wireless networking absolute beginner's...

http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750785

http://twitter.com/?status=RT: download a free sample chapter http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750785

https://plusone.google.com/share?url=http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750785

http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750785

http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750785/Free-Sample-Chapter

800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240

Michael Miller

WirelessNetworking

Editor-in-ChiefGreg Wiegand

Executive EditorRick Kughen

Development EditorRick Kughen

Managing EditorSandra Schroeder

Project EditorMandie Frank

Copy EditorSheri Replin

IndexerErika Millen

ProofreaderKathy Ruiz

Technical EditorTodd Meister

Publishing CoordinatorsCindy TeetersRomny French

Book DesignerAnne Jones

CompositorBumpy Design

Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner’s GuideCopyright © 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the pub-lisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the prepara-tion of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5078-5ISBN-10: 0-7897-5078-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file.

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing: February 2013

TrademarksAll terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Que Publishing cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

Warning and DisclaimerEvery effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an “as is” basis. The author and the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages aris-ing from the information contained in this book.

Bulk SalesQue Publishing offers excellent discounts on this book when ordered in quan-tity for bulk purchases or special sales. For more information, please contact

U.S. Corporate and Government [email protected]

For sales outside of the U.S., please contact

International [email protected]

Contents at a Glance

Introduction ................................................................................................ 1

Part I Getting to Know Wireless Networking

1 How Networks Work .................................................................................. 72 How Wi-Fi Works ......................................................................................293 How Bluetooth Works ..............................................................................454 How Mobile Networks Work ...................................................................55

Part II Setting Up a Wireless Network

5 Planning Your Network and Purchasing Equipment ............................676 Installing a Wireless Router .....................................................................857 Connecting to the Internet ...................................................................1018 Extending Your Network in a Larger Home or Office........................1139 Connecting Devices via Ethernet .........................................................12110 Securing Devices on Your Network .....................................................131

Part III Connecting Devices to Your Network

11 Connecting Home Computers .............................................................14712 Connecting a Home Server ...................................................................16313 Connecting Videogame Devices ..........................................................17314 Connecting Other Entertainment Devices ..........................................18715 Connecting Smartphones and Tablets ................................................199

Part IV Using Your Wireless Network

16 Sharing Printers and Other Devices .....................................................21317 Sharing and Transferring Files ..............................................................22718 Streaming Audio and Video .................................................................24519 Troubleshooting Network Problems ....................................................279

Part V Connecting Wirelessly Outside the Home

20 Connecting to Wi-Fi Hotspots ..............................................................30321 Connecting in Your Car .........................................................................317

Index ........................................................................................................329

iv

Table of Contents

Introduction ......................................................................................................................1

How This Book Is Organized .................................................................................... 3

Conventions Used in This Book ............................................................................... 4Windows or Mac? ................................................................................................. 4Web Page Addresses ........................................................................................... 4Products and Services .......................................................................................... 4Special Elements .................................................................................................. 4

Let Me Know What You Think ................................................................................. 5

I Getting to Know Wireless Networking

1 How Networks Work ...............................................................................................7

Why You Need a Home Network ............................................................................ 8Sharing the Internet ............................................................................................. 8Streaming Movies and Music .............................................................................. 9Sharing Media .....................................................................................................10Sharing and Backing Up Files ...........................................................................11Sharing Printers and Other Equipment ............................................................13Cutting the Cable ...............................................................................................15Playing Games Online .......................................................................................16

Understanding Network Technology ....................................................................17LANs and WANs .................................................................................................17Connecting Things to Your Network ...............................................................18Connecting Everything Together .....................................................................19Transferring Data over the Network .................................................................20Understanding Network Addresses .................................................................22

Different Ways to Connect .....................................................................................23Connecting via Ethernet ....................................................................................24Connecting via Powerline ..................................................................................24Connecting via Wi-Fi ..........................................................................................25

What Type of Network Is Best for You? ................................................................26

2 How Wi-Fi Works ...................................................................................................29

Understanding Wireless Network Technology .....................................................30Bands on the Radio ............................................................................................30Routing the Signals ............................................................................................32

v

Alphabet Soup: The Different Wi-Fi Standards ...................................................33802.11 (Legacy)...................................................................................................36802.11b ...............................................................................................................36802.11a ................................................................................................................36802.11g ...............................................................................................................36802.11n ................................................................................................................37802.11ac (Gigabit Wi-Fi) ....................................................................................38802.11ad (WiGig) ...............................................................................................39Wide-Area Wi-Fi .................................................................................................39

Which Wi-Fi Is Right for You? ................................................................................40

3 How Bluetooth Works ...........................................................................................45

Understanding Bluetooth Wireless ........................................................................46What Bluetooth Does ........................................................................................46How Bluetooth Does It ......................................................................................47Synchronizing, Automatically ............................................................................47

Bluetooth in Action .................................................................................................48

How Bluetooth Is Used Today ...............................................................................50Computer Equipment ........................................................................................50Cell Phones .........................................................................................................51Automobiles ........................................................................................................52

How Do Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Compare? ..............................................................53

4 How Mobile Networks Work ...............................................................................55

Understanding Cellular Phone Technology ..........................................................56Cells in a Network ..............................................................................................56Carrying a Two-Way Radio ................................................................................57

Pulling Some Gs ......................................................................................................571G ........................................................................................................................572G ........................................................................................................................583G ........................................................................................................................594G ........................................................................................................................59

Sharing a Mobile Data Connection with Your PC ................................................60External Data Modems ......................................................................................61Tethering Your Smartphone ..............................................................................61Powering Your Home Network with Your Cellular Signal ..............................63

Mobile Data Versus Wi-Fi: Choosing One or the Other .....................................64

Mobile Service and Bluetooth: Learning to Co-Exist ..........................................64

vi WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

II Setting Up a Wireless Network

5 Planning Your Network and Purchasing Equipment .......................................67

Planning Your Network ...........................................................................................68Making a List .......................................................................................................68Mapping the Network ........................................................................................69Adding the Necessary Network Equipment ....................................................70Creating Your Network Equipment List ...........................................................72

Choosing a Wireless Router ...................................................................................72What a Router Does ...........................................................................................72Understanding the Nomenclature—And the Specs .......................................73Examining 802.11n Routers ..............................................................................74Examining 802.11ac Routers .............................................................................75Evaluating Ethernet Performance .....................................................................77Considering Other Features ..............................................................................77

Choosing Wireless Adapters ..................................................................................78USB Adapters ......................................................................................................79Internal Adapters ................................................................................................80

Choosing Network Interface Cards and Ethernet Cables ...................................81

Upgrading Your Current Network .........................................................................81

Where to Buy Networking Equipment ..................................................................82

6 Installing a Wireless Router .................................................................................85

Before You Start ......................................................................................................86

Making the Physical Connections ..........................................................................88

Setting Up and Configuring the Router ................................................................92

Advanced Router Setup ..........................................................................................94Opening the Dashboard ....................................................................................94Navigating the Dashboard ................................................................................95Key Settings ........................................................................................................95

Upgrading from an Existing Router .......................................................................97

7 Connecting to the Internet ............................................................................... 101

Understanding Internet Connections ..................................................................102Broadband DSL ................................................................................................102Broadband Cable .............................................................................................102FiOS Broadband ...............................................................................................103Broadband Satellite..........................................................................................103

Choosing the Right Internet Connection for Your Network .............................104

viiTABLE OF CONTENTS

Connecting the Internet to Your Network ..........................................................104Connecting with a Wireless Router ................................................................104Connecting with a Combination Modem/Router .........................................106

Setting Up a Public Wi-Fi Hotspot ......................................................................107Turning Your Wireless Router into a Wi-Fi Hotspot .....................................107Setting Up a Wi-Fi Hotspot with a Wireless Access Point ...........................108

Security Matters: To Share or Not to Share? .....................................................109

8 Extending Your Network in a Larger Home or Office ................................. 113

Revisiting Transmission Range .............................................................................114

Upgrading to a More Powerful Router................................................................114

Connecting a More Powerful Antenna ................................................................115

Connecting a Wireless Range Extender .............................................................116

Connecting a Second Wireless Router ...............................................................118

9 Connecting Devices via Ethernet ..................................................................... 121

How Ethernet Works .............................................................................................122Speeds Vary ......................................................................................................122Ethernet Routers ...............................................................................................122NIC’s Picks .........................................................................................................124Cable Time ........................................................................................................125

When an Ethernet Connection Makes Sense .....................................................126Speed Matters ..................................................................................................126Reliability Matters .............................................................................................127Security Matters ................................................................................................127There’s No Wireless Option ............................................................................128

Connecting via Ethernet to a Wireless Network ................................................128

10 Securing Devices on Your Network ................................................................ 131

Facing the Potential Dangers of Wireless Networking .....................................132Different Types of Intrusions ...........................................................................132How to Tell If Your Network Has Been Breached ........................................133How to Protect Your PC from Intrusion .........................................................133

Protecting Against Internet Intrusions with a Firewall .......................................134OS-Based Firewalls...........................................................................................135Using Third-Party Firewall Software ...............................................................135Using Router-Based Firewalls ..........................................................................135

Enabling Wireless Security on Your Router ........................................................136Different Types of Wireless Security ..............................................................137Configuring Your Network for Wireless Security ..........................................138

viii WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Limiting Access to Your Network ........................................................................138Changing the Router’s SSID ............................................................................138Changing the Password ...................................................................................139Disabling SSID Broadcasting...........................................................................140

Protecting Against Malware .................................................................................140Understanding Viruses and Spyware ..............................................................141Practicing Safe Computing ..............................................................................141Using Anti-Virus Software ................................................................................142Using Anti-Spyware Software ..........................................................................144

III Connecting Devices to Your Network

11 Connecting Home Computers .......................................................................... 147

Connecting Computers to the Network .............................................................148Connecting Windows 8 Computers ...............................................................148Connecting Windows 7 Computers ...............................................................149Connecting Windows Vista Computers .........................................................150Connecting Windows XP Computers .............................................................150Connecting Macs ..............................................................................................151

Dealing with Network Locations, Workgroups, and HomeGroups in Windows .............................................................................................................152

Setting a Network Location .............................................................................152Selecting a Workgroup ....................................................................................153Creating a Windows HomeGroup ..................................................................153

Configuring File and Printer Sharing ...................................................................154Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 8...........................................154Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 7...........................................156Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista ....................................156Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows XP ........................................156Enabling File and Printer Sharing on a Mac ..................................................157

Accessing Other Computers on Your Network ..................................................158Accessing Computers from a Windows PC ...................................................159Accessing Computers from a Windows HomeGroup ..................................160Accessing Computers from a Mac .................................................................160

Managing a Windows Network ............................................................................160

12 Connecting a Home Server ............................................................................... 163

What Is a Home Server, and Why Do You Need One? ....................................164

Exploring the Many Uses of a Home Server ......................................................164

Home Server or NAS: What’s in a Name? ..........................................................165

ixTABLE OF CONTENTS

Shopping for a Home Server or NAS ..................................................................166Determining Storage Capacity .......................................................................167Choosing Networking and Backup Functionality .........................................167Selecting an Operating System ......................................................................167Making the Purchase ........................................................................................168

Configuring Your Server .......................................................................................169

Using Your Server for Media Storage .................................................................170

Backing Up to a Home Server .............................................................................170

Connecting to Your Server from the Internet.....................................................171

13 Connecting Videogame Devices ...................................................................... 173

Why Would You Want to Connect a Videogame Device to Your Network? ..................................................................................................174

Wi-Fi Versus Ethernet: What’s Best for Gaming? ..............................................175Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................176Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................176

Connecting an Xbox 360 Console.......................................................................177Is Your Xbox Wireless? ....................................................................................177Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................178Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................178

Connecting a PlayStation 3 Console ...................................................................178Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................179Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................180

Connecting a Nintendo Wii Console ..................................................................180Connecting via Wi-Fi ........................................................................................180Connecting via Ethernet ..................................................................................181

Connecting a Portable Videogame Device ........................................................182

Configuring Your Network for Optimum Gameplay .........................................183Getting Faster Broadband...............................................................................183Upgrading Your Router ....................................................................................184

14 Connecting Other Entertainment Devices ..................................................... 187

The Many Ways to Consume Web-Based Media in Your Living Room ..........188

Connecting an Internet-Capable TV to Your Network ......................................189

Connecting a Blu-ray Player to Your Network ...................................................191

Connecting an Audio/Video Receiver to Your Network ...................................193

Connecting a Network Media Player to Your Network .....................................195

x WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Configuring Your Router for Streaming Media ..................................................196Connecting at 5GHz ........................................................................................196Enabling WMM .................................................................................................197Giving Priority to Streaming Media ................................................................197

15 Connecting Smartphones and Tablets ............................................................ 199

Connecting to a Wireless Network ......................................................................200Connecting Your Smartphone ........................................................................200Connecting Your Tablet ..................................................................................202

Using a Guest Network for Visiting Friends .......................................................203

Switching Between Wi-Fi and Cellular Networks ...............................................204Why Wi-Fi Is Better Than Cellular...................................................................204When to Connect via Cellular .........................................................................205How to Switch from Wi-Fi to Cellular .............................................................206

Using Your Smartphone or Tablet to Control Networked Devices .................206

Using Your Smartphone to Control Things When You’re Not Around ...........208

IV Using Your Wireless Network

16 Sharing Printers and Other Devices ................................................................ 213

Connecting a Shared Printer to Your Network ..................................................214

Connecting a Wireless Network Printer ..............................................................215Benefits of a Network Printer ..........................................................................216Setting Up a Network Printer ..........................................................................216

Connecting a Printer via a Print Server ...............................................................217

Installing a Shared Printer on Other PCs ............................................................218

Printing to a Network Printer ...............................................................................218

Using Google Cloud Print ....................................................................................220How Google Cloud Print Works .....................................................................220Cloud Print Utilities ..........................................................................................221Connecting a Cloud Print-Ready Computer .................................................221Connecting an Existing Printer .......................................................................221Sharing a Printer ...............................................................................................223Printing via Google Cloud Print ......................................................................224

Sharing Other Peripherals ....................................................................................225

xiTABLE OF CONTENTS

17 Sharing and Transferring Files .......................................................................... 227

How File Sharing Works ........................................................................................228

Configuring File Sharing in Windows ..................................................................229Enabling Password-Protected Sharing ...........................................................229Sharing the Public Folder ................................................................................230Sharing Other Folders .....................................................................................230Sharing Complete Drives.................................................................................234

Accessing Computers on Your Network .............................................................234Accessing Windows HomeGroup Computers ...............................................234Accessing Other Computers from a Windows PC ........................................235Accessing Other Computers from a Mac ......................................................237

Using a Home Server for File Sharing .................................................................237

Backing Up Your Data Across a Network ...........................................................238

Sharing Files in the Cloud ....................................................................................238What Is Cloud Storage? ...................................................................................238Why Use Cloud Storage? ................................................................................239Popular Cloud-Storage Services .....................................................................240Sharing a File with SkyDrive ............................................................................241

18 Streaming Audio and Video.............................................................................. 245

How Streaming Media Works ..............................................................................246

What’s Good—And What’s Bad—About Streaming Media .............................246What’s Good About Streaming Media ..........................................................247What’s Not So Good About Streaming Media .............................................248

Choosing a Streaming Media Device .................................................................249Streaming Media on an Internet-Capable TV ...............................................249Streaming Media on an Internet-Capable Blu-ray Player ............................250Streaming Media on a Network Media Player ..............................................251Streaming Media on a Personal Computer ...................................................254Streaming Media on a Smartphone or Tablet ..............................................255

Streaming TV Shows and Movies ........................................................................256Hulu and Hulu Plus ...........................................................................................257Netflix ................................................................................................................259Amazon Instant Video ......................................................................................260Blockbuster On Demand .................................................................................261iTunes ................................................................................................................261Vudu ...................................................................................................................262Veoh ...................................................................................................................262Crackle ...............................................................................................................263Vevo ...................................................................................................................263Other Sites ........................................................................................................263

xii WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Streaming Music ....................................................................................................265Streaming Music Services ................................................................................265Internet Radio ...................................................................................................268Terrestrial Radio, Online ..................................................................................271Cloud-Based Music Services ...........................................................................272

Streaming Media Across Your Network ..............................................................274DLNA .................................................................................................................275Apple AirPlay ....................................................................................................275

19 Troubleshooting Network Problems ............................................................... 279

Managing Networked Computers (Windows Version) ......................................280Viewing a Larger Network Map ......................................................................281Changing the Type of Network Location ......................................................281Configuring Advanced Sharing Options ........................................................281Viewing and Managing Network Connections .............................................282Changing IP Addresses ...................................................................................284

Managing Networked Computers (Mac Version)...............................................286Configuring Network Preferences ..................................................................286Displaying Network Information .....................................................................287

Speeding Up a Slow Wireless Connection .........................................................288Checking Your Signal Strength .......................................................................288Moving Closer to the Router ..........................................................................289Don’t Hide Your Adapter or Router ...............................................................289Moving Devices That Might Cause Interference ..........................................290Changing the Channel .....................................................................................290Changing the Band ..........................................................................................290Upgrading to a Faster Router .........................................................................290

Troubleshooting Bad Network Connections ......................................................291Letting Your Operating System Fix the Problem ..........................................291Disconnecting the Connection .......................................................................291Rebooting the Adapter—or the Device .........................................................292Rebooting Your Router ....................................................................................292Checking the Device’s IP Settings ..................................................................292Manually Assigning an IP Address .................................................................293Checking the Workgroup Name .....................................................................293

Troubleshooting a Dead Internet Connection ...................................................294Checking the Cables ........................................................................................294Rebooting the Modem ....................................................................................294Checking with Your ISP ....................................................................................295

Speeding Up a Slow Internet Connection ..........................................................295Understanding Connection Speed .................................................................295Understanding Browser Speed .......................................................................296Cleaning Your Cache .......................................................................................296

xiiiTABLE OF CONTENTS

Changing the Size of Your Cache ..................................................................297Managing Your Cookies ..................................................................................297Don’t Display Graphics ....................................................................................298Uninstalling Unnecessary Add-Ons ................................................................298Using an Alternate DNS Service .....................................................................299

V Connecting Wirelessly Outside the Home

20 Connecting to Wi-Fi Hotspots .......................................................................... 303

Where Can You Find a Hotspot? .........................................................................304Wi-Fi Coffeehouses and Restaurants .............................................................304Wi-Fi Hotels ......................................................................................................305Wi-Fi Airports and Transportation Centers ...................................................305Wi-Fi in Public Places .......................................................................................305Wi-Fi Communities ...........................................................................................305

Connecting to a Public Hotspot ..........................................................................306

Logging Onto a Hotspot ......................................................................................307

Manually Connecting to a Hidden Network .......................................................308

Changing the Order of Preferred Networks in Windows ..................................309

Working Securely from a Public Hotspot ............................................................311

Troubleshooting Hotspot Problems ....................................................................312You Can’t Connect to the Hotspot ................................................................312You Get Disconnected from the Hotspot ......................................................312You Connect to the Hotspot But Can’t Access the Internet .......................313You Can’t Connect to Selected Websites .....................................................313You Can’t Send or Receive Email ...................................................................313

21 Connecting in Your Car...................................................................................... 317

Connecting Your Phone to Your Car for Phone Calls .......................................318Using Built-In Bluetooth ...................................................................................318Using Add-On Bluetooth Car Kits ..................................................................320

Connecting Your Phone to Your Car to Play Music ...........................................321Listening with a Built-In System ......................................................................321Listening via an Add-On Bluetooth System ..................................................322

Using Your Smartphone to Access the Internet While Driving ........................323

Using a Wireless Router in Your Car ...................................................................324Installing a Wireless Router .............................................................................324Using a Mobile Hotspot ..................................................................................325

Looking to the Future: The Wireless Car ............................................................326

Index ...................................................................................................................... 329

xiv WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

About the AuthorMichael Miller is a successful and prolific author with a reputation for practi-cal advice and technical accuracy and an unerring empathy for the needs of his readers.

Mr. Miller has written more than 100 best-selling books over the past two decades. His books for Que include Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics, Easy Computer Basics, Windows 7 Your Way, Wireless Networking with Windows Vista, Facebook for Grown-Ups, My Pinterest, and The Ultimate Digital Music Guide. He is known for his casual, easy-to-read writing style and his practi-cal, real-world advice—as well as his ability to explain a wide variety of complex topics to an everyday audience.

You can email Mr. Miller directly at [email protected]. His website is www.molehillgroup.com.

DedicationTo all of my Minnesota family—you’re the only network that matters.

AcknowledgmentsThanks to the usual suspects at Que Publishing, including but not limited to Greg Wiegand, Rick Kughen, Mandie Frank, Sheri Replin, and technical editor Todd Meister. Thanks also to Laura Norman for supplying some Mac-related information and screenshots as necessary.

http://www.molehillgroup.com

xvREADER SERVICES

We Want to Hear from You!As the reader of this book, you are our most important critic and commentator. We value your opinion and want to know what we’re doing right, what we could do better, what areas you’d like to see us publish in, and any other words of wis-dom you’re willing to pass our way.

We welcome your comments. You can email or write to let us know what you did or didn’t like about this book—as well as what we can do to make our books better.

Please note that we cannot help you with technical problems related to the topic of this book.

When you write, please be sure to include this book’s title and author as well as your name and email address. We will carefully review your comments and share them with the author and editors who worked on the book.

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Que Publishing ATTN: Reader Feedback800 East 96th StreetIndianapolis, IN 46240 USA

Reader ServicesVisit our website and register this book at quepublishing.com/register for convenient access to any updates, downloads, or errata that might be available for this book.

This page intentionally left blank

INTRODUCTION

Most homes today are networked homes. Or they should be.

That’s because we all have a lot of different devices that need to con-

nect to each other and to the Internet. It’s not just desktop and notebook

computers that benefit from being networked; we also have smartphones

(such as the iPhone), tablets (like the iPad), videogame consoles, portable

game players, and even Internet-capable TVs, Blu-ray players, audio/video

receivers, and network media players. That’s a lot of stuff that needs to

connect.

And you need to connect them all in order to do all the things you want to

do in your home. Naturally, you want to connect to the Internet, for web

surfing, email checking, and social networking. But, you may also want to

share files between multiple computers, view your digital photos on your

living room TV, listen to your favorite music, or watch streaming movies

and TV shows over the web. There’s a lot you can do when all your devices

are connected to a home network.

I N T H I S C H A P T E R• How This Book Is Organized

• Conventions Used in This Book

• Let Me Know What You Think

2 WIRELESS NETWORKING ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE

Fortunately, almost all of these devices can connect wirelessly. You don’t need to run big, thick, Ethernet cable from one end of your house to the other; just install a wireless router and let all of your devices connect via Wi-Fi. (They all probably have Wi-Fi built in.)

That doesn’t mean that setting up a home network is simple or even necessarily trouble proof. The complexity of today’s home wireless networks can be confus-ing, even to the more technically adept. There are a host of questions that need answered: What kind of router should you buy? How best should you configure your network to optimize playback on all your different devices? How can you get the fastest audio and video streaming while still maintaining a decent connection on your iPhone? Should you store your music and movies on a home server or on a separate PC? Can you get your Windows and Mac computers to talk to each other? And how do you keep your neighbors from tapping into your Internet con-nection and home network?

That’s where this book comes in. Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner’s Guide is an easy-to-use guide for anyone installing or working with a wireless home net-work today. This book details how to plan, purchase, and set up a typical wireless network in your home—and then optimize that network for best performance.

Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner’s Guide goes beyond simple network configuration, however. I’ll show you how to connect all wireless devices to your wireless network—computers, home servers, videogames, tablets, smartphones, widescreen TVs, audio/video receivers, and the like. I’ll also discuss how to get the most from these connected devices, including watching streaming audio and video over your network.

I’ll also cover other types of wireless connections, both inside and outside the home, including Wi-Fi hotspots, Bluetooth in your car, and your mobile-phone carrier’s cellular data service. There’s even advice on how to troubleshoot network problems—because, like it or not, problems do pop up from time to time.

In short, Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner’s Guide should give you every-thing you need to know to guarantee hassle-free wireless connections on all man-ner of devices. Everything today is wireless, and wireless is everything—you might as well get ready for it.

INTRODUCTION 3

How This Book Is OrganizedI’ve organized this book into five main parts, as follows:

• Part I, “Getting to Know Wireless Networking,” shows you how networks (wired and wireless) work, and discusses the three major types of wireless net-works: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile wireless. This is the place to start if you don’t know a thing about wireless networking.

• Part II, “Setting Up a Wireless Network,” is where you start getting your hands dirty. This section describes, in step-by-step detail, how to plan your home network, purchase the right equipment, install and configure a wireless router, connect your network to the Internet, extend your network into larger spaces, and connect selected devices via Ethernet cable. You’ll even learn why and how to employ network security. (Hint: It’s to protect against unwanted intruders.)

• Part III, “Connecting Devices to Your Network,” shows you how to connect all sorts of different devices to your new wireless network. You’ll learn how to connect notebook and desktop computers (both Windows and Mac), home servers, videogame consoles and portable game players, network media play-ers, Internet-capable TVs and Blu-ray players, and even audio/video receivers. You’ll also learn how to connect your favorite handheld devices to your net-work. (We’re talking smartphones and tablets, folks.)

• Part IV, “Using Your Wireless Network,” is all about doing stuff over your network. You’ll learn how to share printers and scanners, share and transfer computer files, watch streaming movies and TV shows, and listen to streaming music. You’ll also learn how to troubleshoot potential network problems—just in case.

• Part V, “Connecting Wirelessly Outside the Home,” is where you learn how to use your wireless devices outside your home or office network. You’ll learn how to connect your computer, smartphone, or tablet to pub-lic Wi-Fi hotspots, and how to access the Internet from your car. Wireless is everywhere!

Taken together, the 21 chapters in this book help you progress from an absolute beginner to experienced wireless networker. Just read what you need and, before long, you’ll be connected wirelessly all over the place!


Conventions Used in This BookI hope that this book is easy enough to figure out on its own, without requiring its own instruction manual. As you read through the pages, however, it helps to know precisely how I’ve presented specific types of information.

Windows or Mac?First, know that this book attempts to be relatively platform agnostic. That is, I cover a lot of different devices on multiple operating systems; it shouldn’t matter whether you’re using a Mac or Windows PC, or even which version of Windows you’re using; there should be ample information between these two covers for whatever device you’re using. (That means there’s also coverage of wireless for smartphones and tablets—so there.)

Web Page AddressesThis book contains a lot of web page addresses, because that’s where you go for additional information. Technically, a web page address is supposed to start with http:// (as in http://www.molehillgroup.com). Because most web browsers auto-matically insert this piece of the address, you don’t have to type it—and I haven’t included it in any of the addresses in this book.

By the way, when it comes to web page addresses, know that they change. So if you enter a specific URL I mention in this book and get a “page not found error,” don’t blame me; it worked when I wrote it! (And that’s why we have the Google; just search for anything you need.)

Products and ServicesI mention a lot of specific products in this book, and products, like web pages, come and go. It’s likely that, by the time you read this book, some of the products I mention may be discontinued or replaced by newer versions. That’s life in the big city, folks. Hopefully, any newer products you find will work even better than the ones I mention in this book.

Special ElementsThis book also includes a few special elements that provide additional information not included in the basic text. These elements are designed to supplement the text to make your learning faster, easier, and more efficient.


INTRODUCTION 5

TIP A tip is a piece of advice—a little trick, actually—that helps you use your wireless network more effectively or maneuver around problems or limitations.

NOTE A note is designed to provide information that is gen-erally useful but not specifically necessary for what you’re doing at the moment. Some are like extended tips—interesting, but not essential.

CAUTION A caution tells you to beware of a potentially dan-gerous operation or situation. In some cases, ignoring a caution could cause you significant problems—so pay attention to them!

Let Me Know What You ThinkI always love to hear from readers. If you want to contact me, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I can’t promise that I’ll answer every message, but I do promise that I’ll read each one!

If you want to learn more about me and any new books I have cooking, check out my Molehill Group website at www.molehillgroup.com. Who knows, you might find some other books there that you would like to read.


This page intentionally left blank

4

HOW MOBILE NETWORKS WORKThere’s one last type of wireless network we need to discuss, and it’s one

with which you’re probably intimately and constantly familiar. I’m talk-

ing about the ubiquitous wireless network employed by the humble cell

phone—or, more common today, the high-tech cellular-data network used

by iPhones and other smartphones to connect not only to each other, but

also to the Internet.

How does cellular networking work—and what does it have to do with the

other wireless networking you employ on a daily basis? Good questions,

and two of many that are answered in this chapter.

I N T H I S C H A P T E R• Understanding Cellular Phone Technology

• Pulling Some Gs

• Sharing a Mobile Data Connection with Your PC

• Mobile Data Versus Wi-Fi: Choosing One the Other

• Mobile Service and Bluetooth: Learning to Co-Exist


Understanding Cellular Phone TechnologyCellular phones work much the same way as do the other wireless devices we’ve been discussing. Signals carrying voice, text, and digital data are transmitted via radio waves from one device to another. In the case of cellular networks, the data is transmitted not to a central hub in a small network of devices (as it is with Wi-Fi) or even directly from device to device (as it is with Bluetooth), but through a global network of transmitters and receivers.

Cells in a NetworkWhat’s interesting about mobile phone networks is their cellular design. (Hence the terms “cellular network” and “cellular phone.”) By that, I mean that a mobile phone network is divided into thousands of overlapping geographic areas, or cells. A typical cellular network can be envisioned as a mesh of hexagonal cells, as shown in Figure 4.1, each with its own base station at the center. The cells slightly overlap at the edges to ensure that users always remain within range of a base sta-tion. (You don’t want a dropped call when you’re driving between base stations.)

FIGURE 4.1

Cells in a cellular network.

NOTE The cells in a cellular network vary in size, depending on how many calls are conducted within that geographic area. The smallest cells, which might cover only a few city blocks, are those where there’s the heaviest population density, and thus the largest demand for service. The largest cells are most often in rural areas with a smaller population per square mile.

CHAPTER 4 HOW MOBILE NETWORKS WORK 57

The base station at the center of each group of cells functions as the hub for those cells—not of the entire network, but of that individual piece of the network. RF signals are transmitted by an individual phone and received by the base sta-tion, where they are then re-transmitted from the base station to another mobile phone. Transmitting and receiving are done over two slightly different frequencies.

Base stations are connected to one another via central switching centers which track calls and transfer them from one base station to another as callers move between cells; the handoff is (ideally) seamless and unnoticeable. Each base sta-tion is also connected to the main telephone network, and can thus relay mobile calls to landline phones .

Carrying a Two-Way RadioAll this transmission within a cellular network originates with the handheld cell phone. A mobile phone is actually a two-way radio, containing both a low-power transmitter (to transmit data) and a receiver (to receive data).

When I say low power, I mean low power—really low power. The typical cell phone includes a dual-strength transmitter, capable of transmitting either 0.6-watt or 3-watt signals. In comparison, a larger AM radio station will typically broadcast a 50,000-watt signal; even smaller AM stations broadcast 5,000-watt signals. A cell phone’s 3-watt signal is puny in comparison.

The reason mobile phones can get by with such low-power transmitters is that they’re transmitting within a relatively limited range—within the current network cell. It’s not necessary or desirable for a phone’s signal to extend beyond the cur-rent cell; this way, the same broadcast frequencies can be used by multiple cells without danger of interference .

Pulling Some GsIf you’re a mobile phone user (and you are, of course), then you’ve probably heard talk about something called 3G, and maybe even something called 4G. Each “G” is a generation of technology, which means we’re currently in the middle of the third generation and moving into the fourth. Let me explain.

1GBefore the age of digital mobile networks, all cell phones broadcast analog sig-nals. In the U.S., this meant using the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standard, which operated in a range of frequencies between 824MHz and 894MHz, dubbed the 800MHz band.


This type of analog transmission was the first generation of cellular phone tech-nology, or what some refer to as 1G. Because analog phones could transmit only analog voice data, not digital data, they couldn’t be used to access the Internet or transmit text messages. Fortunately, there were more Gs to follow .

2GMoving past the analog age, the cell-phone carriers needed to cram more calls into each frequency they were assigned. The way to do that was to move beyond inefficient analog signals into more efficient digital ones. That is, the original ana-log voice signal is digitized into a series of 0s and 1s; the resulting digital signal is then compressed and transmitted across the assigned frequency band.

NOTE Because of the digitization and compression, a digital system can carry about ten times as many calls as an analog one.

In this second generation of cellular transmission (dubbed 2G, of course), several competing standards came into play, and different cellular carriers adopted differ-ent standards. There are two of these standards used in the United States:

• Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). This standard operates in the same 800MHz band used by the previous analog transmissions and is employed by Sprint and Verizon.

• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). This standard operates in the 1,900MHz band and is used by AT&T and T-Mobile.

That’s just in the United States, of course. Other standards and frequency bands are used in other countries.

NOTE CDMA and GSM are mutually exclusive technologies. A CDMA phone will not work on a GSM network, and vice versa.

2G networks and phones could also be used to transmit non-voice data. This ush-ered in the era of text messaging, in the form of Short Message Service (SMS) and, later, Multimedia Message Service (MMS). It also enabled access to the Internet, for email, web browsing, and the like .

NOTE SMS transmits text-only messages. MMS transmits text messages with multimedia attachments (photo, video, and so on).


3GThe next generation of cellular transmission was developed with the smartphone in mind. So-called 3G networks feature increased bandwidth and transfer rates that better accommodate the transfer of digital data necessary for Internet access and the use of web-based applications.

How much faster is 3G? A lot. Today’s 3G networks boast transfer speeds up to 2Mbps; in contrast, 2G phones can only transfer data at around 144Kbps. That’s a 13-fold increase in speed, more or less, if you’re doing the math.

Just as with 2G digital networks, there are several different 3G standards in use in the U.S. (and a few more in use overseas):

• CDMA2000 is an evolution of the previous CDMA standard. It’s used by Sprint and Verizon.

• Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is an evolution of the GSM standard used by AT&T and T-Mobile.

If you use your smartphone for anything other than voice calls and text messages, you need to be on a 3G network. In those areas where you’re forced to use a 2G connection, accessing the Internet is painfully slow. In this respect, 3G is the de-facto minimum requirement for using a smartphone today .

4GNow, we get to the fourth generation of cellular networking. Carriers are just start-ing to roll out 4G networks, and suppliers are just starting to produce 4G smart-phones. 4G promises data transmission rates in excess of 1Gbps, which is more than 30 times the rate of 3G networks. (That should make it a lot easier to watch streaming video on your iPhone!)

Naturally, competing 4G standards are in play. Look for the following protocols used by U.S. carriers:

• Long Term Evolution (LTE). This standard promises data download rates to mobile users up to 300Mbps. It’s used by AT&T and Verizon.

• Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) . This standard promises data download rates up to 168Mbps, although current rates top out at 42Mbps. It’s used by T-Mobile.

• Worldwide Operability for Microwave Access (WiMax). This standard prom-ises data download rates of 128Mbps. It’s used by Sprint.


To put all these Gs into perspective, see Figure 4.2. This chart compares the data-transmission (download) rates of 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. (Remember, 1G was analog, not digital, and thus couldn’t transmit non-voice data.) There’s been a lot of improvement over the years !

FIGURE 4.2

Comparing 2G, 3G, and 4G data download speeds.

Sharing a Mobile Data Connection with Your PCWith the advent of 3G cellular technology, it suddenly became feasible to use your cell phone to access the Internet. Before 3G, rates were just too slow; load-ing a simple web page could take minutes, not seconds.

3G’s maximum 2Mbps data download speed is close to that offered by many home Internet service providers (ISPs); DSL, for example, typically delivers speeds in the same 2Mbps range. Naturally, when we’re talking 4G networks with speeds approaching 300Mbps, cellular Internet is suddenly faster than what you get at home—or sitting in your local Wi-Fi hotspot.

With that in mind, why not use your smartphone to provide Internet access for your computer? Well, you can—and there are two different ways to do it .


External Data ModemsMost cellular providers offer external data modems that provide access to their 3G or 4G cellular-data network. These modems are small and portable and connect to your computer via USB; they let you access the cellular network with your PC, just as you do with your phone.

What this means is that you can now connect to the Internet anywhere you can receive a cellular connection. This lets you surf the web in places where you can’t get Wi-Fi, such as when you’re driving your car.

Figure 4.3 shows a typical USB modem from AT&T. You’ll want to purchase the right modem for the connection you want; most carriers offer separate 3G and 4G modems. Expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $300, depending on the unit, the carrier, and which service plan you subscribe to. Oh, and you’ll have to pay for a data service plan; the more data you use, the more you’ll pay each month .

FIGURE 4.3

AT&T’s USBConnect Force 4G USB modem.

Tethering Your SmartphoneSome carriers let you connect your computer to their data networks without pur-chasing a separate modem for your PC. Instead, you connect a cable between your computer and your smartphone; you connect to the data network with your smartphone and then share the Internet connection with your PC.


This process is called tethering, and it’s a great way to share a connection and an existing data service plan. Not all carriers support this type of tethering, however, and those that do may charge extra for it—in addition to the normal data usage plan. For example, T-Mobile has a $15/month tethering charge, Verizon charges $20/month, and Sprint charges $30/month, all in addition to your normal data plan; AT&T includes tethering in its $45/month 4GB data plan.

NOTE Check with your cellular carrier to see what’s available and what you have to do to use it.

Tethering can be done both physically or via Wi-Fi. We’ll look at both methods.

A physical tether requires the use of a USB cable or special data connection kit. Essentially, you connect one end of the cable to your smartphone and the other to your PC, as shown in Figure 4.4. Once everything’s connected, you run a special tethering app to pipe the Internet signal from your phone to your computer .

FIGURE 4.4

Sharing a cellular data signal via physical tether.

A Wi-Fi tether turns your smartphone into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. You establish an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network with your phone as the router, and then connect your computer to that network to share the phone’s Internet connection. It’s easier than it sounds, especially when facilitated by using the appropriate tethering app on your phone .


CAUTION Some technically adept users try to get around carriers’ tethering charges by jailbreaking their phones and using third-party tethering apps. This is breaking the rules, however, as most carriers like to charge you extra for the privilege of tethering—not that there are any technical reasons to do so. If your carrier detects the tethering, you’ll get charged for that usage—or, perhaps, kicked off the service entirely.

Powering Your Home Network with Your Cellular SignalHere’s something else you may not have considered. Some manufacturers make what they call mobile broadband routers that receive a 3G (or, in some instances, 4G) mobile signal and then convert it into Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi signal is then broad-cast throughout your home, same as with a wireless router, and all of your Wi-Fi-enabled devices can connect to it to access the Internet.

Figure 4.5 shows one such device from NETGEAR. The little receiver on the right is what picks up your cellular signal; it’s connected to the big unit on the left, which is essentially a wireless router. The router provides the Wi-Fi signal for your network of devices .

FIGURE 4.5

NETGEAR’s MBRN3000 Mobile Broadband Router. (Photo courtesy of NETGEAR.)

CAUTION The big problem with using a mobile broadband modem in your home is that, unless you have an unlimited data plan from your cellular provider, you’re going to pay through the nose for all the data downloaded by all the devices on your network.


Mobile Data Versus Wi-Fi: Choosing One or the Other

You’ve just seen one way that cellular networking and Wi-Fi networking can work together—by tethering your smartphone and computer together, via Wi-Fi, to share the cellular data signal. In most other aspects, these two wireless technolo-gies work side-by-side, offering similar Internet-based functionality, but in different ways.

Here’s the deal. Your smartphone can connect to the Internet either via Wi-Fi or via your cellular service’s network. Most phones are configured to use the near-est Wi-Fi signal by default, as Wi-Fi is both faster than 3G data connections and doesn’t rack up charges against your phone’s data plan. So, if you’re near a Wi-Fi network, your phone tries to connect to that network; if there’s not Wi-Fi nearby, then your phone switches to the standard cellular data network.

This default-to-Wi-Fi behavior makes a lot of sense, especially if you consume a lot of media online. Checking your email won’t necessarily eat up your available data plan, but viewing a lot of photos on web pages or consuming streaming music or video will. If you use your phone to watch a lot of streaming movies or TV shows, chances are you’ll blow through your data plan much sooner than you’d like, and be liable for costly overage charges.

Naturally, you can, at any time, switch off your phone’s Wi-Fi, which then forces your phone to connect to the cellular network to access the Internet. In most instances, however, you probably want to use Wi-Fi when it’s available and fall back on your 3G network only when you have to .

NOTE Some smartphones won’t let you perform certain func-tions, such as updating your existing iPhone apps, over cellular. To access these functions, your phone needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Mobile Service and Bluetooth: Learning to Co-Exist

Then, there’s the issue of Bluetooth wireless, which is also built into most smart-phones. Bluetooth is typically used to connect your phone to cordless headsets and your car’s built-in phone/audio system. In this respect, Bluetooth and cellular wireless co-exist quite nicely; in fact, you can easily flow one wireless connection through the other.


You can see this co-existence in action when you connect to your phone’s data network while your phone is connected to another Bluetooth-enabled device. The Bluetooth connection then carries your cellular voice call to your headset or car system, in a nice little flow that looks something like the one in Figure 4.6. One wireless stream flows into the other .

POWER EJECT

MODE MODE

Smartphone

BluetoothConnection

Car System

CellularConnection

CellTower

FIGURE 4.6

Flowing a cellular connection through a Bluetooth connection.


THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUMHere are the key points to remember from this chapter:

• Cellular telephone networks are so-named because they’re built from a series of adjoining cells; as a phone travels from one point to another, its signal is handed off from cell to cell.

• There have been four generations of cell phone technology: 1G (analog), 2G (original digital), 3G (faster digital), and 4G (even faster digital, designed spe-cifically for smartphone and streaming video use).

• Using a smartphone to access the Internet is painful on older 2G networks, acceptable on 3G networks, and downright enjoyable on the latest 4G networks.

• Most smartphones can connect to the Internet via either Wi-Fi or cellular data networks; Wi-Fi is faster than 3G cellular (but not as fast as 4G) and doesn’t use up your monthly data plan.

• Smartphones can connect to cellular and Bluetooth networks simultaneously, in order to beam cellular voice calls to a Bluetooth-enabled device.

Index

from Windows PCs, 159, 235-236

AccuRadio, 269

adapters, rebooting, 292

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+, 144

add-on Bluetooth car kits, 320-321

add-ons (browser), 298-299

addressesIP addresses, changing,

284-285network addresses, 22-23

advanced router setup, 94-96navigating dashboard, 95opening dashboard, 94settings, 95-96

Agnitum Outpost Pro Firewall, 135

AirPlay, 275

airports, Wi-Fi hotspots in, 305

Alarm.com, 208

ALFA NetworkAPA05 booster antenna,

115website, 116

Amazon Cloud Player, 273

Amazon Instant Video, 260

antennas, upgrading, 115-116

anti-spyware software, 144

Symbols

1G networks, 57-58

2G networks, 58

2.4GHz band, 31

3G networks, 59

4G networks, 59-60

5GHz band, 32, 196

10Base-T Ethernet, 24, 122

802.11 protocols, 33802.11, 36802.11a, 36802.11ac, 38-39, 75-76802.11ad, 39802.11b, 36802.11b+, 36802.11g, 36802.11n, 37-38, 74-75table of, 34-35

A

ABC News website, 265

Abyss Web Server, 171

accessing network computers, 234

from HomeGroup, 160, 234-235

from Mac, 160, 237

anti-virus software, 142-143

AOL Radio, 269

APA05 booster antenna (ALFA Network), 115

Apache, 171

Apple AirPlay, 275

Apple computersaccessing network

computers from, 160accessing other computers

from, 237connecting to network, 151file and printer sharing,

enabling, 157-158managing

network information, 287network preferences,

286-287

Apple iCloud, 240

Apple TV, 253

Apple website, 82

appliances, interference from, 31-32

appsAlarm.com, 208Cloud Printer for the Mac,

221Cloud Print for Windows,

221DIRECTV, 208Intelliremote, 206

330 apps

IP addresses, 293IP settings, 292rebooting, 292workgroup names, 293-294

bands2.4GHz band, 315GHz band, 32changing, 290

bandwidth, 35

BDP-S390 Blu-ray player (Sony), 192

beamforming, 38, 78

BelkinN300 USB Wireless N

Adapter, 79website, 82

benefits of home networksfile sharing and backups,

11-12Internet sharing, 8media sharing, 10media streaming, 9-10mobility, 15online gaming, 16printer sharing, 13-15

Blockbuster On Demand, 261

Bluetooth, 46automatic synchronization,

47-48in automobiles, 52in cell phones, 51combining with cellular

connections, 64-65compared to W-Fi, 53in computer equipment,

50-51connecting phone to car via

for Internet access, 323for phone calls, 318-321to play music, 321-323

example, 48-50how it works, 47

Blu-ray players, 19connecting to network,

191-192streaming media on, 250

network media players, 251-253

smartphones and tablets, 255

streaming music services, 265-268

traditional AM/FM radio, 271

Audiogalaxy, 171

Audi Online Services, 326-327

audio/video (A/V) receivers, 19, 193-194

automatic QoS (quality of service), 77

automobilesBluetooth in, 52connecting phone to


future wireless technology, 326-327

installing wireless routers in, 324-325

mobile hotspots in, 325-326

Autonet Mobile CarFi Router, 324

A/V (audio/video) receivers, 19, 193-194

AVG AntiVirus, 143

AVG AntiVirus Free, 143

AVR2112CI audio/video receiver (Denon), 194

B

backups, 11-12across network, 238to home servers, 170

bad network connections, troubleshooting, 291-294

diagnostics tools, 291disconnecting/

reconnecting, 291

iRule, 206LiftMaster Home Control,

209Nest Mobile, 209Paperless Printer for

Windows, 221Pentair ScreenLogic Mobile,

210Reef Tank Pro, 210Remote, 206Roku, 207Sonos Controller, 207TiVo, 207X10 Commander, 210

Arsenal in-dash audio system (JVC), 323

assigning IP addresses, 293

ASUS website, 82

attacksdetecting, 133protecting against, 133-134

access limitations, 138-140

firewalls, 134-136wireless security,

136-138types of, 132-133

AT&T Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, 326

Audi A7, 326

audioaudio/video (A/V) receivers,

19, 193-194streaming

across network, 274-275advantages, 247Blu-ray players, 250cloud-based music

services, 272-273computers, 254how it works, 246Internet-capable TVs,

249Internet radio, 268-270limitations, 248-249

331choosing

changingbands, 290broadcast channels, 290IP addresses, 284-285order of preferred networks,

309-310passwords, 96, 139-140SSIDs (Service Set

Identifiers), 138type of network locations,

281

channels, changing, 290

checkingcables, 294IP settings, 292workgroup names, 293-294

choosingEthernet cables, 81home servers, 166

networking and backup functionality, 167

operating systems, 167-168

storage capacity, 167where to buy, 168

Internet connection type, 104

NAS (network attached storage), 166




network location, 152-153network type, 26-27NICs (network interface

cards), 81routers, 72

802.11ac routers, 75-76802.11n routers, 74-75Ethernet performance,

77features to consider,

77-78

for phone calls, 318-321to play music, 321-323

future wireless technology, 326-327

installing wireless routers in, 324-325

mobile hotspots in, 325-326

Cat-5, 81, 126

Cat-6, 81, 126

CBS News website, 264

CBS website, 265

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), 58-59

CDMA2000, 59

cell phones. See also cellular networks

Bluetooth, 51connecting to cars


tethering, 61-62transmitters, 57

cells in cellular networks, 56

cellular networks1G, 57-582G, 583G, 594G, 59-60base stations, 56-57cells, 56combining with Bluetooth,

64-65compared to Wi-Fi, 204-205connecting computers to,

60external data modems,

61mobile broadband

routers, 63tethering, 61-62

mobile data versus Wi-Fi, 64

transmission, 57

Box, 240

Boxee Box (D-Link), 253

broadband Internet access, 102

broadband cable, 102-103broadband DSL, 102broadband routers, 122broadband satellite, 103FIOS (Fiber Optic Service)

broadband, 103gaming needs, 183

broadcast channels, changing, 290

browsersadd-ons, 298-299cache

cleaning, 296-297increasing size of, 297

cookies, managing, 297-298graphics display options,

298speed of, 296

Buffalo website, 82

buying equipment. See purchasing equipment

C

cablesbroadband cable, 102-103checking, 294Ethernet cables, 20, 24, 81,

125-126

cachecleaning, 296-297increasing size of, 297

CarFi Router (Autonet Mobile), 324

carsBluetooth in, 52connecting phone to

for Internet access, 323

332 choosing

home servers, 169network location, 152-153networks for gameplay

broadband speed, 183routers, 184

public Wi-Fi hotspotswith wireless access

point, 108-109with wireless router,

107-108routers, 92-94, 196-197wireless network printers,

216-217wireless range extenders

(repeaters), 116wireless security, 138workgroups, 153

connecting to networks. See network connections

Connect to a Network dialog box, 150

cookies, 297-298

crackers, 132

Crackle, 263

D

dashboards, router dashboardnavigating, 95opening, 94

data destruction, 132

data streams, 35

data theft, 132

data transfer over network, 20-22rates of Wi-Fi protocols, 35

dead Internet connections, troubleshooting, 294-295

Dekoh Desktop, 171

denial of service (DoS), 132

computer virusesanti-virus software, 142-143avoiding, 141-142explained, 141

computersaccessing other network

computers fromMacs, 160Windows HomeGroup,

160Windows PCs, 159

connecting to cellular networks, 60

external data modems, 61

mobile broadband routers, 63

tethering, 61-62connecting to network,

147-148Macs, 151Windows 7 computers,

149Windows 8 computers,

148-149Windows Vista

computers, 150Windows XP computers,


configuring. See also network connections

antennas, 115-116file sharing on Macs,

157-158file sharing in Windows, 229

drives, 234other folders, 230-233password protection,

229-230Public folder, 230Windows 7, 156Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

HomeGroups, 153-154

nomenclature and specs, 73

what they do, 72Wi-Fi standards, 40-42wireless adapters, 78

internal adapters, 80USB adapters, 79

workgroup, 153

Cisco LinksysEA4500 dual-band 802.11n

wireless router, 74RE1000 802.11n wireless

range extender, 117website, 82

cleaning cache, 296-297

clearing cache, 296-297

cloud-based music services, 272-273

Cloud Printer for the Mac, 221

Cloud Print for Windows, 221

cloud storageApple iCloud, 240benefits of, 239Box, 240cloud services, 240-242Dropbox, 240explained, 238-239Google Drive, 240Microsoft Skydrive, 241-242

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), 58

coffeehouses, Wi-Fi hotspots in, 304

combination modem/routers, 73, 106

combiningBluetooth with cellular

connections, 64-65wired and wireless

technologies, 27

Comedy Central website, 265

Comodo Firewall, 135

333file sharing

PlayStation 3 consoles, 180

Xbox 360 consoles, 178how it works, 122-126NICs (network interface

cards), 124reliability, 127routers, 77, 122-123security, 127speeds, 122-127when to use, 126-128

Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), 59

extending networks, 113-114antennas, 115-116factors affecting

transmission range, 114wired routers, 114-115wireless range extenders

(repeaters), 116wireless routers, 118-119

external data modems, 61

Extreme G, 36

F

Fast Ethernet, 24, 122

Fiber Optic Service (FIOS) broadband, 103

file sharing, 11-12accessing network

computersfrom Mac, 237from Windows PCs,

235-236Windows HomeGroup

computers, 234-235backups, 238cloud storage

Apple iCloud, 240benefits of, 239Box, 240cloud services, 240-242Dropbox, 240

dropped hotspot connections, troubleshooting, 312-313

DSL, 102

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), 23

E

EA4500 dual-band 802.11n wireless router (Cisco Linksys), 74

ebook readers, 18

EBR-2310 Ethernet Broadband Router (D-Link), 123

email, accessing over Wi-Fi hotspots, 313-314

enablingfile and printer sharing

Macs, 157-158Windows 7, 156Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

Wireless Multimedia (WMM), 197

entertainment devices, connecting, 187-189

A/V (audio/video) receivers, 193-194

Blu-ray players, 191-192Internet-capable TVs, 189-

191network media players,

195-196

ESPN website, 265

Ethernet, 24, 121cables, 20, 81, 125-126connecting devices with,

128connecting videogame

consoles via, 176Nintendo Wii consoles,

181

Denon AVR2112CI audio/video receiver, 194

Deskjet D3050A wireless inkjet printer (HP), 215

detecting intrusions, 133

device drivers, installing, 218

devices, connecting to network, 18-20

DGL-4500 Xtreme N Gaming Router (D-Link), 184

DGN1000 ADSL2+ Modem Router (NETGEAR), 106

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), 23

dial-up connections, 102

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), 275

DIRECTV, 103, 208

disabling SSID broadcasting, 140

D-LinkBoxee Box, 253DGL-4500 Xtreme N

Gaming Router, 184DP-301U print server, 217EBR-2310 Ethernet

Broadband Router, 123MovieNite Plus media

player, 196, 253

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), 275

DLNA-compatible receivers, 194

DNS (Domain Name System) services, 299-300

DoS (denial of service), 132

Download.com, 142

DP-301U print server (D-Link), 217

Dropbox, 240

334 file sharing

Gbps (gigabit per second), 24

Gigabit Ethernet, 24, 122

gigabit per second (Gbps), 24

Gigabit Wi-Fi, 38-39

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 58

“good neighbor” policy, 38

Google accounts, creating, 222

Google Chrome, 222

Google Cloud Printconnecting printers,

221-222how it works, 220printing via, 224sharing printers, 223virtual printer utilities, 221

Google Drive, 240

Google Play Music, 273

Goom Radio, 269

GPass, 311

GPS navigation devices, 320

Grooveshark, 266

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), 58

guest networks, 203-204

H

hackers, 132

handheld devices. See smartphones; tablets

hard drivesnetwork hard drives, 167sharing, 234

Hawking Technology, 116

HD (high-definition) video, 38

headsets (Bluetooth), 51

hidden networks, connecting to, 308

public places, 305Wi-Fi communities, 305

FIOS (Fiber Optic Service) broadband, 103

firewalls, 96, 134OS-based firewalls, 135router-based firewalls,

135-136third-party firewall software,

135

FM range, 31

foldersPublic, 230sharing, 230-233

Fox on Demand website, 265

frequencies (RF), 30-32

frequency ranges of Wi-Fi standards, 34

G

game consoles, connecting to network, 16-18

gaming, 16configuring networks for,

183broadband speed, 183routers, 184

portable videogames, 18videogame consoles,

connecting, 18, 173benefits of, 174-175via Ethernet, 176Nintendo Wii consoles,

180-181PlayStation 3 consoles,

178-180portable videogame

consoles, 182via Wi-Fi, 176Xbox 360 consoles,

177-178

explained, 238-239Google Drive, 240Microsoft Skydrive,

241-242configuring


229-230Public folder, 230

with home server, 237how it works, 228Macs, 157-158Windows 7, 156Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

filesbacking up, 11-12, 238file sharing, 11-12

accessing network computers, 234-237

Apple iCloud, 240backups, 238Box, 240cloud services, 240-242cloud storage, 238-239configuring, 229-234Dropbox, 240Google Drive, 240how it works, 228Macs, 157-158Microsoft Skydrive,

241-242with home server, 237Windows 7, 156Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

filters, 96

finding Wi-Fi hotspotsairports and transportation

centers, 305coffeehouses and

restaurants, 304hotels, 305

335Internet connections

Intelliremote, 206

interference, troubleshooting, 290

internal adapters, 80

Internet appliances, 19

Internet-capable TVsconnecting to network,


Internet connections, 101-102broadband Internet access

broadband cable, 102-103

broadband DSL, 102broadband routers, 122broadband satellite, 103FIOS (Fiber Optic

Service) broadband, 103

gaming needs, 183in car, 323choosing, 104dead connections,

troubleshooting, 294-295dial-up connections, 102FIOS (Fiber Optic Service)

broadband, 103home servers, connecting

to, 171sharing

combination modem/router, 106

home networks, 8public Wi-Fi hotspot,

107-109security issues, 109-110wireless router, 104-105

slow network connections, speeding up, 295-300

add-ons, 298-299browser speed, 296cache management,

296-297cookie management,

297-298

preferred networks, changing order of, 309-310

security, 311troubleshooting, 312-314

dropped connections, 312-313

inability to access email, 313-314

inability to access Internet, 313

inability to access selected websites, 313

inability to connect, 312

HP Deskjet D3050A wireless inkjet printer, 215

HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access), 59

HughesNet, 103

Hulu, 257-259

Hulu Plus, 257-259

I

iCloud, 240

identity theft, 132

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), 33

iHeartRadio, 269-271

installingprinter device drivers, 218routers

advanced setup, 94-96in cars, 324-325preparation, 86-88setup and configuration,

92-94step-by-step instructions,

88-92

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 33

high-definition (HD) video, 38

hijacking, 132

home computers. See computers

home control apps, 208-210

home servers, 18, 163. See also NAS (network attached storage)

backing up to, 170benefits of, 164-165choosing, 166




configuring, 169connecting over Internet,

171explained, 164file sharing, 237media storage, 170

HomeGroupsaccessing HomeGroup

computers, 234-235accessing network

computers from, 160creating, 153-154

hotels, Wi-Fi hotspots in, 305

hotspots (Wi-Fi), 303connecting to, 306finding, 304

airports and transportation centers

coffeehouses and restaurants, 304

hotels, 305public places, 305Wi-Fi communities, 305


in cars, 325-326logging onto, 307-308

336 Internet connections

avoiding, 141-142explained, 141

managingnetwork connections, 282-

284networked computers, 280

Macs, 286-287Windows computers,

280-285Windows networks, 160-161

manufacturers of networking equipment, 82

mapping network, 69-72

maximum bandwidth, 35

Mbps (megabit per second), 24

MBRN3000 Mobile Broadband Router (NETGEAR), 63

McAfee AntiVirus Plus, 143

media sharing, 10

media streaming, 9-10. See also entertainment devices, connecting

advantages, 247Blu-ray players, 250cloud-based music services,

272-273computers, 254how it works, 246Internet-capable TVs, 249Internet radio, 268-270limitations, 248-249across network, 274

Apple AirPlay, 275Digital Living Network

Alliance (DLNA), 275network media players,

251-253router configuration,

196-197smartphones and tablets,

255streaming music services,

265-268

L

LANs (local area networks), 17-18

large homes, extending network for. See extending networks

Last.fm, 266

LiftMaster Home Control, 209

limiting network accesspasswords, 139-140SSID broadcasting,

disabling, 140SSIDs (Service Set

Identifiers), 138

Linksys. See Cisco Linksys

Live365, 269

Live Radio on the Internet, 271

local area networks (LANs), 17-18

logging on to Wi-Fi hotspots, 307-308

Logitech V470 Cordless Laser Mouse, 50

LTE (Long Term Evolution), 59

M

Macsaccessing other computers

from, 160, 237connecting to network, 151file and printer sharing,

enabling, 157-158managing

network information, 287network preferences,

286-287

malwareanti-spyware software, 144anti-virus software, 142-143

DNS services, 299-300graphics display options,

298

Internet radio, 268-270

intrusionsdetecting, 133protecting against, 133-134

access limitations, 138-140

firewalls, 134-136wireless security, 136-

138types of, 132-133

IP addresses, 22-23assigning, 293changing, 284-285

iPads. See tablets

iPhones. See smartphones

IP settings, checking, 292

iRule, 206

ISM band, 31

iTunesiTunes Match, 273streaming video from, 261

J

Jabra DRIVE, 320

Jango, 269

JVC Arsenal in-dash audio system, 323

K

Kaspersky Anti-Virus, 143

Kbps (kilobit per second), 24

keyboards, Bluetooth-enabled, 50-51

kilobit per second (Kbps), 24

Kindle Fire. See tablets

337NETGEAR

Internet radio, 268-270streaming music services,

265-268traditional AM/FM radio,

271streaming from phone

to car stereo system, 321-323

MyMusicCloud, 273

N

N300 USB Wireless N Adapter (Belkin), 79

NAS (network attached storage)

backing up to, 170choosing, 166




configuring, 169connecting over Internet,

171explained, 165-166media storage, 170

navigating router dashboard, 95

NBC News website, 264

Nest Mobile, 209

Netflix, 259-260

NETGEARDGN1000 ADSL2+ Modem

Router, 106MBRN3000 Mobile

Broadband Router, 63R6300 802.11ac wireless

router, 76ReadyNAS, 166, 169website, 82

mobile networks, 551G, 57-582G, 583G, 594G, 59-60base stations, 56-57cells, 56combining with Bluetooth,

64-65connecting computers

to, 60external data modems,

61mobile broadband

routers, 63tethering, 61-62


transmission, 57

mobile phones. See cell phones

modems, 18, 102combination modem/

routers, 73, 106external data modems, 61rebooting, 294

MOG, 266

MovieNite Plus (D-Link), 196, 253

movies. See video

MP3tunes, 273

MTV website, 265

Multimedia Message Service (MMS), 58

multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology, 37

multiple routers, connecting, 118-119

musicsharing, 10streaming, 9-10

across network, 274-275cloud-based music

services, 272-273

streaming video servicesAmazon Instant Video,

260Blockbuster On Demand,

261Crackle, 263Hulu and Hulu Plus,

257-259iTunes, 261Netflix, 259-260network TV websites,

263-265table of, 256-257Veoh, 262Vevo, 263video-sharing sites, 265Vudu, 262


megabit per second (Mbps), 24

mesh networks, 39

mice, Bluetooth-enabled, 50-51

Microsoft Security Essentials, 143

Microsoft Skydrive, 241-242

Microsoft Surface. See tablets

microwave ovens, interference from, 31-32

MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) tech-nology, 37

MKi9000 Bluetooth car kit (Parrot), 322

MKi9100 Bluetooth car kit (Parrot), 52

MMS (Multimedia Message Service), 58

mobile broadband routers, 63

mobile devices. See smartphones; tablets

Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G (AT&T), 326

338 Netgear NTV550

guest networks, 203-204hidden networks, 308home servers, 171Internet connections,

101-102broadband cable,

102-103broadband DSL, 102broadband satellite, 103choosing, 104dead connections,

294-295dial-up connections, 102FIOS (Fiber Optic

Service) broadband, 103

security issues, 109-110sharing with combination

modem/router, 106sharing with public Wi-Fi

hotspot, 107-109sharing with wireless

router, 104-105slow network

connections, 295-300managing, 282-284mobile networks, 55

1G, 57-582G, 583G, 594G, 59-60base stations, 56-57cells, 56compared to Wi-Fi,

204-205connecting computers

to, 60-63mobile data versus

Wi-Fi, 64transmission, 57

phones in carsfor Internet access, 323for phone calls, 318-321to play music, 321-323

powerline networks (PLNs), 24-25

in cell phones, 51combining with cellular

connections, 64-65compared to W-Fi, 53in computer equipment,

50-51example, 48-50how it works, 47what it does, 46

computers, 60, 147-148external data modems,

61Macs, 151mobile broadband

routers, 63tethering, 61-62Windows 7 computers,

149Windows 8 computers,

148-149Windows Vista

computers, 150Windows XP computers,

150-151entertainment devices,

18-20, 187-189A/V (audio/video)

receivers, 193-194Blu-ray players, 191-192Internet-capable TVs,

189-191network media players,

195-196Ethernet, 24, 121

cables, 125-126connecting devices with,

128connecting videogame

consoles via, 176-181how it works, 122-126NICs (network interface

cards), 124reliability, 127routers, 122-123security, 127speeds, 122, 126-127when to use, 126-128

Netgear NTV550, 253

network access, limitingpasswords, 139-140SSID broadcasting,


Identifiers), 138

network addresses, 22-23

Network and Sharing Center, 160-161

network attached storage. See NAS (network attached storage)

network computer management

accessing computers, 234from Mac, 237from Windows PCs,

235-236Windows HomeGroup

computers, 234-235Macs, 286-287Windows computers, 280

advanced sharing options, 281-282

IP addresses, 284-285network connections,

282-284network locations, 281network maps, 281

network connectionsbad network connections,

troubleshooting, 291-294diagnostics tools, 291disconnecting/

reconnecting, 291IP addresses, 293IP settings, 292rebooting, 292workgroup names,

293-294Bluetooth, 46

automatic synchronization, 47-48

in automobiles, 52

339peripherals, sharing

NICs (network interface cards), 24, 81, 124

Nintendo Wii consoles, connecting to network

via Ethernet, 181via Wi-Fi, 180-181

Norton AntiVirus, 143

Norton Internet Security, 135

O

ONT (optical network terminal), 103

opening router dashboard, 94

operating systems, choosing, 167-168

optical network terminal (ONT), 103

OS-based firewalls, 135

P

Pandora Radio, 266

PANs (personal area networks), 47

Paperless Printer for Windows, 221

ParrotMKi9000 Bluetooth car kit,

322MKi9100 Bluetooth car kit,

52

passwordschanging, 96, 139-140configuring for file sharing,

229-230

peer-to-peer networking, 46

Pentair ScreenLogic Mobile, 210

peripherals, sharing, 225


hotspots, 303-308, 325-326

interference, troubleshooting, 290



radio frequency (RF) frequencies, 30

RF frequencies, 30-32security, 311signal routing, 32-33standards, 33-39troubleshooting, 312-

314

network device checklist, 68-69

network equipment list, 72

network hard drives, 167

network hubs, 122

network interface cards (NICs), 24, 81, 124

network keys, 136

network locationschanging type of, 281setting, 152-153

network maps, 69-72, 281

network media players, 19connecting to network,

195-196streaming media on,

251-253

network planning, 67-68network device checklist,

68-69network equipment list, 72network maps, 69-72

network printers, 15

network switches, 122

network TV websites, 263-265

printers, 214-215print servers, 217wireless network printers,

215-217routers

advanced setup, 94-96preparation, 86-88setup and configuration,


88-92slow network connections,

troubleshooting, 288bands, 290broadcast channels, 290interference, 290router location, 289router upgrades,

290-291signal strength, 288

smartphones, 199-206tablets, 199-203videogame consoles, 173

benefits of, 174-175Nintendo Wii consoles,



consoles, 182via Ethernet, 176via Wi-Fi, 176Xbox 360 consoles,

177-178viewing, 282-284Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity),

25-262.4GHz band, 315GHz band, 32bands, 290choosing, 40-42compared to Bluetooth,

53compared to cellular

networks, 204-205connecting videogame

consoles via, 176-181

340 personal area networks (PANs)

PS3 (PlayStation 3) consoles, connecting to network, 178


Public folder, 230

public Wi-Fi hotspotsfinding, 305setting up, 107

with wireless access point, 108-109

with wireless router, 107-108

purchasing equipmentEthernet cables, 81home servers, 166




NAS (network attached storage), 166




NICs (network interface cards), 81

routers802.11ac routers, 75-76802.11n routers, 74-75Ethernet performance,

77features to consider,

77-78nomenclature and specs,

73what they do, 72

where to buy, 82-83wireless adapters, 78

internal adapters, 80USB adapters, 79

printer sharing, enablingin Windows 7, 156in Windows 8, 154-155in Windows Vista, 156in Windows XP, 156-157on Macs, 157-158

printing to, 218sharing, 13-15, 213

connecting printers to network, 214-215

Macs, 157-158via print servers, 217printing to network

printers, 218wireless network printers,

215-217with Google Cloud Print,

220-224Windows 7, 156Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

protection. See security

protocolsCDMA2000, 59CDMA (Code Division

Multiple Access), 58DHCP (Dynamic Host

Configuration Protocol), 23

Ethernet, 24GSM (Global System for

Mobile Communications), 58



TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), 21-22

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), 59

WiMax (Worldwide Operability for Microwave Access), 59

personal area networks (PANs), 47

piconet, 47

planning networks, 67-68. See also purchasing equipment

network device checklist, 68-69

network equipment list, 72network maps, 69-72

Plantronics Voyager Pro HD Bluetooth wireless headset, 51

PlayStation 3 consoles, connecting to network, 178


PLNs (powerline networks), 24-25

portable videogame consoles, 18, 182

port forwarding, 96

powerline networks (PLNs), 24-25


print servers, 217

printers, 18Bluetooth-enabled printers,

51connecting to network,

214-215via print servers, 217wireless network printers,

215-217device drivers, installing,

218Google Cloud Print

connecting printers, 221-222

how it works, 220printing via, 224sharing printers, 223virtual printer utilities,

221

341security

router-based firewalls, 135-136

settings, 95-96sharing Internet connection

with, 104-105upgrading, 97-98, 114-115,

290-291what they do, 72Wi-Fi hotspots, setting up,

107-108

routing radio frequency (RF) signals, 32-33

S

satellite, broadband, 103

scanners, 18

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD, 253

security, 131-132access limitations

passwords, 139-140SSID broadcasting,


Identifiers), 138Ethernet, 127firewalls, 96, 134

OS-based firewalls, 135router-based firewalls,

135-136third-party firewall

software, 135intrusions

detecting, 133protecting against,

133-134types of, 132-133

malwareanti-spyware software,

144anti-virus software,

142-143avoiding, 141-142explained, 141

Remote app, 206

remote-control apps, 206-207

repeaters, 116

restaurants, Wi-Fi hotspots in, 304

retailers of networking equipment, 83

RF (radio frequency) signalsfrequencies, 30how they work, 30-32routing, 32-33

Roku, 207Roku HD, 253Roku 2 HD, 253

router-based firewalls, 135-136

routers, 8, 19, 72802.11ac routers, 75-76802.11n routers, 74-75broadband routers, 122combination modem/

routers, 73, 106configuring for streaming

media, 196-197connecting multiple routers,

118-119dashboard

navigating, 95opening, 94

Ethernet performance, 77Ethernet routers, 122-123features to consider, 77-78gaming needs, 184installing

advanced setup, 94-96preparation, 86-88setup and configuration,


88-92installing in cars, 324-325location of, 289mobile broadband routers,

63nomenclature and specs, 73rebooting, 292

Q-R

QoS (quality of service), 197

R6300 802.11ac wireless router (NETGEAR), 76

radioInternet radio, 268-270radio frequency (RF) signals

frequencies, 30how they work, 30-32routing, 32-33


Radio.com, 269

radio frequency (RF) signalsfrequencies, 30how they work, 30-32routing, 32-33

Radioio, 269

radio-locator, 271

RadioMOI, 269

Raditaz, 266

RAID (redundant array of independent disks), 167

Rara.com, 266

Radio, 266

RE1000 802.11n wireless range extender (Linksys), 117

ReadyNAS (NETGEAR), 166-169

rebootingadapters, 292modem, 294routers, 292

redundant array of independent disks (RAID), 167

Reef Tank Pro, 210

release dates of Wi-Fi standards, 34

reliability of Ethernet, 127

342 security

DNS services, 299-300graphics display options,

298

slow network connections, troubleshooting, 288

bands, 290broadcast channels, 290interference, 290router location, 289router upgrades, 290-291signal strength, 288

smartphones, 18. See also cellular networks

Bluetooth, 51connecting to cars


connecting to wireless networks, 199-206

controlling networked devices with, 206-210

remote-control apps, 206-207

streaming media on, 255tethering, 61-62transmitters, 57

smart TVs, connecting to network, 189-191

SMP-N200 (Sony), 253

SMS (Short Message Service), 58

Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot (T-Mobile), 325

Sonos Controller, 207

SonyBDP-S390 Blu-ray player,

192SMP-N200, 253

spatial multiplexing, 35

speakerphones, 320

speedbrowser speed, 296Ethernet speeds, 122,

126-127

Windows 8, 154-155Windows Vista, 156Windows XP, 156-157

Internet connectionhome networks, 8security issues, 109-110combination modem/

router, 106public Wi-Fi hotspot,

107-109wireless router, 104-105

media, 10peripherals, 225printers, 13-15, 213

connecting printers to network, 214-215

device drivers, installing, 218

Google Cloud Print, 220-224

print servers, 217printing to network

printers, 218wireless network printers,

215-217

shopping for equipment. See purchasing equipment

Short Message Service (SMS), 58

SHOUTcast, 269

signal leeching, 133

signal strength, checking, 288

Sirius/XM Radio, 271

size of cache, 297

Skydrive, 241-242

Slacker Radio, 266-268

slow Internet connections, speeding up, 295-300



297-298

password-protected file sharing, 229-230

shared Internet connections, 109-110

Wi-Fi hotspots, 311wireless security, 136-137

configuring, 138types of, 137-138

selecting. See choosing

servershome servers, 18, 163

backing up to, 170benefits of, 164-165choosing, 166-168configuring, 169connecting over Internet,

171explained, 164file sharing, 237media storage, 170

print servers, 217

Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs), 33

changing, 138SSID broadcasting,

disabling, 140

sharingadvanced sharing options,

281-282file sharing, 11-12

accessing network computers, 234-237

Apple iCloud, 240backups, 238Box, 240cloud services, 240-242cloud storage, 238-239configuring, 229-234Dropbox, 240Google Drive, 240home server, 237how it works, 228Macs, 157-158Microsoft Skydrive,

241-242Windows 7, 156

343tablets

Netflix, 259-260network TV websites,



streaming music services, 265-268

streaming video services, 256Amazon Instant Video, 260Blockbuster On Demand,

261Crackle, 263Hulu and Hulu Plus,

257-259iTunes, 261Netflix, 259-260network TV websites,


subnet masks, 22

Subsonic, 171

Symantex, 135

syncing with Bluetooth, 47-48

T

tablets, 18connecting to wireless

networks, 199-203controlling networked

devices with, 206-210remote-control apps,


802.11ad, 39802.11b, 36802.11b+, 36802.11g, 36802.11n, 37-38table of, 34-35wide-area Wi-Fi, 39WiMAX, 39

storage capacity of home servers, 167

storage. See home servers; NAS (network attached storage)

streaming media, 9-10. See also entertainment devices, connecting

advantages, 247Blu-ray players, 250cloud-based music services,

272-273computers, 254how it works, 246Internet-capable TVs, 249Internet radio, 268-270limitations, 248-249across network, 274

Apple AirPlay, 275Digital Living Network

Alliance (DLNA), 275network media players,

251-253router configuration,


255streaming music services,

265-268streaming video services

Amazon Instant Video, 260

Blockbuster On Demand, 261

Crackle, 263Hulu and Hulu Plus,

257-259iTunes, 261

Internet connection speed, increasing, 295-300



297-298DNS services, 299-300graphics display options,

298

Spotify, 266

Spybot Search & Destroy, 144

spywareanti-spyware software, 144avoiding, 141-142explained, 141

SSIDs (Service Set Identifiers), 33

changing, 138SSID broadcasting,

disabling, 140

standardscellular

CDMA2000, 59CDMA (Code Division

Multiple Access), 58GSM (Global

System for Mobile Communications), 58




WiMax (Worldwide Operability for Microwave Access), 59

Wi-Fi, 33802.11, 36802.11a, 36802.11ac, 38-39

344 TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

TV shows. See video

TVsconnecting to network,


twisted-pair cables, 125

U


uniform resource locators (URLs), 22

uninstalling browser add-ons, 298-299

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), 59

upgradingantennas, 115-116networks, 81, 82routers, 97-98, 114-115,

290-291

URLs (uniform resource locators), 22

USB adapters, 79

V

V470 Cordless Laser Mouse (Logitech), 50

Veoh, 262

Vevo, 263

videoHD (high-definition)

video, 38sharing, 10streaming, 9-10

across network, 274-275

troubleshooting, 279bad connections, 292-294bad network connections

diagnostics tools, 291disconnecting/

reconnecting, 291IP addresses, 293IP settings, 292rebooting, 292workgroup names,

293-294dead Internet connections,

294-295slow Internet connections,

295-300add-ons, 298-299browser speed, 296cache management,


297-298DNS services, 299-300graphics display options,

298slow network connections,

288bands, 290broadcast channels, 290interference, 290router location, 289router upgrades,

290-291signal strength, 288

Wi-Fi hotspots, 312-314dropped connections,

312-313inability to access email,

313-314inability to access

Internet, 313inability to access

selected websites, 313inability to connect, 312

Tucows, 142

TuneIn Radio, 271

Turntable.fm, 266

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), 21-22

tethering, 61-62

TEW-637AP wireless access point (TRENDnet), 108

third-party firewall software, 135

TiVo, 207

T-Mobile Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot, 325

TP-LINKwebsite, 82wireless adapter cards, 80

traditional AM/FM radio, playing online, 271

transfer rates of Wi-Fi protocols, 35

transferring data over network, 20-22

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), 21-22

transmission rangeextending

antennas, 115-116router, 114-115wireless routers, 118-119wireless range extenders

(repeaters), 116factors affecting

transmission range, 114of Wi-Fi protocols, 35

transportation centers, Wi-Fi hotspots in, 305

Trend Micro Titanium AntiVirus+, 143

TRENDnetTEW-637AP wireless access

point, 108website, 82

345websites

Blockbuster, 261Box, 240Buffalo, 82CBS, 265CBS News, 264Cisco Linksys, 82Cloud Printer for the Mac,

221Cloud Print for Windows,

221Comedy Central, 265Comodo Firewall, 135Crackle, 263Dekoh Desktop, 171DIRECTV, 208D-Link, 253Download.com, 142ESPN, 265Fox on Demand, 265Google Chrome, 222Google Drive, 240Google Play Music, 273Goom Radio, 269GPass, 311Grooveshark, 266Hawking Technology, 116HughesNet, 103Hulu, 257iHeartRadio, 269, 271Intelliremote, 206iRule, 206iTunes Match, 273Jango, 269Kaspersky, 143Last.fm, 266lavasoftusa, 144LiftMaster Home Control,

209Live Radio on the Internet,

271McAfee, 143MOG, 266MP3tunes, 273MTV, 265MyMusicCloud, 273NBC News, 264Nest, 209

virusesanti-virus software, 142-143avoiding, 141-142explained, 141

Voyager Pro HD Bluetooth wireless headset (Plantronics), 51

VPNs (virtual private networks), 311

Vudu, 262

W

WANs (wide area networks), 17-18

web browsersadd-ons, 298-299cache

cleaning, 296-297increasing size of, 297

cookies, 297-298graphics display options,

298speed of, 296

Webroot SecureAnywhere, 144

websitesABC News, 265Abyss Web Server, 171AccuRadio, 269Agnitum, 135Alarm.com, 208ALFA Network, 116Amazon, 260Amazon Cloud Player, 273AOL Radio, 269Apache, 171Apple, 82Apple iCloud, 240Apple TV, 253ASUS, 82Audiogalaxy, 171AVG, 143Belkin, 82

advantages, 247Blu-ray players, 250computers, 254how it works, 246Internet-capable TVs,

249limitations, 248-249network media players,


255streaming video services,

256-265video-sharing sites, 265

videogame consoles, connecting, 18, 173

benefits of, 174-175via Ethernet, 176Nintendo Wii consoles

Ethernet connections, 181

Wi-Fi connections, 180-181

PlayStation 3 consoles, 178Ethernet connections,

180Wi-Fi connections,


consoles, 182via Wi-Fi, 176Xbox 360 consoles, 177

Ethernet connections, 178

Wi-Fi connections, 178

viewingnetwork connections,

282-284network maps, 281

Vimeo, 265

VirtualDJ Radio, 269

virtual printer utilities, 221

virtual private networks (VPNs), 311

virtual servers, 96

346 websites


radio frequency (RF) frequencies, 30

RF frequencies, 30-32signal routing, 32-33standards, 33

802.11, 36802.11a, 36802.11ac, 38-39802.11ad, 39802.11b, 36802.11b+, 36802.11g, 36802.11n, 37-38table of, 34-35wide-area Wi-Fi, 39WiMAX, 39

Wi-Fi Alliance, 33

Wi-Fi Directory, 306

Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory, 306

WiGig, 39

Wii consoles, connecting to network


WiMax (Worldwide Operability for Microwave Access), 39, 59

Windows 7 computersaccessing network

computers from, 159, 235-236

connecting to network, 149file sharing, configuring,

156, 229drives, 234other folders, 230-233password protection,



Windows 8 computersaccessing network


X10 Commander, 210Xbox Music Pass, 266YouTube, 265Zonelabs, 135, 143ZyXEL, 82

WEP 64-bit, 137

WEP 128-bit, 137

Western DigitalWD TV Live, 253website, 82

wide area networks (WANs), 17-18

wide-area Wi-Fi, 39

widescreen TVs, 19

Wi-Fi2.4GHz band, 315GHz band, 32bands, 290choosing, 40-42compared to Bluetooth, 53compared to cellular

networks, 204-205connecting videogame

consoles via, 176Nintendo Wii consoles,


179-180Xbox 360 consoles, 178

explained, 25-26hotspots, 303

in cars, 325-326connecting to, 306finding, 304-305hidden networks,

connecting to, 308logging onto, 307-308preferred networks,

changing order of, 309-310

security, 311troubleshooting,

312-314interference,

troubleshooting, 290

Netflix, 259Netgear, 253NETGEAR, 82Norton, 143Pandora Radio, 266Paperless Printer for

Windows, 221Pentair ScreenLogic Mobile,

210Radio.com, 269Radioio, 269radio-locator, 271RadioMOI, 269Raditaz, 266Rara.com, 266Rdio, 266Reef Tank Pro, 210Remote app, 206Roku, 207, 253safer-networking.org, 144Seagate, 253SHOUTcast, 269Sirius/XM Radio, 271Skydrive, 241-242Slacker Radio, 266-268Sonos Controller, 207Sony, 253Spotify, 266Subsonic, 171Symantec, 135TiVo, 207TP-LINK, 82Trend Micro, 143TRENDnet, 82Tucows, 142TuneIn Radio, 271Turntable.fm, 266Veoh, 262Vevo, 263Vimeo, 265VirtualDJ Radio, 269Vudu, 262Webroot, 144Western Digital, 82Wi-Fi Alliance, 33Wi-Fi Directory, 306Wi-Fi FreeSpot Directory,

306

347ZyXEL website

Y-Z

YouTube, 265

ZoneAlarmFree Antivirus+Firewall, 143Free Firewall, 135PRO Antivirus+Firewall, 143Pro Firewall, 135

ZyXEL website, 82


wired networks, 27

wireless access points, 108-109

wireless adapters, 78internal adapters, 80USB adapters, 79

wireless fidelity. See Wi-Fi

Wireless Multimedia (WMM), 197

wireless network printers, 215benefits of, 216configuring, 216-217

wireless range extenders (repeaters), 116

wireless routers. See routers

wireless security, 136-137configuring, 138types of, 137-138

WMM (Wireless Multimedia), 197

workgroupschoosing, 153names, 293-294

Worldwide Operability for Microwave Access (WiMax), 39, 59

WPA, 137

WPA2, 137

X

X10 Commander, 210

Xbox 360 consoles, connecting to network, 177-178

Xbox Music Pass, 266

XFINITY, 183

connecting to network, 148-149

file sharing, configuring, 154-155, 229




Windows computer management

advanced sharing options, 281-282

IP addresses, 284-285network connections,

282-284network locations, 281network maps, 281

Windows Vista computersaccessing network


connecting to network, 150file sharing, configuring,

156, 229drives, 234other folders, 230-233password protection,



Windows XP computersaccessing network


connecting to network, 150-151

file sharing, configuring, 156-157, 229



wireless networking absolute beginner's...

Documents