Wireless Networking Absolute Beginner's Guide

...64 Mobile Service and Bluetooth: Learning to Co-Exist ...64 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 Nomenclature-And the Specs ...73 Examining 802.11n Routers ...74 Examining 802.11ac 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 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 Speed Matters ...126 Reliability Matters ...127 Security Matters ...127 There's No Wireless Option ...128 Connecting via Ethernet to a Wireless Network ...128 10 Securing Devices on Your Network ... 131 Facing the Potential Dangers of Wireless Networking ...132 Different Types of Intrusions ...132 How to Tell If Your Network Has Been Breached ...133 How to Protect Your PC from Intrusion ...133 Protecting Against Internet Intrusions with a Firewall ...134 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 Limiting Access to Your Network ...138 Changing the Router's SSID ...138 Changing the Password ...139 Disabling SSID Broadcasting...140 Protecting Against Malware ...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 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 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 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 Good-And What's Bad-About 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 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 Adapter-or 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 Changing the Size of Your Cache ...297 Managing Your Cookies ...297 Don't Display Graphics ...298 Uninstalling 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 Transportation Centers ...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 TOC, 9780789750785, 1/17/2013