Customer Reviews

Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 3rd Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I love this book, very helpful in setting up, securing and helping me understand wireless networks. I wish there was more information on wired networks included here, but I guess I will have to buy that book also.

This is an older edition of the "Dummies" series on wireless home networking. It was published before the "N" standard was approved and focuses on "G" standard products. I didn't pay much for this book, and it gave me the networking basics that I needed for my purposes, but it might not satisfy someone who is looking for up-to-date product information.

The beginning of the book is great for definitions, and understanding the basics of a network. HOWEVER, when it comes to the real nitty gritty, the reality of setting it up, the text becomes totally useless. It mentions IP and a bunch of other numbers, without really explaining them in any meaningful way. The plain Networking for Dummies goes into more detail and says, ultimately, that you should contact your ISP for much of the info!! I hate this book...I read it through slowly, but could not use it to network my 2 comps. I am trying to use the plain Networking for Dummies, but it does not address Windows7. Some Dummy books are great...some are awful. The jokes in this book are beyond stupid and not what I need! Whatever you buy, make sure it is the newest edition.

Step by step help for people who interested in WiFi network. I found it's perfect for a idiot like me.

A well written and easy to understand book. Does not get dry or boring and fairly easy to find what you need. Also some good info on related technologies. A glaring omission however, is a lack of detailed info on how windows handles wireless logons. For most users however, this book has more than enough, and I would recommend it.

A tremendous amount of help in setting up an effective home wireless network. Easy to read, with sufficient detail, and just enough humor to keep you interested, all in the great tradition of the "For Dummies" series.

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

I have little knowledge on the subject, but the book was of no value to me. If you know anything about wireless home networking, you probably don't need this book.