Q: What are the basic costs involved in setting up a home network?

Not including the computers themselves, there's the Internet connection, which varies based on your selected service provider, and a wireless router, which varies by technology and quality but generally can cost anywhere from $19 to $279 for an ultrapremium dual-band model.

What Will the Consumer Get For His Money in Terms of Good, Better, and Best Networking Products and Price Ranges?

• A basic router for $70 provides simple wireless and home networking capabilities. The right customer for this would be looking to perform basic networking tasks and wouldn't be too worried about super fast speeds.
• A jump to about $100 increases the distance and speed of your wireless coverage.
• Moving another rung up the ladder adds even more speed and range and retails for $120. This is the first level where basic streaming video becomes a viable option.
• When you get above the $150 barrier, you will start to see additional features, such as network storage, media servers, gigabit ports and dual-band capabilities.