Wi-Fi Toys : 17 Cool Wireless Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment

Rating:
Summary: Geeky Wi-Fi Goodness
Review: I was hoping that this book would help me boost my Wi-Fi signal around the house, since the reception downstairs is a little weak. Well, it did show me how to boost my signal - for up to 20 miles! Ok, seriously, long distance wi-fi is one of the 15 projects in this book, but my solution was actually in building the high-gain antenna project in chapter 4, which did indeed solve my reception problems.

The book is very well written, and has plenty of photos to guide you along the way. The projects are definately cool, and there are plenty to keep us geek types busy.

If you are using wireless networking, I would encourage you to take a look at this book.

Rating:
Summary: Geeky Wi-Fi Goodness
Review: I was hoping that this book would help me boost my Wi-Fi signal around the house, since the reception downstairs is a little weak. Well, it did show me how to boost my signal - for up to 20 miles! Ok, seriously, long distance wi-fi is one of the 15 projects in this book, but my solution was actually in building the high-gain antenna project in chapter 4, which did indeed solve my reception problems.

The book is very well written, and has plenty of photos to guide you along the way. The projects are definately cool, and there are plenty to keep us geek types busy.

If you are using wireless networking, I would encourage you to take a look at this book.

Rating:
Summary: No WarChalking
Review: If the author had come of age in the 1920s, he'd have been one of those radio hobbyist freaks. Endlessly tinkering with his antennas for that little extra gain. Not unlike what goes on in this book! He writes for the hands on hardware gadgeteer.

WarDriving gets a lot of space here. Partly because if properly done, it is such fun. Finding all these often open WiFi nets, that are invisible to all the mundanes around you. That is probably what has driven its popularity. Being able to see what most miss.

Other topics are also covered, like long distance WiFi. Here, surprisingly, WiMax is not mentioned at all. Instead, the author talks about extending your standard WiFi apparatus. Oh well, still early days for WiMax.

One reassuring detail. No mention at all about WarChalking. This is basically an urban myth/prank that became a meme. Actual WarDrivers rarely, if ever, do this. Helps his credibility that he omits it.