Wireless Home Networking for Dummies

by Danny Briere, Pat Hurley, Edward Ferris

Get hooked up without getting tangled up in cords, wires, cables "or" techno mumbo."" With "Wireless Home Networking For Dummies," you can go wireless without going mad. It shows you how to plan, install, secure, and use a wireless home network for PCs or Macs. See how easy it is to share your Internet connection, files, folders, printers, and other peripherals. Put your gaming console on your wireless network and play multiuser computer games---even online. With lots of helpful diagrams, screen shots, and step-by-step instructions, this Gives you the info you need to make wise wireless buying and connecting decisionsCovers the latest security issues and hardware as well as today's wireless standards, including Wi-Fi/802.11 (a, b, g, e, and i), Bluetooth, UWB (Universal Wide Band), WiMAX, and ZigBeeTells you how to use an inexpensive networking kit to connect your gaming console to a broadband Internet connection and speed up your commands; that's often a matter of virtual life and deathDiscusses alternatives to wireless networking, including Bluetooth, HPNA, and Home PlugLearn how to network your entertainment center for all kinds of options. Whether you have a $300 TV set or a $25,000 home theater system, you can wireless enable almost any type of A/V equipment. Then you can use your PC to store audio and video tracks for playback on your TV and through your stereo, stream movies from the Internet and play them on your big screen, load pictures from your digital camera on your PC and view them on the TV, and more. This book will show you how to make your home entertainment system much more entertaining, Info on plugging into wireless with wireless A/V adaptersThe latest on wireless media servers like the Sonos Music SystemThe scoop on the ultimate home theater PC (HTPC) that plays CDs and DVDs, acts as a PVR (personal video recorder); lets you play video games on the big screen, and moreTips for buying wireless bridges, along with some specific products and their Web sitesFind out about how to go wireless wherever you go, with info on public wireless hot spots and types of free and for-pay networks. Delve into the whole-home wireless revolution and see how you can add smart home devices to your network, connect to your car or your home security video monitors, use your cell phone as a remote control, and more. "Wireless Home Networking For Dummies" even gives you a look into the not-so-distant future and the wireless wonders in the works!

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Computers

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2003

About the author

Sometimes credited as Daniel D. Briere

Reviews

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently installed a wireless network in my home and much
to my surprise it setup and worked immediately. When I
used the configuration interface to the router I found a
variety of 'Advanced' settings and while the purpose of
some are more evident than others, I got curious about
what all they were for and could they be altered for
better performance, security, etc.

The first third of this book is dedicated to planning -
mmm, maybe I should have read that first? it covers figuring out
what you want or need, as you might not be exactly aware of that
is yet if you are new to the game; explaining the various, and
plentiful, terminology that may be like another language to the
average person. Dummies strongly suggests getting equipment
with the latest and greatest capabilities, such as a router
using the 'N' network. Though they also point out less expensive
options particularly if you are working with older equipment
and a smaller budget.

Once you get into the functionality chapters, most examples
are given for Windows and Mac, (which also means things move
faster as you can skip one or the other).

They also delve into the pros and cons of connecting your
entertainment center, as well as various other items in the
wireless high tech household; printers, your car, iwhatevers.

The final chapter has a variety of links and references
for more information should you wish to continue your
education.

I found it an informative, good introductory read.

[Jack]

The library I work in has a wireless network for the public and I am also considering adding a new network in my home so my daughter and I can share printing and the internet. So far this is a pretty good introductory book.