Product Description
Wireless home networks are better than ever! The emergence of new industry standards has made them easier, more convenient, less expensive to own and operate. Still, you need to know what to look for (and look out for), and the expert guidance you’ll find in Wireless Home Networks For Dummies, 3^rd Edition helps you ensure that your wire-free life is also a hassle-free life!

This user-friendly, plain-English guide delivers all of the tips, tricks, and knowledge you need to plan your wireless home network, evaluate and select the equipment that will work best for you, install and configure your wireless network, and much more. You’ll find out how to share your Internet connection over your network, as well as files, printers, and other peripherals. And, you’ll learn how to avoid the “gotchas” that can creep in when you least expect them. Discover how to:

Choose the right networking equipment
Install and configure your wireless network
Integrate Bluetooth into your network
Work with servers, gateways, routers, and switches
Connect audiovisual equipment to your wireless network
Play wireless, multiuser computer games
Establish and maintain your network’s security
Troubleshoot networking problems
Improve network performance
Understand 802.11n

Whether you’re working with Windows PCs, Mac OS X machines, or both Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 3^rd Edition, makes it fast and easy to get your wireless network up and running—and keep it that way!

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 18 reviews)

Not a bad intro to home wireless networking.

I read this out of curiosity and found it to be a decent little introduction to wireless for non-networking people.

Do get the second edition as it is updated and it had the router I have been using.

The first part of the book deals with an introduction to wireless home networking, 802.11a, g, b and Bluetooth networks. There is even a little explanation to where the Bluetooth name comes from.

The sections about configuring your PCs and Macs is pretty basic and it should be pretty easy to use as support material if you are trying to hook one up to the network.

There is a section about internetworking sharing but I am wondering if people even need to do that considering the price of routers these days.

There remaining sections dealt with using and securing the wireless network. The security stuff is written well for the beginner who doesn't want to become a master of security. It explains what is involved and what it needed to set up. However, it keeps it high level as to not completely bore a person who is not interested in this stuff(ie encryption theory). In particular a gaming and a home entertainment system. There was an example of a connected jacuzzi which only costs twelve thousand dollars. :)

Other examples included a phone, a refrigerator, chipping your pets and children. The last part seems like a good idea these days but I wonder the "big brother" implications it would present.

Some of the sites mentioned in the book are interesting. I never heard of netstumbler and have found it useful.

There is always the Part of Tens section and it's ok. Nothing new for me this time.

Overall; it's a decent little book for a noob wanting to grasp the concepts of wireless networking and what is involved with running one.
July 14, 2008

Not helpful

Setting up a router and a network is in my opinion neither routine nor intuitive. So, I purchased this book to guide me through the process of getting a network set up. I bought a Linksys router to connect 2 desktops and a notebook. I could not set up my network using the instructions that came with the router and referring to information in the book. I ended up using Network Magic on the three computers and in a matter of an hour I was connected. However, I have no idea whether the firewall is working or effective on the system. My wireless connection to my notebook is very slow or maybe its the notebook. I also have no idea how to tweak the system to get maximum performance and security. There is a lot of information in the book but in the end it just isn't the information you need to get your network set-up and running properly.
June 20, 2008

This book is for dummies!

This book is for dummies alright. I feel like a dummy now that I have wasted hours reading it. I'm returning the book tomorrow.

13 of 364 pages on troubleshooting your wireless network! They describe all elements of the systems, tell you how to follow ISP instructions, and how to follow computer networking instructions by copying them from the companies themselves. They do not tell you how to solve any real problems which arise when trying to connect.

Here is an example of a "frequently asked question" (9 pages out of 364). "If everything stops working, what can I do?" Their answer is summed up in three very short paragraphs - call tech support, and if that doesn't work, start over! Now, that is some great advice they dispense right there (sarcasm)!

Please don't waste your time or money on this junk!
December 21, 2007

You'll Learn a Lot - Regardless of What You Know Now

I was quite impressed with this book. Although I've had a wireless network for several years, I discovered some very valuable things that helped me to have a far better, more secure wireless network. It made things easy to understand and put in use immediately.

This book is for someone new to wireless networks or someone who has some knowledge but is not an expert. Those of us who don't make our livings working with networks, naturally don't know everything there is to know about networks. So we need a basic understanding and some tips and tricks to help us have the edge. This books gives that.

If you don't buy any other book on wireless networking, buy this one. Keep it as a handy reference. Working with a wireless network can be very frustrating. You need this information at hand. It can save you time and money and lots of headaches.

By the way, the book has been updated right up to the the 80211n standard. So you're getting close to the latest information. Couple the book with the current information you can locate in forums and magazines and you'll have more knowledge than most people when it comes to your wireless network.
August 14, 2007

Excellent; well written and thorough

I learned alot from this book. It provides you everything you need to know to get your home wireless network up and running. Excellent
June 14, 2007

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