This book is a complete ''experience'' for Wi-Fi users, offering how-to instructions and software discounts, full versions on the CD, and recommendations for Wi-Fi projects. The author takes the reader beyond just wireless networking to explore Wi-Fi capabilities in real-world applications such as Wi-Fi with PDAs, VOIP, and building your own Wi-Fi phone.
Author(s): Harold Davis
Publisher: Que
Year: 2001
Language: English
Commentary: 81264
Pages: 176
Contents at a Glance......Page 2
Copyright © 2002 by Que......Page 3
Contents......Page 4
INTRODUCTION......Page 8
CHAPTER 1 Understanding Wi-Fi......Page 10
What Is Wireless Networking?......Page 11
The 2.4 Gigahertz Spectrum......Page 12
The Politics and Economics of 802.11b......Page 15
CHAPTER 2 Setting Up Your Personal Wireless Network......Page 20
How Much Does It Cost?......Page 21
Benefits of a Home or Small Of•ce Wi-Fi Network......Page 23
Understanding Range......Page 24
Measuring Data Rates: How Fast Is Fast Enough?......Page 25
Installing a Simple Wi-Fi Network......Page 28
About the Four-Step Installation Process......Page 30
Step 2: Driver Installation Under Windows 98......Page 32
Step 2 Continued: Driver Installation Under Windows 2000......Page 37
Step 3: Using Utility Software to De•ne a Wi-Fi Connection Under Windows 98 or Windows 2000......Page 39
Step 4: Setting Up a Peer-to-Peer Network......Page 42
Sharing: It’s a Good Thing......Page 47
Providing Printer Permission......Page 51
Testing Your Connection......Page 53
What To Do If All Else Fails......Page 56
CHAPTER 3 Larger Scale Wi-Fi Setups......Page 58
The Need to Plan: Before the Site Survey......Page 60
Conduct a Site Survey......Page 62
Doing a Survey Yourself......Page 63
Setting Up the LAN......Page 65
The Testing Process......Page 66
Channel Design......Page 67
Going Beyond a Single Building......Page 68
CHAPTER 4 At Home and at Work......Page 70
Case Study: The Author at Home......Page 71
Case Study: Checking In at The Venetian Hotel......Page 73
Case Study: Online at an Airport......Page 74
Case Study: Connecting at Starbucks......Page 75
Case Study: A Small Of•ce Environment......Page 84
CHAPTER 5 The Internet Connection......Page 86
Broadcast Your Broadband Connection......Page 87
Installing a Wi-Fi Cable Modem Connection......Page 89
Testing, Testing, Testing......Page 92
Adding Other Computers to the Connection......Page 93
ISDN, Ordinary Phone Line, or DSL Modem Connections......Page 95
Sharing Files and Resources......Page 96
CHAPTER 6 Putting an Antenna on Your Roof and Elsewhere......Page 98
Types of Antennas......Page 99
Wi-Fi Problems and Cures......Page 101
Mr. Techno Talks Science......Page 104
Getting Connected......Page 108
Tuning Your Antenna......Page 109
Where to Go from Here......Page 110
CHAPTER 7 Lighting Up the Neighborhood......Page 112
Case Study: SFLAN—”Unwiring” the Presidio......Page 113
Wake Forest Lights Up......Page 115
CHAPTER 8 Security and Encryption......Page 120
Special Wi-Fi Security Issues......Page 121
Problems with WEP......Page 123
Some Steps to Take......Page 125
Password Protection Flaws......Page 126
Snorters, Sniffers, and Peekers......Page 127
The VPN Solution......Page 128
Setting Up Your Virtual Private Network......Page 130
Using Firewalls and Intrusion Detection......Page 137
Security Summary......Page 141
CHAPTER 9 The Wi-Fi Revolution......Page 142
A Peek Into the Near Future......Page 144
The Weightless Computer......Page 146
Wireless Freedom of Information......Page 149
VoIP: The New Telephone?......Page 150
Welcome to the Wireless World......Page 152
Security Issues......Page 154
Wi-Fi Vendors......Page 155
GLOSSARY......Page 156
INDEX......Page 168
