A comprehensive and conversational guide to using wireless networking.

Wireless networking is a fun and versatile technology, but it can be difficult to use. This practical and plain English guide to wireless networking shows how to build and use wireless networks at home, at work, or around your neighborhood. It includes detailed information on setting up and configuring access points, network interface cards, cables and antennas, wireless software, as well as how to secure wireless access point with encryption, password protection, and virtual private networks (VPNs). Covers Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix, and PDAs. For users at all levels.

Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
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The book's first chapter describes how "wi-fi" works, and the next chapter explains the "materials" you need to set up a wireless network. The next couple of chapters describe how to install network access points and interfaces. Since I have some knowledge of LAN's, I was able to see the "comparisons" between conventional networks and wireless. I'm assuming that was what the author had in mind while writing the book.

He also talks about extending your wireless network, guerilla (ie "illegal") networking. and security for wireless networks. I was glad to see that chapter, as I had heard it could be relatively easy to "interrupt" network traffic, as well as breaking into a wireless network illegally. While the author points out no wi-fi network will ever be 100% safe, better to be safe than sorry. And last but not least, the book's final chapter is on troubleshooting your network.

I found this book to be a great introduction to wireless networks.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

Covers a lot of groundJun 23, 2003

I found that this book had VERY comprehensive sections on setting up wireless connections for all the major operating systems, including Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix, as well as setting up Wi-Fi for your PDA and other handheld devices.

Overall this is an outstanding book which gives you a good working knowledge of every aspect of wireless networking and how to set up a small home network or a larger corporate Wi-Fi network with a firewall and VPN...

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

The Ultimate Guide For Beginner Through ExpertJul 20, 2004
By Thomas W P Slatin "TomSlatin.com"
This book is great! It covers everything that has anything to do with Wi-Fi, 802.1b, etc. This book presents, in plain, understandable English, everything you need and or wanted to know.

The book covers everything from IP addresses to antennas, to frequency theory. A perfect guide for anyone working with networking, or anybody who is just curious about the topic. Do yourself a favor... buy this book and then give one as a gift to a friend. It's well worth it!

4 of 6 found the following review helpful:

Wireless Hacks is betterMar 07, 2004
By Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author"
This book is neither for the end user, nor is it for the power user. For the end user the Windows side is covered well enough, but probably not at the level you would want. For the Mac end-user the coverage is only about OS 9, which is crazy for a book published in 2003. For the power user you will want Wireless Hacks from O'Reilly, which has much more in-depth coverage of the hacky side of wireless; packet scanning, hacking hardware, making your own antenna, shotgun wireless.