Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking [Paperback]

Harold Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789731150 | ISBN-13: 978-0789731159 | Publication Date: May 7, 2004 | Edition: 1

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi is a book for beginners who want to join the Wi-Fi revolution. Using easy-to-understand language, this book teaches you all you need to know about Wi-Fi, from choosing the Wi-Fi system that is right for you to adding a Wi-Fi card and related software to finding hotspots and access points. With the help of this book, you will be able to configure a home network and share internet connections quickly and easily. In addition, the book covers all important security issues so that a user is less exposed to threats, as well as the dos and don'ts of traveling with a Wi-Fi enabled laptop.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

If you are new to Wi-Fi wireless networking I’d like to be your guide to this wonderful technology. Perhaps you are completely new to Wi-Fi and want to quickly get up to speed so you can surf at local hotspots, or while on the road. This book will give you the practical information you need to buy the right equipment, get your equipment working perfectly, find Wi-Fi hotspots, and get the best deal with Wi-Fi providers.

Perhaps you already use Wi-Fi in your local coffee shop, at the airport, in hotel lobbies, and want to set up a small office or home network. You already know how great Wi-Fi is, so you want to enjoy the benefits where you live and work. It is truly transformational to one’s lifestyle to decouple computing from the wires!

If you are looking to set up a Wi-Fi network, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll show you the best way to buy the equipment you need at the best prices, and how to easily set it up. I won’t gloss over potential pitfalls, and I will save you time and money. I’ll also show you some of the considerations you might want to think about if you are building a more complex network involving Wi-Fi. In this book you’ll find inspiration as well as practical information. I believe that Wi-Fi is a modest technology that has the power to have a huge and positive impact. Some of the items I’ve included in this book speak to that transformational power. For example, you’ll learn how villages in south east Asia use Wi-Fi on-the-fly to connect to the world, and how Wi-Fi was used to bring wireless networking to Pitcairn Island, a romantic flyspeck in the South Pacific Ocean (remember "Mutiny on the Bounty?). You’ll also learn about war chalking, and find out how to locate free Wi-Fi hotspots. This is wonderful material, and it’s lots of fun! So what are you waiting for? It’s time to Wi-Fi!

About the Author

Harold Davis is a strategic technology consultant, hands-on programmer, and the author of many well-known books. He has been a popular speaker at trade shows and conventions, giving presentations on topics ranging from wireless networking through digital photography and programming methodologies. As a technology consultant, he has served many Fortune 500 companies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Que; 1 edition (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789731150
• ISBN-13: 978-0789731159
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For Harold Davis, a typical day's (or night's) work might involve photographing star trails from the top of Half Dome, investigating the close-up patterns of early morning dew drops with his camera, or finding a new location for photographing the Golden Gate Bridge.

Harold Davis is an award-winning professional photographer. He is the author of more than 30 books, including Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Worlds with Harold Davis (Focal Press), Creative Black & White: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley),Creative Composition: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Night: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), Creative Close-Ups: Digital Photography Tips & Techniques (Wiley), The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing (Focal Press) and Practical Artistry: Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers (O'Reilly). Harold writes the popular Photoblog 2.0, www.photoblog2.com.

Harold is a popular presenter on digital photography topics. His workshops are often sold out.

Harold is well known for his night photography and experimental ultra-long exposure techniques, use of vibrant, saturated colors in landscape compositions, and beautiful creative floral imagery. He is inspired by the flowers in his garden, hiking in the wilderness, and the work of great artists and photographers including M.C. Escher, Monet, van Gogh and Edward Weston.

Harold lives in Berkeley, California with his wife Phyllis Davis, a graphic designer and writer who frequently collaborates with Harold on book projects. They have four children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going Wi-Fi, May 29, 2004

By 

Old Programmer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking (Paperback)

It was with a little trepidation that I decided it was time to go Wi-Fi. Being a Harold Davis fan for some time, I picked up a copy of his book. Good decision! To start with he helped me decide whether to get a wirelss card for my old faithful laptop, or to get a new one. I went for a new machine (SONY VAIO TR3A). Setting it up was easy. With his book's step-by-step instructions, it was almost as though I had the author at my side. Highly recommended.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent beginner's guide!, June 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking (Paperback)

I read this book knowing little about wireless networking, but over the course of the book I learned not only about how to set up my PC and my home for Wi-Fi, but also something about the technical details of Wi-Fi and where it will be going in the future. Although I knew enough to know that I wanted Wi-Fi in my home, reading this book definitely helped me choose the right products and learn to make the most of them. Thanks Harold -- without this book I'd still be working within a twelve-foot radius of my cable modem!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes it easy!, May 17, 2004

By 

Gina Smiley "GiGi" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Wi-Fi Wireless Networking (Paperback)

I have a new three level house and wanted to connect all the family computers onto one network. Drilling holes in the floors and running wires all over the place is definitely not my thing, so I started to look around for another solution. After learing about wireless networking (wi-fi), I can't imagine why anyone would use anything else.

This wi-fi book answered all my questions. Even though I was nervous about opening up a computer and putting a wi-fi card in, this book took me through it with steps and pictures. I've looked at the other wi-fi books at the bookstore, but this one definitely stuck out. Lots of good pictures and directions.