The Wi-Fi Experience: Everyone’s Guide to 802.11b Wireless Networking

Chapter . Introduction

Amid the general tech collapse, there’s one rising star: Wi-Fi, wireless networking. Its sales are going through the roof and its costs have plummeted. Why? Because where computers are useful, networks are often useful, too.

The only problem with traditional networks is their wires: You have to run lots of ethernet wires in brand-new buildings (expensive), or retrofit existing buildings (very expensive). The solution is wireless networking and Wi-Fi—802.11b, to use its official name—is far and away the most popular wireless solution today.

Here are some of the main benefits of Wi-Fi:

• Inexpensive—. You can create a wireless network between your home computers for less than $200.

• Useful—. You can remain connected to the Internet, ...