Building Wireless Community Community Networks

Rob Flickenger9780596005023, 0596005024

Building Wireless Community Networks is about getting people online using wireless network technology. The 802.11b standard (also known as WiFi) makes it possible to network towns, schools, neighborhoods, small businesses, and almost any other kind of organization. All that’s required is a willingness to cooperate and share resources. The first edition of this book helped thousands of people engage in community networking activities. Today, with WiFi-enabled computers almost as common as Ethernet, it makes even more sense to take the next step and network your community using nothing but the freely availale radio spectrum. This book has shown many people how to make their network available (even from a park bench), how to extend high-speed Internet access into the many areas not served by DSL and cable providers, and how to build working communities and a shared, though intangible network. All you need to create an access point for high-speed Internet connection is a gateway or base station. Once that is set up, any computer with a wireless card can get onto the network. His expertise, as well as his sense of humor and enthusiasm for the topic, makes Building Wireless Community Networks a very useful and readable book for anyone interested in wireless connectivity.