Techtv's Guide to Home Networking, Broadband and Wireless

I recently got high speed DSL Internet access and also purchased a second computer. I wanted to set up a home network so that I could share my Internet connection with my kids. I visited a number of Internet sites that provided free information about how to set up a home network. However, I only ended up frustrated. One site said to do one thing one way and another side said to do it a different way. So finally I broke down and bought this book.As a rule, I don't buy computer books. But I have to say that this one did not disappoint me. I was able to read it within a couple days. I had my two computers talking to one another and sharing my Internet connection within a day after that. This book rocks!

Working in an administrative capacity for a computing infrastructure projects and services group at a national laboratory I have learned just enough from the helpful staff to be dangerous. Struggled though setting up my home network earlier in 2003 with their help (I wanted to learn and do it myself) but there were glitches in the system that I knew could work better. My wireless network connection to my laptop was fair at best.Bought this book on a Friday evening with the hopes that I could learn enough to redo my network over the weekend. I gained so much understanding from this book and would rate it as one of the best investments I have ever made. Home networking is the only way to go if you have more than one computer and have a broadband connection. If you are still using dial-up this book would not be of use; however, if you are planning to change to broadband I would strongly encourage you to get this book first. It is a little outdated as the 802.11g routers are available now, but the author includes enough explaination about the new Wi-Fi routers that you will realize that is the router you should start with if you do not have one already. Also, I will agree with the other review, there are many typos in this book and one in particular that needs to be corrected to explain why an IP address belongs to a Class B range of network. Aside from those *minor* flaws, by Sunday my home network was more secure than it had ever been, printers were shared on all workstations without a printer port needed on the access point, specific file folders are shared among the members of my family, and administrative rights have been changed to secure the computers of those inexperienced members in my family. To me the most impressive thing about this book is that I can go back to work, in the computer guru environment I work in, with a much broader understanding of networking and wireless.