Wireless Home Networking For Dummies

Fully updated for Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard, this new edition of this bestseller returns with all the latest in wireless standards and security. This fun and friendly guide shows you how to integrate your iPhone, iPod touch, smartphone, or gaming system into your home network. Veteran authors escort you through the various financial and logisitical considerations that you need to take into account before building a wireless network at home.

• Covers the basics of planning, installing, and using wireless LANs
• Reviews essential information on the latest security issues
• Delivers valuable tips on how to stay current with fast-moving technology
• Discusses how to share resources such as printers, scanners, an Internet connection, files, and more with multiple computers on one network

Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 4^th Edition skips the technical jargon and gets you connected with need-to-know information on building a wireless home network.

Introduction 1

Part I: Wireless Networking Fundamentals 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Wireless Home Networking 9

Chapter 2: From a to n and b-yond 27

Chapter 3: Exploring Bluetooth and Other Wireless Networks 51

Part II: Making Plans 67

Chapter 4: Planning a Wireless Home Network 69

Chapter 5: Choosing Wireless Home Networking Equipment 91

Part III: Installing a Wireless Network 107

Chapter 6: Installing Wireless Access Points in Windows 109

Chapter 7: Setting Up a Wireless Windows Network 125

Chapter 8: Setting Up a Wireless Mac Network 143

Chapter 9: Securing Your Home Network 161

Part IV: Using Your Wireless Network 183

Chapter 10: Putting Your Wireless Network to Work 185

Chapter 11: Gaming Over Your Wireless Network 205

Chapter 12: Networking Your Entertainment Center 225

Chapter 13: Extending Your Mobile Network 245

Chapter 14: Other Cool Things You Can Network 257

Chapter 15: Using a Bluetooth Network 273

Chapter 16: Going Wireless Away from Home 285

Part V: The Part of Tens 297

Chapter 17: Ten FAQs about Wireless Home Networks 299

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Troubleshoot Wireless LAN Performance 309

Chapter 19: Ten Devices to Connect to Your Wireless Network in the Future 319

Chapter 20: Ten Sources for More Information 339

Index 347

Danny Briere is CEO and founder of TeleChoice, Inc., which provides strategic consulting services to businesses. Pat Hurley is a TeleChoice consultant specializing in emerging telecommunications technologies. They are coauthors of Smart Homes For Dummies, Home Theater For Dummies, and HDTV For Dummies.

Learn to:

• Consider financial and logistical issues when planning a wireless network
• Design, install, and use a wireless LAN
• Keep your network security up to date
• Plan for the Wi-Fi capability of your mobile devices

Do you need a wireless network? Sure you do, and here's the easy way to get one

The world's going wireless! A wireless network is for more than just computers; appliances, game consoles, and even your thermostat may have wireless capabilities. This fully updated version of the number one book on wireless home networking is packed cover to cover with everything you need to know to plan, install, and use a wireless network in your home.

• The shopping list —
find out what equipment you'll need and what to look for when shopping
• You have standards —
understand industry standards and how 802.11n affects you
• It's in the plan —
plan your network with an eye to security, the types of devices you'll be connecting, your Internet provider, and more
• Roll up your sleeves —
follow step-by-step instructions to install your network
• Oh, the things you can do
— share peripherals, use your network for storage, exchange files between Macs and PCs, and more
• Now the fun stuff —
configure your network for gaming or connect devices into a knockout home entertainment system
• Get going —
explore mobile networking, Bluetooth, and how to find hot spots away from home

Open the book and find:

• How to wirelessly control your home
• Instructions for Windows^® 7 and Mac OS^® X Snow Leopard^®
• When you do want to use wires
• Suggestions for devices to connect
• Where you should (and shouldn't) install your access point
• Important advice on securing your network
• Things you can do with Bluetooth^®
• Ten troubleshooting tips