Wireless Home Networking - Index of

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Part I: Wireless Networking Fundamentals
Most computers built in the past two or three years have at least two (and
some have as many as eight) USB ports. If your computer has a USB port and
you purchased a wireless USB network interface adapter, see Chapter 7 for
more on setting up that adapter.
USB wireless NICs are sometimes a better choice than PC Cards or PCI cards
because you can more easily move the device around to get a better signal,
kinda like adjusting the rabbit ears on an old TV. If a desktop computer doesn’t
have a PC Card slot — most don’t — but does have a USB port, you need to
either install a PCI adapter or select a USB wireless network adapter.
Memory card wireless adapters
Most popular handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) computers and smartphones
now come with wireless built right into them. If you still have an older
PDA, you may be able to get it on your wireless network with a flash memory
card wireless adapter. Many different kinds of flash memory cards are on the
market (ask anyone who’s shopping for a digital camera, and you’ll be told
more about SD, Micro SD, CF, Memory Stick, and the like than you’d ever
want to hear). Most PDAs or smartphones use Compact Flash (CF) or Secure
Digital (SD) cards, and you may be able to use that memory card slot to add
wireless networking to your device.
Because wireless networking is being built into many of these devices, the
market for memory card–style wireless adapters has shrunk, and many of the
big manufacturers (such as Linksys) no longer make these products. You can
still find CF or SD card wireless adapters from smaller specialty manufacturers,
but they’re typically a lot more expensive than the mainstream PC Card
or USB adapters that you buy for a PC.
Get the (Access) Point?
Let’s talk some more about the central pivot point in your wireless network:
the access point. Somewhat similar in function to a network hub, an access
point in a wireless network is a special type of wireless station that receives
radio transmissions from other stations on the wireless LAN and forwards
them to the rest of the network. An access point can be a stand-alone device
or a computer that contains a wireless network adapter along with special
access-point management software. Most home networks use a stand-alone
AP, such as shown in Figure 2-6.