Wireless All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies^®

by Todd W. Carter (Allendale, MI, jounalist)

• ISBN13: 9780764574962
• ISBN10: 0764574965
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

8 books in 1--your key to success with wireless! Your one-stop guide to a wireless world, including digital media, PDAs, and more Discover a world with no strings attached! Here's your guide to all the things you need to know to choose the right hardware, build a network, and join together your desktop computer, laptop, PDA, and even home entertainment devices -- all without those pesky wires. Secure your system, get on the move, and a whole lot more. Discover how to * Set up routers and hardware * Create bridges and configure printers * Troubleshoot your network * Find Wi-Fi hotspots * Use a Microsoft? SmartWatch * Share multimedia files

Author Biography

When not transmitting Wi-Fi signals from his Cubs hat, Todd W. Carter likes to stare out the window, contemplate world travel he’ll likely avoid because of pesky shoe inspections, and dream of selling 100,000 copies of this book. He’s single, lives in west Michigan, and hopes this bio leads to a date with a female reader. (E-mail him at [e-mail].) Due to advances in the medical sciences, the 39-year-old Carter is postponing his midlife crisis until 2014. This and much, much more on his web site at www.toddcarter.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
About This Book	1	(1)
System Requirements	2	(1)
What You Don't Have to Read	3	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	3	(2)
Book I: Pulling the Plug	3	(1)
Book II: Planning Your Network	3	(1)
Book III: Configuring Networks	4	(1)
Book IV: Security and Troubleshooting	4	(1)
Book V: On the Road	4	(1)
Book VI: Networking Technologies	4	(1)
Book VII: Home Technology	5	(1)
Book VIII: Global Positioning Systems	5	(1)
Icons	5	(1)
Where to Go from Here	6	(1)
Book I: Pulling the Plug	7	(16)
Living Without Wires	9	(8)
Bidding Adieu to Wired Life	9	(3)
A whole world of wireless possibilities	9	(2)
Cutting the cords	11	(1)
Keeping your options open	12	(1)
Connecting to the World on the Go	12	(2)
Connecting your PC on the go	13	(1)
Connecting for voice and messages	14	(1)
Addressing the Downside: You're Always On	14	(3)
Your wireless network is always on	14	(1)
Your wireless gadgets are probably open, too	15	(1)
Taking back control	15	(2)
Choosing Internet Access	17	(6)
Using Satellite Service	18	(3)
StarBand	18	(2)
DirecWay	20	(1)
Maxing Out with WiMax	21	(2)
Wi to the max	21	(1)
Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS)	22	(1)
Book II: Planning Your Network	23	(120)
Putting Together a Wireless Network	25	(10)
Figuring Out Your Hopes and Dreams	26	(1)
Reaching Clear Across the Household	27	(1)
Checking for Obstacles and Interference	28	(1)
Totaling Up the Damage	29	(3)
Creating a Hardware Shopping List	32	(3)
Choosing Hardware Made Easy	35	(12)
Choosing the Wares Is Not Hard	35	(3)
802.11a	36	(1)
802.11b	37	(1)
802.11g	37	(1)
Multi-standard devices	37	(1)
Starting with DSL or Cable Modem	38	(2)
Modem Options	40	(1)
Routing Through the Router	41	(3)
Pointing Toward Areas That Need Coverage	44	(3)
Setting Up Routers	47	(14)
Some Assembly Required	47	(3)
Fiddling with the Innards	50	(11)
A password of your own	53	(1)
Just like clockwork	54	(1)
Nothing but 'net	55	(3)
Attack of the (MAC) clone	58	(1)
What's in a name?	59	(2)
Setting Up Other Hardware	61	(12)
Bridging Multiple Networks	61	(1)
Configuring Your Access Points	62	(2)
Serving Your Print Needs Wirelessly	64	(9)
Decoding DHCP	73	(12)
Examining Your Address Options	73	(3)
What DHCP server?	73	(1)
Static versus dynamic	74	(2)
Putting Dynamic Addresses to Good Use	76	(2)
Heading off Trouble	78	(3)
Getting some Static	81	(4)
Installing an Adapter on Your PC	85	(18)
Taking the Lid Off Your PC	85	(11)
Physically installing your adapter	86	(3)
Who's driving?	89	(5)
Installing adapter utilities	94	(2)
Saving Some Time with USB Adapters	96	(7)
Plug away	97	(2)
Driving Miss Lazy	99	(2)
Again, utilities	101	(2)
Adapter-ing	103	(24)
Configuring Your Wireless Adapter	103	(17)
Starting at Zero	103	(13)
Using your wireless adapter's utilities	116	(4)
Making Sure It Works	120	(4)
Wireless connection status	120	(2)
Viewing available wireless networks	122	(1)
Traveling to utilityland	123	(1)
Estimating Your Range	124	(3)
Troubleshooting Network Hardware	127	(16)
Shooting Down Hardware Trouble	127	(6)
Fixing a router	128	(1)
Fixing other access points	129	(1)
Working on adapter cards	130	(3)
Taking a Wrench to the Software	133	(10)
Upgrading your hardware's firmware	133	(5)
Updating network adapter drivers	138	(3)
Upgrading adapter utilities	141	(2)
Book III: Configuring Networks	143	(38)
Exploring Windows XP Networking	145	(4)
Installing Is Child's (Plug and) Play	145	(1)
My Network Places	146	(1)
Adding to the Start menu	146	(1)
Removing from the Start menu	146	(1)
Mingling with Different Networks	147	(1)
Creating an Infrastructure Network	147	(1)
Creating a Computer-to-Computer Network	147	(2)
Enabling Internet sharing	148	(1)
Managing Available Networks	149	(10)
Finding Out What's Out There	150	(2)
Viewing Available Networks	152	(1)
Managing Preferred Networks	153	(2)
Adding a preferred network	154	(1)
Removing a preferred network	154	(1)
Viewing a network's properties	154	(1)
Reordering preferred networks	154	(1)
Using the Advanced Networking Options	155	(2)
Viewing an Available Network's Signal Strength	157	(2)
Creating Bridges	159	(6)
Bridging with Windows XP	160	(5)
Creating a bridge	160	(2)
Adding a network to a bridge	162	(1)
Removing a network from a bridge	162	(1)
Deleting a bridge	163	(2)
Configuring Printers	165	(6)
Learning to Share	165	(2)
Feeling Selfish and Turning Off Sharing	167	(1)
Adding a Network Printer	167	(2)
Changing the Default Printer	169	(2)
Confirming Your Network Works	171	(10)
Flexing Your Signal Strength	171	(2)
Monitoring Your Network	173	(3)
Viewing your network's activity	173	(1)
Viewing a real-time networking graph	174	(1)
Changing the networking information you see	175	(1)
Stumbling Upon Network Stumbler	176	(5)
Downloading and installing NetStumbler	176	(1)
Using NetStumbler	177	(4)
Book IV: Security and Troubleshooting	181	(66)
Using a Safety Net	183	(22)
Safety First, but Security Firstest	183	(1)
Hackers, Crackers, and Slackers	184	(1)
Plugging Your Security Holes	185	(4)
Making your SSID invisible	186	(2)
Tying down the MAC hatch	188	(1)
Introducing WEP, WPA, and Weep	189	(10)
Read 'em and WEP	190	(5)
Upgrading to WPA	195	(3)
Authenticating with 802.1x	198	(1)
Fixing Holes Before You Leak	199	(6)
Hardening your software	200	(2)
(Un)plugging the hardware	202	(3)
Managing User Accounts	205	(16)
Deciding Who Plays Administrator	205	(1)
What's the Access Level, Kenneth?	206	(1)
Creating User Accounts	207	(3)
Deleting User Accounts	210	(2)
Changing User Accounts	212	(7)
Changing the name	212	(2)
Creating a password	214	(2)
Changing a password	216	(1)
Removing a password	216	(1)
Changing the picture	217	(1)
Changing the account type	218	(1)
Disabling the Guest Account	219	(2)
Restoring the guest account	220	(1)
Solving Network Problems	221	(26)
Houston, We Have a Problem	221	(2)
Define the problem in a general sense	222	(1)
Isolate the problem	222	(1)
Define the problem as specifically as possible	223	(1)
Test possible solutions one at a time	223	(1)
Fix the problem and document the solution	223	(1)
Starting with Windows XP	223	(12)
Depending on Device Manager	224	(3)
Working with wireless network connections	227	(7)
Connecting to other devices	234	(1)
Finding the Culprit among Hardware	235	(4)
Feeling router woes	235	(1)
Dealing with modem blues	236	(2)
Fielding problems with other hardware	238	(1)
Getting Cozy with Network Tools	239	(8)
ipconfig	239	(3)
ping	242	(2)
tracert	244	(3)
Book V: On the Road	247	(92)
Putting a Network in Your Lap(top)	249	(12)
Discovering Your Options for Wire-Free Access	249	(2)
Choosing the slower but somewhat expensive option	250	(1)
Choosing the faster but somewhat limited option	250	(1)
Choosing the gimme-it-all option	251	(1)
Getting Carded	251	(3)
Using a wireless cellular data card	252	(1)
Using a wireless network card	253	(1)
Getting Out and About	254	(6)
Finding Wi-Fi hotspots	255	(1)
Power backup on the road	256	(2)
Printing while on the road	258	(2)
Lounging at Home	260	(1)
Connecting PDAs to Networks	261	(12)
Reaching into Your Pocket PC	262	(5)
Manually configuring your network	263	(2)
Using the Dell WLAN utility	265	(1)
Using the Dell Site Monitor	266	(1)
Going Mano y Mano with Palm PDAs	267	(3)
Configuring your Palm	267	(2)
Confirming your settings	269	(1)
Making the connection	270	(1)
Making a VPN Connection, Literally	270	(3)
Configuring your Palm for VPN	271	(1)
Connecting a la VPN with your Palm	272	(1)
Synchronizing PDAs over a Network	273	(14)
Getting a Pocket PC to Coordinate	273	(3)
Running with ActiveSync	274	(1)
Syncing information from a Pocket PC	275	(1)
Synchronizing a Palm PDA	276	(3)
Configuring HotSync on your PC	276	(1)
Configuring HotSync on your Palm	277	(2)
HotSyncing to your PC from your Palm	279	(1)
Giving It an AvantGo	279	(5)
Using AvantGo Wireless	284	(3)
Picking a BlackBerry	287	(16)
Avoiding a Raspberry	287	(1)
Picking a Model, Any Model	288	(2)
BlackBerry 7200, 7500, and 7700 Series	289	(1)
BlackBerry 5790	290	(1)
Biting into the Main Features	290	(10)
Navigating	292	(1)
Turning it on and off	292	(1)
Sending and receiving e-mail	292	(4)
Making a phone call	296	(1)
Adding a contact to the address book	297	(2)
Browsing the Web	299	(1)
Checking Out the Sidekick II	300	(3)
Finding Wi-Fi Hotspots	303	(12)
Getting Thee to a Directory	303	(2)
Paying for the Goods: Commercial Providers	305	(2)
Going Public	307	(5)
In airports	307	(1)
In hotels	308	(1)
In the (city) clouds	309	(1)
McWireless and others	310	(2)
Clenching Your Security Blanket	312	(3)
Setting Up a VPN Connection	315	(10)
Setting Up a VPN Connection	315	(4)
Connecting to a Remote Computer Using VPN	319	(1)
Creating an Incoming VPN Connection	320	(5)
Strapping on Microsoft SmartWatch	325	(14)
Picking and Choosing	325	(1)
Beaming the World	326	(2)
Flipping through the WristNet Channels	328	(3)
Calendar	328	(1)
Horoscopes	328	(1)
News	328	(1)
One-way Instant Messaging	329	(1)
Lottery results	329	(1)
Sports	329	(1)
Stocks	329	(1)
Weather	330	(1)
Adding Daily Diversions	330	(1)
Registering Your Watch	331	(2)
Getting Personal with MSN Direct Service	333	(3)
Installing the Outlook Software	336	(2)
Taking a Glance at This Feature	338	(1)
Book VI: Networking Technologies	339	(56)
Roaming into Cell Phone Territory	341	(10)
Selecting a Plan	341	(2)
Choosing a Phone: Do I Really Need Those Fancy Things?	343	(4)
Size	344	(1)
Talk time	344	(1)
Cameras	344	(1)
Headsets	345	(1)
Games	345	(1)
Web enabled	346	(1)
Messaging	346	(1)
Staying Healthy	347	(1)
Putting Your Number on the Move	348	(3)
Choosing and Using Cordless Phones	351	(8)
Cutting the Cords	351	(3)
Analog phones	352	(1)
Digital phones	353	(1)
Choosing Your Frequency	354	(1)
900 MHz	354	(1)
2.4 GHz	355	(1)
5.8 GHz	355	(1)
Featuring Cordless Phones	355	(2)
Avoiding Interference	357	(2)
Gathering around the Family Radio Service	359	(4)
Calling All Radios	359	(2)
FMS according to the FCC	360	(1)
Keeping the family unit intact	360	(1)
Distancing Yourself with GMRS	361	(2)
Picking Peripherals	363	(8)
Unplugging Your Desktop	363	(1)
Cordless Mice in Seattle	364	(4)
Microsoft mice	364	(2)
Logitech mice	366	(2)
Trackballs	368	(1)
Finding the Home Row: Keyboards	368	(1)
Microsoft wireless keyboards	368	(1)
Logitech wireless keyboards	368	(1)
Getting with the Game Controllers	369	(2)
Cordless RumblePad	369	(1)
Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick	370	(1)
Cutting Your Bluetooth	371	(24)
Opening Wide	372	(4)
Getting to the nitty-gritty	372	(1)
Connecting to various and sundry devices	373	(1)
Exploring its insides	374	(1)
Styling and profiling	375	(1)
Using Peripherals	376	(2)
Making Your Devices Discoverable	378	(1)
Pairing Your Devices	379	(1)
Installing a USB Bluetooth Adapter	379	(3)
Moving Files between a PC and Mac	382	(3)
Moving from Tooth to Pocket (PC)	385	(3)
Moving within Earshot of Your Cell Phone	388	(4)
Setting up the headset	388	(1)
Sending a Photo to Your PC	389	(3)
Staying Safe with Bluetooth	392	(3)
Bluejacking	392	(1)
Bluesnarfing	393	(2)
Book VII: Home Technology	395	(98)
Your Entertainment Center	397	(12)
Entertaining the Wireless Way	398	(3)
Playing some tunes	398	(1)
Did I really look like that?	399	(1)
Hollywood on a hard-drive platter	400	(1)
Looking at the Latest Gadgets	401	(5)
Netgear Wireless Digital Music Player	402	(1)
Linksys Wireless-B Music System	402	(1)
D-Link MediaLounge Wireless Media Player	403	(1)
Sound Blaster Wireless Music	403	(1)
Gateway Connected DVD Player	403	(1)
PRISMIQ MediaPlayer	403	(1)
Apple AirPort Express	404	(1)
Roku SoundBridge	405	(1)
Other media players	405	(1)
Combining the uncategorizable	406	(1)
Wi-Fi'ing to Your Car Stereo	406	(3)
Setting Up Gadgets	409	(10)
Exploring Gadgets Galore	409	(1)
Adding a Media Server to Your Home	410	(2)
What is a media server?	410	(1)
Who makes media servers?	411	(1)
Moving Some of Everything with PRISMIQ MediaPlayer	412	(4)
Setting up the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer	412	(2)
Using the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer	414	(2)
Looking into Internet Video Cameras	416	(3)
Chatting with Motorola's IMfree	419	(18)
Getting Ahold of Your Messager	419	(1)
Setting Yourself Up for Freedom	420	(10)
Installing software on your PC	420	(2)
Running the software	422	(1)
Powering up and registering	422	(1)
Setting up your PC	423	(2)
Creating an AIM screen name	425	(3)
Installing AOL's AIM software	428	(2)
Using IMfree	430	(7)
The keys to chatting	430	(1)
Getting a move on	431	(1)
Avoiding interference	431	(2)
Emoticoning and abbreviating	433	(4)
Sharing Multimedia Files with Windows XP	437	(10)
Tuning In to Sights and Sounds	437	(1)
Taking a looksee at video	438	(1)
Sharing Your Files on a Network	438	(2)
Blocking Access to Files	440	(2)
Changing a shared folder to unshared	440	(2)
Hiding a folder from others	442	(1)
Assigning a Drive Letter to a Network Folder	442	(4)
Switching off automatic connections	443	(2)
Disconnecting from a mapped network drive	445	(1)
Browsing Your Network	446	(1)
Using TiVo's Home Media Features	447	(14)
Turning on the TiVo	447	(2)
Making a Connection	449	(8)
Configuring your TiVo	450	(2)
Configuring TCP/IP settings	452	(1)
Switching to broadband access	453	(1)
Testing the connection	454	(1)
Troubleshooting the connection	455	(2)
Peer to Peer, Yes Sir!	457	(4)
Exploring Digital TV and Satellite Radio	461	(8)
Wanting My HDTV	461	(1)
Understanding All Those Terms	462	(1)
Going Shopping for a High-Definition TV Set	463	(1)
Built-in tuner	464	(1)
HDTV ready	464	(1)
Blown Away by My Reception	464	(2)
Receiving HDTV over the air	464	(1)
Receiving HDTV via satellite TV	465	(1)
Receiving HDTV over cable TV	466	(1)
Grabbing for the Heavenly Sound	466	(3)
But Sirius-ly, folks	467	(1)
XM marks the spot	467	(2)
Forecasting the Weather from Your Patio	469	(14)
Taking the Station Out of the Box	469	(4)
Installing and Using Weather Software	473	(10)
That's heavy	473	(2)
Getting graphic about it	475	(3)
Telling the web about your weather	478	(5)
Security in the Air via Motorola	483	(10)
Digging Through the Goodies	483	(2)
Setting Yourself Up for Security Success	485	(8)
Setting up the hardware	485	(1)
Installing the software	486	(2)
Configuring the software	488	(3)
Arming the system	491	(2)
Book VIII: Global Positioning Systems	493	(36)
Getting Uncle Sam to Ante Up	495	(12)
Knowing Where You Are	496	(1)
Achieving Missile Precision --- Almost	497	(3)
How the military uses GPS	497	(1)
Civilians can find their way, too	498	(1)
Some other satellite navigation systems exist (almost)	499	(1)
Using GPS	500	(2)
Taking a hike	500	(1)
On the road again	500	(1)
On a bike ride	501	(1)
It's a bird, no, it really is a plane	501	(1)
Just for fun	501	(1)
Exploring Your Options	502	(3)
Choosing a portable unit	502	(1)
Driving around with a vehicle GPS unit	502	(1)
Driving your laptop with GPS	503	(1)
Using GPS with a Pocket PC	504	(1)
Using a GPS-enabled cell phone	505	(1)
Saying Goodbye to AAA?	505	(1)
Making a Connection with Your PC	505	(2)
Upgrading software and maps	505	(1)
Downloading your life's movements	506	(1)
Using your GPS with your laptop	506	(1)
Finding Your Way in the World	507	(12)
Giving Some Latitude to Your Longitude	507	(1)
A Quick Course on Mapping	508	(2)
A bit of simple geometry	508	(1)
Latitude	509	(1)
Longitude	509	(1)
Elevation	510	(1)
Coordinating Your Coordinates	510	(1)
Explaining How GPS Works	511	(2)
Reading a GPS Display	513	(2)
Finding Your Waypoints	515	(4)
Understanding how waypoints work	516	(1)
Creating waypoints	516	(3)
Exploring with the Rest of GPS	519	(10)
Seeking and Hiding with Geocaching	519	(4)
Going for the cache	519	(2)
Hiding the bounty	521	(2)
Finding Your Ancestors	523	(6)
A very grave matter	523	(3)
Where is (old) home sweet home?	526	(3)
Glossary	529	(6)
Internet Directory	535	(56)
Index	591