Windows XP Unwired

From the growing number of Wi-Fi hotspots to the escalating sales of laptops and other portable wireless-enabled devices, it's clear that wireless technology is here and poised to play an increasingly important role in all our lives. Going wireless is a little like taking the training wheels off your first bike--once you taste the freedom, you don't want to go back to what you had before. Moreover, dramatic improvements in wireless technology in the last few years coupled with the growing affordability of wireless equipment make going wireless all the more attractive. And if you're a Windows XP user, it's even better. Windows XP contains many built-in supports for wireless computing, making it an ideal platform for going mobile.

In Windows XP Unwired, you'll learn the basics of wireless computing, from the reasons why you'd want to go wireless in the first place, to setting up your wireless network or accessing wireless services on the road. The book provides a complete introduction to all the wireless technologies supported by Windows XP, including Wi-Fi (802.11b, a, and g), infrared, Bluetooth, CDMA2000, and GPRS. You'll learn how to set up your first wireless network using popular products from Linksys and D-Link. You'll also get a good understanding of the limitations and liabilities of each wireless technology.

Other topics covered in the book include:

• Connecting to wireless hotspots
  
• Using Microsoft's Smart Display to go wireless without a laptop
  
• Putting GPS technology to use
  
• Wireless Security

Windows XP Unwired is a one-stop wireless information source for technically savvy Windows XP users. Whether you're considering wireless as a supplement or alternative to cable and DSL, or using wireless to network computers in your home or office, this book will show you the full-spectrum view of wireless capabilities of Windows XP, and how to take advantage of them.

Table of Contents

Preface   

Chapter 1. Wireless Networking Fundamentals  

      TCP/IP   

      Understanding Radio Waves   

      Wireless Networks   

Chapter 2. Wi-Fi on Your Notebook  

      802.11 Wireless Standards   

      Understanding 802.11 Speak   

      Connecting to a Wireless Network   

      Taking It on the Road   

Chapter 3. Wi-Fi on the Road  

      Wireless Hotspots   

      Finding Wireless Networks   

Chapter 4. Communicating Securely  

      Secure Wireless Computing   

      Virtual Private Networks   

      Secure Shell (SSH)   

      Firewalls   

      Wi-Fi Security   

      Are 802.11 Networks Really Secure?   

Chapter 5. Configuring Wireless Access Points  

      Setting Up a Wireless Network   

      Case Study: The Home Network   

      Case Study: The Office Network   

      Configuring an Access Point   

      Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking   

      Setting Up a Wireless Repeater   

      Guidelines for Securing a Wireless Network   

      Troubleshooting Wi-Fi   

Chapter 6. Bluetooth  

      Bluetooth Standards Today   

      Bluetooth Devices   

      Bluetooth Service Profiles   

      Using Bluetooth in Windows XP   

      Connecting to a Pocket PC   

      Bluetooth LAN   

      Bluetooth Security   

Chapter 7. Infrared  

      IrDA in More Detail   

      IrDA Adapters   

      Using IrDA in Windows XP   

      Infrared File Transfer   

      Infrared Security   

Chapter 8. Cellular Networking  

      Cellular Networking Price and Performance   

      GPRS   

      CDMA2000   

      Compression   

Chapter 9. Global Positioning System (GPS)  

      How GPS Works   

      GPS Devices   

      GPS Software   

Chapter 10. Microsoft Smart Display and Remote Desktop  

      What Is the Microsoft Smart Display?   

      Using the ViewSonic AirPanel V150   

      Using Remote Desktop   

Index