Connecting multiple PCs at home isn't that much hassle thanks to networking kits such as the SMC Network Starter Kit. The kit provides everything that's needed to get two machines networked - two PCI 100Mbits/sec network cards, two five-metre cables, and a 10/100Mbits/sec hub.

For future expansion the hub has four ports for computers and a fifth port for connecting to a second hub. A crossover network cable wired in reverse to a standard cable can be used on any standard port to do the same job, though. Likewise, a crossover cable can be used on the fifth hub port to connect a fifth machine.

In the meantime, getting two machines up and networked is a simple task. The network cards need to be installed into free PCI slots and connected using the provided cables into the hub. After powering on the PCs, the connections can be verified via status lights on both the network cards and the hub.

Assuming this is all right, it's time to install the correct drivers inside Windows. Now comes the slightly trickier part: getting the PCs to talk to each other.

This requires setting up the network protocols, which tell the computers how they should talk to each other. The manual recommends removing TCP/IP - the same protocol the internet uses - and installing NetBEUI instead, which makes file and print sharing a doddle.

Unfortunately, this is all you can do. And while the box proudly says you can use this kit to share an internet connection, no software is provided to do this. Windows 98 has this built in, but it's a nightmare to set up and requires TCP/IP to be installed.

It's a shame that such an important area isn't covered in what is otherwise a solid piece of kit.

Contact
SMC 0800 0188 733; www.smc-europe.com