. Home users should focus on 802.11b and 802.11g.

• 802.11a wireless networking: 802.11a uses the 5GHz band to transmit data at up to 54 Mbps. Although 802.11a doesn't experience as much interference as 802.11b and 802.11g, and handles larger files, most home users won't want to use it for its cost and its inability to access public Wi-Fi hotspots.

• 802.11b wireless networking: Using the 2.4 GHz band, 802.11b can experience interference from cordless phones and similar devices using the same spectrum. 802.11b offers theoretical transmission speeds up to 11 Mbps, and public Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and coffee shops use it.

• 802.11g wireless networking: Using the 2.4 GHz band, 802.11g can experience interference from cordless phones and similar devices using the same spectrum. It offers data transfer speeds up to and exceeding 20 Mbps and is backward-compatible with 802.11b. Purchase 802.11g equipment if you want to access hotpots and get faster throughput than 802.11b.

Companies like Cisco, Netgear, D-Link and Linksys, offer a great choice of routers, access points, and wireless networking cards. Many routers even include a print server so there is no need to leave your desktop on all the time. For the best results, purchase all your wireless networking hardware from the same manufacturer.

Network Your Home Office

Network Your Home Office

Whether you work out from home or an outside office, businesses have a few more needs than basic home users. With less than 10 employees, you may like to set up small-scale home offices with basic home network setups including a print server and uninterruptible power supply.

Businesses with 10 to 100 employees and business-grade DSL need a router with VPN support, a switch with enough ports for each employee (particularly if you use a server instead of a router), and 10/100 LAN network adapters for every computer as well as a print server, uninterruptible power supply, and network attached storage device.

If you want to provide your employees with wireless network access, add an access point and ensure your employees have a laptop with a Wi-Fi PCIMCIA card or built-in Wi-Fi support.

Connect to the Internet

Connect to the Internet

Find new modems and IT equipment to make phone calls over the Internet on eBay Singapore.

• Dial-up: People who dial up to the Internet need a v.90 modem or v.92 modem (with on-hold technology) that has data transfer rates up to 56,000 kbps (56K). While most computers include an internal modem or built-in v.90 or v.92 modem, external modems can be bought for those that don't.

• Broadband: Your cable or DSL service will usually provide you with a modem and the filters you need to use broadband. If not, or if you need a replacement, make sure you purchase a modem that is compatible with your service. To use your cable Internet service, you'll need a cable modem. If you have DSL and live in Singapore, buy an ADSL modem compatible with your service.

• Internet Phone Calls (VoIP): Call your family and friends over your broadband connection with services from companies such as Skype.

Find Networking Equipment on eBay Singapore

Find Networking Equipment on eBay Singapore

Once you know what type of networking equipment you need, go to the Electronics & Computers portal, click on Other under Computers & Office Products, and start searching for items on eBay Singapore.

• Keyword search: Search eBay Singapore listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a dongle, type "dongle" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Singapore's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, or saving a search on My eBay and eBay Singapore will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Singapore and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it posts.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Singapore (with a bid or Buy It Now). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Singapore are not covered by eBay Singapore protection programmes.

• Never pay for your eBay Singapore item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Singapore sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Singapore and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to US$1,000.

• eBay Singapore Security Centre: Visit the Security Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Singapore's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Singapore veteran with just the information you're looking for!

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.