Wireless

Networkin

800 East 96th Street,

cpue Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

How This Book Is Organized 3

Conventions Used in This Book 4

Windows or Mac? 4

Web Page Addresses 4

Products and Services 4

Elements 4
Special
Let Me Know What You Think 5

I Getting to Know Wireless Networking

1 How Networks Work 7

Why You Need a Home Network 8

Sharing the Internet 8

Streaming Movies and Music 9

Sharing Media 10

Sharing and Backing Up Files 11

Sharing Printers and Other Equipment 13

Cutting the Cable 15

Playing Games Online 16

Understanding Network Technology 17

LANs and WANs 17

Connecting Things to Your Network 18

Connecting Everything Together 19

Transferring Data over the Network 20

Understanding Network Addresses 22

Different Ways to Connect 23

Connecting via Ethernet 24

Connecting via Powerline 24

Connecting via Wi-Fi 25

What Type of Network Is Best for You? 26

2 How Wi-Fi Works 29

Understanding Wireless Network Technology 30

Bands on the Radio 30

Routing the Signals 32

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Alphabet Soup: The Different Wi-Fi Standards 33

802.11 (Legacy) 36
802.11b 36
802.11a 36

802.11g 36
802.11n 37
802.11ac (Gigabit Wi-Fi) 38
802.11 ad (WiGig) 39
Wide-Area Wi-Fi 39

Which Wi-Fi Is Right for You? 40

3 How Bluetooth Works 45

Understanding Bluetooth Wireless 46

What Bluetooth Does 46
How Bluetooth Does It 47

Synchronizing, Automatically 47

Bluetooth in Action 48

How Bluetooth Is Used Today 50

Computer Equipment 50
Cell Phones 51
Automobiles 52

How Do Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Compare? 53

4 How Mobile Networks Work 55

Understanding Cellular Phone Technology 56

Cells in a Network 56
Carrying a Two-Way Radio 57

Pulling Some Gs 57
1G 57
2G 58
3G 59
4G 59

Sharing a Mobile Data Connection with Your PC 60

External Data Modems 61

Tethering Your Smartphone 61

Powering 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 68

Making a List 68

Mapping the Network 69

Adding the Necessary Network Equipment 70

Creating Your Network Equipment List 72

Choosing a Wireless Router 72

What a Router Does 72

Understanding the NomenclatureAnd the Specs 73

Examining 802.11 n Routers 74

Examining 802.11 ac Routers 75

Evaluating Ethernet Performance 77

Considering Other Features 77

Choosing Wireless Adapters 78

USB Adapters 79
Internal 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 94

Opening the Dashboard 94

Navigating the Dashboard 95

Key Settings 95

Upgrading from an Existing Router 97

7 Connecting to the Internet 101

Understanding Internet Connections 102

Broadband DSL 102

Broadband Cable 102

FiOS Broadband 103

Broadband Satellite 103

Choosing the Right Internet Connection for Your Network 104

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Connecting the Internet to Your Network 104

Connecting with a Wireless Router 104

Connecting with a Combination Modem/Router 106

Setting Up a Public Wi-Fi Hotspot 107

Turning Your Wireless Router into a Wi-Fi Hotspot 107

Setting 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 122

Speeds Vary 122

Ethernet Routers 122

NIC's Picks 124

Cable Time 125

When an Ethernet Connection Makes Sense 126

126
Speed Matters

Reliability Matters 127

Matters 127
Security
There's No Wireless Option 128

via Ethernet to Wireless Network 128

Connecting a

10 Securing Devices on Your Network 131

Facing the Potential Dangers of Wireless Networking 132

Different of Intrusions 132

Types
How to Tell If Your Network Has Been Breached 133

How to Protect Your PC from Intrusion 133

Internet Intrusions with a Firewall 134

Protecting Against
OS-Based Firewalls 135

Using Third-Party Firewall Software 135

Using Router-Based Firewalls 135

Enabling Wireless Security on Your Router 136

Different Types of Wireless Security 137

Configuring Your Network for Wireless Security 138

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Limiting Access to Your Network 138

Changing the Router's SSID 138

Changing the Password 139

Disabling SSID Broadcasting 140

Protecting Against Ma I ware 140

Understanding Viruses and Spyware 141

Practicing Safe Computing 141

Using Anti-Virus Software 142

Using Anti-Spyware Software 144

III Connecting Devices to Your Network

11 Connecting Home Computers 147

Connecting Computers to the Network 148

Connecting Windows 8 Computers 148

Connecting Windows 7
Computers 149

Connecting Windows Vista

Computers 150

Connecting Windows XP Computers 150

Connecting Macs 151

Dealing with Network Locations, Workgroups, and HomeGroups

in Windows 152
Setting a Network Location 152

Selecting a Workgroup 153

Creating a Windows HomeGroup 153

Configuring File and Printer Sharing 154

Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 8 154

Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows 7 156

Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista 156

Enabling File and Printer Sharing in Windows XP 156

Enabling File and Printer Sharing on a Mac 157

Accessing Other Computers on Your Network 158

Accessing Computers from a Windows PC 159

Accessing Computers from a Windows HomeGroup 160

Accessing 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

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Shopping for a Home Server or NAS 166

Determining Storage Capacity 167
Choosing Networking and Backup Functionality 167
Selecting an Operating System 167
Making 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? 175

Connecting via Wi-Fi 176

Connecting via Ethernet 176

Connecting an Xbox 360 Console 177

Is Your Xbox Wireless? 177

Connecting via Wi-Fi 178

Connecting via Ethernet 178

Connecting a PlayStation 3 Console 178

Connecting via Wi-Fi 179

Connecting via Ethernet 180

Connecting a Nintendo Wii Console 180

Connecting via Wi-Fi 180

Connecting via Ethernet 181

Connecting a Portable Videogame Device 182

Configuring Your Network for Optimum Gameplay 183

Getting Faster Broadband 183

Upgrading 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

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Configuring Your Router for Streaming Media 196

Connecting at 5GHz 196

Enabling WMM 197

Giving Priority to Streaming Media 197

15 Connecting Smartphones and Tablets 199

Connecting to a Wireless Network 200

Connecting Your Smartphone 200

Connecting Your Tablet 202

Using a Guest Network for Visiting Friends 203

Switching Between Wi-Fi and Cellular Networks 204

Why Wi-Fi Is Better Than Cellular 204

When to Connect via Cellular 205

How 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 215

Benefits of a Network Printer 216

Setting 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 220

How Google Cloud Print Works 220
Cloud Print Utilities 221

Connecting a Cloud Print-Ready Computer 221

Connecting an Existing Printer 221

Sharing a Printer 223

Printing via Google Cloud Print 224

Sharing Other Peripherals 225

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17 Sharing and Transferring Files 227

How File Sharing Works 228

Configuring File Sharing in Windows 229

Enabling Password-Protected Sharing 229

Sharing the Public Folder 230

Sharing Other Folders 230

Sharing Complete Drives 234

Accessing Computers on Your Network 234

Accessing Windows HomeGroup Computers 234

Accessing Other Computers from a Windows PC 235

Accessing 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 238

What Is Cloud Storage? 238

Why Use Cloud Storage? 239

Popular Cloud-Storage Services 240

Sharing a File with SkyDrive 241

18 Streaming Audio and Video 245

How Streaming Media Works 246

What's GoodAnd What's BadAbout Streaming Media 246

What's Good About Streaming Media 247
What's Not So Good About Streaming Media 248

Choosing a Streaming Media Device 249

Streaming Media on an Internet-Capable TV 249

Streaming Media on an Internet-Capable Blu-ray Player 250

Streaming Media on a Network Media

Player 251

Streaming Media on a Personal Computer 254

Streaming Media on a Smartphone or Tablet 255

Streaming TV Shows and Movies 256

Hulu and Hulu Plus 257
Netflix 259
Amazon Instant Video 260
Blockbuster On Demand 261
iTunes 261
Vudu 262

Veoh 262
Crackle 263
Vevo 263
Other Sites 263
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Streaming Music 265

Streaming Music Services 265

Internet Radio 268

Terrestrial Radio, Online 271

Cloud-Based Music Services 272

Streaming Media Across Your Network 274

DLNA 275

Apple AirPlay 275

19 Troubleshooting Network Problems 279

Managing Networked Computers (Windows Version) 280

Viewing a Larger Network Map 281

Changing the
Type of Network Location 281

Configuring Advanced Sharing Options 281

Viewing and Managing Network Connections 282

Changing IP Addresses 284

Managing Networked Computers (Mac Version) 286

Configuring Network Preferences 286

Displaying Network Information 287

Speeding Up a Slow Wireless Connection 288

Checking Your Signal Strength 288

Moving Closer to the Router 289

Don't Hide Your Adapter or Router 289

Moving Devices That Might Cause Interference 290

Changing the Channel 290

Changing the Band 290

Upgrading to a Faster Router 290

Troubleshooting Bad Network Connections 291

Letting Your Operating System Fix the Problem 291

Disconnecting the Connection 291

Rebooting the Adapteror the Device 292

Rebooting Your Router 292

Checking the Device's IP Settings 292

Manually Assigning an IP Address 293

Checking the Workgroup Name 293

Troubleshooting a Dead Internet Connection 294

Checking the Cables 294

Rebooting the Modem 294

Checking with Your ISP 295

Speeding Up a Slow Internet Connection 295

Understanding Connection Speed 295

Understanding Browser Speed 296

Cleaning Your Cache 296

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Changing the Size of Your Cache 297

Managing Your Cookies 297
Don't Display Graphics 298

Uninstailing Unnecessary Add-Ons 298

Using an Alternate DNS Service 299

V Connecting Wirelessly Outside the Home

20 Connecting to Wi-Fi Hotspots 303

Where Can You Find a Hotspot? 304

Wi-Fi Coffeehouses and Restaurants 304
Wi-Fi Hotels 305
Wi-Fi Airports and Centers
Transportation 305
Wi-Fi in Public Places 305
Wi-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 312

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

21 Connecting in Your Car 317

Connecting Your Phone to Your Car for Phone Calls 318

Using Built-in Bluetooth 318

Using Add-On Bluetooth Car Kits 320

Connecting Your Phone to Your Car to Play Music 321

Listening with a Built-in System 321

Listening via an Add-On Bluetooth System 322

Using Your Smartphone to Access the Internet While Driving 323

Using a Wireless Router in Your Car 324

Installing a Wireless Router 324
Using a Mobile Hotspot 325

Looking to the Future: The Wireless Car 326

Index 329