Okay, I know, now that you're convinced that wireless is really better, you're ready to run out to your computer superstore, hand over your credit card, and start plugging things in. But before you can get to the "how to do it" part, you need a little more of the "how does it work" stuff. This section...

Many broadband routers have firewalls built into them. This is good because it adds an extra layer of security between your WLAN and the Internet. However, the firewall can occasionally get in the way of gaming by blocking software ports that a game wants to use. Ports are numbered connections that computers...

Before you start investing time and money extending the range of your WLAN, you need to determine two things: where you already have connectivity and where you want connectivity. You may already have adequate signal strength to sit by your pool and check your e-mail without having to buy any more equipment. The...

Many factors affect quality of service in wireless coverage areas; these include distribution of cell sites, topography of the surrounding landscape, and the number of subscribers served by any individual cell tower. Unfortunately, there isn't any way to discern any of this from brochures or commercials....

I'm not assuming you are an engineer, nor am I trying to turn you into one. So, I've tried to simplify the following description as much as I can. The good news here is that you don't need to remember this. It's nice to know, and you'll amaze your friends, but you can survive and extend your network...

The difference between instant messaging (IM) and SMS messaging is that IM enables people to interact in real-time. Using IM you can see when your friends are available and message them. DM is two-way; you can carry on a conversation through text. Examples of IM clients on the desktop are MSN messenger...

There are several advantages to using a PDA over a standard cell phone. A PDA gives you access to your files, calendar, contact lists, productivity software, and with a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, e-mail and Web browsing. There are a lot of PDAs on the market, with varying capabilities. In the U.S....

What do you do if you've found a device that does everything you want, but it doesn't support Wi-Fi? The first step is to write or e-mail the manufacturer and politely suggest that they support Wi-Fi in future versions. After that, it's up to you to correct their oversight and get that thing on your...

Once your router is up and running, you need to configure your computers so that they can communicate with it. Chances are that your router has DHCP, so all you need to do is set each PC to acquire its IP addresses automatically and, voila, you're on the Net. If you don't have DHCP, you have to manually...

Setting up a broadband router for your WLAN is easy. Most consumer hardware comes with configuration software or wizards that get you up and running in minutes. The process differs among manufacturers, but here are some common steps: - Record your IP addresses (IP, subnet mask, and default gateway) and...