Customer Reviews

Wireless Home Networking For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a terrific resource. I knew very little about networks or wireless accessing and just had wireless installed. We were up & running for less than a week before I lost my wireless connection. I LABORED over re-connecting for hours and then days. Pure torture. Even the ADSL guys (as well as the Linksys-router folks) couldn't help us. Finally, I found this book and read it cover to cover. Within 10 minutes of finishing it, I was reconnected, AND I now understand so much about how this system works. Reading this book prior to having wirless installed is like taking your driver's license test prior to driving alone. (And the humor is always uplifting). I definitely would recommend this book!

This is a great book, and a resource for anyone, not just dummies. Wireless networking can get complex. Some of this info was really basic for me because I know what an access point does, but I learned a lot I did not know. I was impressed with how much they crammed in this book, because any one of these topics could take up a whole book unto itself. I checked out a number of books before settling on this one. I went to the bookstore and passed on Wi-Fi Home Networking (not complete enough), Home Networking for Dummies (I wanted wireless focus), and a few others. I'm happy with the choice, and would recommend it highly.

This book is a nice introduction to wireless networking. The writing is easy to follow and gives general explanations for novice users to understand. However, if you're looking for help setting up your wireless security, this is definitely NOT the book to buy. It was published three years ago and wireless security has improved a lot (we really need an updated version of this book). The authors mention using WEP encryption, which is rarely used anymore since it takes only minutes to break. They barely touch on WPA, widely used because a different encryption key is used for every data packet. For help with setting up security, there's a lot of free information available online.

Tells most everything needed, and has cautions and solutions to common problems and/or setup errors. I have two other books on this subject and this is by far the most usable and helpful.

I bought a wireless access point, and it really did not cover my house, so I bought another, but they did not work together at all, and neither manufacturer could tell me anything. I really needed to figure it out for myself. I also wanted to get higher speeds, and make sure my neighbors could not snoop on my connection, but wanted my friends to be able to come over and surf with me if needed. I also wanted to be able to use my wireless when on the road. Wireless Home Networking for Dummies told me how to do all of this, and why. Call me juvenile or silly, but I simply find it easier to read a book that's funny and smart at the same time. I had read these guys' Smart Homes book, and it was just as good, so I had no problem deciding which book to buy. You can take a chance on others, or you can buy this one and be happy. I wrote this wirelessly, so you know where I stand!

I found this more confusing than helpful. It had me looking for screens that did not exist and it jumped around a lot. I finally put the book down and figured it out myself using the XP wizard and help screens. I feel like I wasted my money on this book.

Nothing distinquishes this book from other books I looked at. I had installed a wireless network for four computers at home and had endless trouble - this book was no help at all. To be fair I should point out that no other book was helpful to me either. It's full of jargon that accumulates very quickly so that after two chapters you can't remember what you 'learned' at the beginning. Explanations are terse and leave you feeling stupid since you feel, of course, I should be understanding the book -after all its for dummies - but you don't. I fear the void of good material for home networkers is still to be filled.

Was very usefull. Every thing you wanted to know about wireless networking from theory to set-up.