Wi-Fi Home Networking Just the Steps For Dummies

Wi-Fi Home Networking Just the Steps For Dummies is the way to go if you’re ready to go wireless and install your own wireless home network. The book’s easy-to-navigate design features two columns, with numbered step-by-step instructions on one side and corresponding illustrations, screen shots, or photos on the other. There’s no fluff, just the vital stuff—Just The Steps you need to get up to speed fast. This guide covers common networking tasks, including:

Setting up wireless access points and configuring your network
Adding wireless devices to your network
Activating Wi-Fi Security, managing firewalls, and preventing unauthorized network users

You don’t have to leave WI-Fi behind when you leave home; this practical reference tells you how to find public hotspots where you can use your Wi-Fi-equipped portable computer and how to network wirelessly with your pocket PC. It covers practical applications like creating a network bridge or adding wireless network storage, plus fun ways to use your tech toys to integrate and enhance your digital life, such as:

Setting up a wireless media center so you can use a computer for streaming media, as a TV tuner, as a digital video recorder, or to integrate with your TV and home entertainment system
Turning your pocket PC into a remote control
Adding a wireless camera to your network

Even if your current system with its cables, wires, and convoluted connections works, it’s time to cut the cord. Going wireless gives you many advantages and new options. So take the first step—get this book.

Customer Reviews:

Get the Briere book instead

By islebback - August 26, 2006

There are two similar "Dummies" books, this one and Wireless Home Network for Dummies by Danny Briere (2006). This book is too dummied down, providing little over what you could find in the instruction manual of any router you would buy. And with all the screenshots and cartoons, the book seems padded to boot.

With the Briere book, you can read it and understand wireless networking. For instance, in explaining WEP and WPA-PSK encryption, the Briere book expains how both work and why WPA is much more secure than WEP. This book does mention that WPA is vastly superior to WEP, but doesn't explain why, and then proceeds to go through the steps in setting up WEP and then setting up WPA, as though you could do one right after the other (you can't).

Nicely done, and relieves a lot of anxiety...

By Thomas Duff "Duffbert" - June 9, 2006

This is a book I wished I had known about and had available about 2 years ago when I made my plunge into wireless networking... Wi-Fi Home Networking Just the Steps For Dummies by Keith Underdahl. It would have saved me a ton of angst...

Contents:

Part 1 - Starting a Wireless Network: Setting Up Wireless Access Points; Configuring Your Network; Adding Wireless Devices to Your Network; Using Your Wireless Network; Wireless Networking with Your Mac

Part 2 - Securing Your Network: Activating Wi-Fi Security; Managing Firewalls and Network Security; Preventing Unauthorized Network Users

Part 3 - Improving Your Network's Performance: Monitoring Network Performance; Improving the Speed and Range of Your Network; Troubleshooting Network Problems

Part 4 - Using Someone Else's Network: Finding and Using Public Hotspots; Making Ad Hoc Peer-to-Peer Wireless Connections; Using Bluetooth Devices; Networking Wirelessly with Your Pocket PC... read more

Does what it says

By FKlee "PC Gamer" - April 20, 2008

The author does take you step-by-step through the creation of a wireless network. All the sticking points are covered. I only wish the Figures were larger and easier to read directly.