Essential Guide to Home Networking Technologies, The

SUMMARY

A wireless home network is an intriguing alternative to phone-line and powerline wiring systems. Wireless home networks provide all the functionality of wireline networks without the physical constraints of the wire itself. They generally revolve around either IR or radio transmissions within your home. Radio transmissions comprise two distinct technologies—narrowband and spread-spectrum radio. Most wireless home networking projects are based on spread-spectrum technologies. To date, the high cost and impracticality of adding new wires have inhibited the widespread adoption of home networking technologies. Wired technologies also do not allow users to roam about with portable devices. In addition, multiple, incompatible communication ...