About.com Wireless / Networking

DISCUSS: Sharing Large Files via FTP

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:15:03 +0000

Someone on our message board runs a consulting firm and is currently trying to set up an FTP server to share large files with their clients. FTP solves this problem nicely, although setting up a public FTP server should be done with care to avoid potential security issues. Another of our members recommends using SFTP for security in this case. Unfortunately, the server doesn't seem to be allowing any connections, even without SFTP. What's this all about? Follow the discussion below.
→ Discuss - Sharing Large Files via FTP
→ See also - Free FTP Server Software for Windows

DISCUSS: Sharing Large Files via FTP originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 01:15:03.

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Going Wireless - Scales

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:45:47 +0000

Would you like to have your weight and body fat percentage automatically posted on the Internet? If so, a French company called Withings has just the product for you. Their product is the "World's First WiFi Enabled Body Scale." Currently selling for roughly USD $159 online, this scale connects to a wireless home network and manage an online database of users' body weights and related body mass statistics over time. No joke.

As an added, er, incentive, the product supports an interface that also enable automatic posting of your weigh-ins to Twitter. It takes the concept of "peer pressure" to a whole new level.

→ More - A Scale That Tweets (caloriecount.about.com)

Withings WiFi Scale - Photo: www.withings.com

Going Wireless - Scales originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 01:45:47.

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Mad Catz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:19:43 +0000

A company called Mad Catz known for making gaming peripherals released this week a new wireless adapter for game consoles. The Mad Catz Wireless N Gaming Adapter supplies full Wi-Fi capability including 802.11n. It arrives on the heels of a new Microsoft 802.11n gaming adapter but differs in one key respect: the Mad Catz adapter works via an Ethernet connection while Microsoft's requires USB.

Xbox 360 owners may discover Mad Catz is a cheaper alternative to Microsoft's adapter. And Mad Catz also works with Sony PS3, which USB adapters by themselves do not. Have any of you tried it yet?

→ See also - Mad Catz MC2 Universal Wheel Review (xbox.about.com)

Mad Catz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 01:19:43.

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Meet the Vue Personal Video Network

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:59:46 +0000

The Vue Personal Video Network, a wireless camera package for home computer networks, began selling in September. The product ships with two battery-powered IP webcams and a gateway device that connects these cameras to a wireless router. Owners can watch live video feeds from their webcams across the Internet by setting up an account on myvuezone.com. Compared to products designed more for home video surveillance, Vue aims to provide a portable and fast to set up viewing system.

Vue Personal Video Network comes from a small private company called Avaak. Its cameras and gateway communicate via Avaak's patented FrameMesh protocols. Interestingly, this technology was developed out of earlier research into small medical diagnostic cameras designed to be swallowed by patients in pill form. Do not attempt to eat one of these new Vue cameras!

→ Discuss - Performance of Wireless IP Cameras

Vue Personal Video Network from Avaak - Photo: www.vuzone.com

Meet the Vue Personal Video Network originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 15:59:46.

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DISCUSS: Wireless Printers Ask for a Passphrase

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:33:04 +0000

To connect a wireless printer to a Wi-Fi home network requires setting matching security settings on the printer just like on home computers. When a home network utilizes WEP or WPA, for example, you must configure the correct key or passphrase through the printer menus. If you don't do this, and forget the settings, you'll be in the position our message board member 'seaskittle' currently faces.
→ Discuss - Wireless Printer Prompts for Passphrase

DISCUSS: Wireless Printers Ask for a Passphrase originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 03:33:04.

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Going Wireless - Locators

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:04:43 +0000

Wireless locators help track down the physical location of people or things. Personal locators, for example, are small devices that plot your position on a map. They are especially useful when lost while driving. Child trackers comprise a wireless transmitter fastened to the child and a receiver carried by the parent. When the child moves outside of a set range from the parent, the transmitter alerts the parent with sound. Other kinds of wireless locators are even designed to help you find missing keys or tools.

Wireless locators generally don't use Wi-Fi. Instead, each one features its own radio communication protocol. Personal locators typically also utilize GPS technology to plot physical coordinates precisely. Although these devices sound cool, research wireless locator products carefully before purchasing. Consumers historically have had many complaints about their reliability, the useful range of signals and alerts, and battery life.

Going Wireless - Locators originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 04:04:43.

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Free Wi-Fi (Not Quite) Everywhere For the Holidays

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:29 +0000

Popular bookstore chains, numerous hotels, and many local businesses have offered free Internet access via Wi-Fi for awhile now. Google has even been providing free Wi-Fi for an entire city (Mountain View, CA) since 2006.

So what's the big deal about Google now offering free Wi-Fi at select U.S. airports until January 15th? Maybe a lot of folks like me suspect this is more likely to become a permanent arrangement and not just a one-time holiday gift? I could be wrong.

→ See also - Free Wi-Fi Wars: Google vs. Microsoft vs. Yahoo (pcworld.about.com)

Free Wi-Fi (Not Quite) Everywhere For the Holidays originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 21:46:29.

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A New Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter - Coming Soon

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:36:54 +0000

We and Gizmodo are watching for the official release of Microsoft's new Wi-Fi adapter for the Xbox 360. The new adapter should feature 802.11n support and perhaps a slightly lower price tag than the current 802.11g unit that I and many other gamers around the world have enjoyed for the last few years.

Will it be worth replacing an existing Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter with a new 802.11n model? In a word, probably not. To get maximum benefit from the new adapter, you'll need an 802.11n router. Even then, unless your current wireless connection is very weak, expect the stronger signal and higher network bandwidth 802.11n won't translate into any noticeable stability or performance improvement in your online experience.

Edit: The Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter with 802.11n support is officially on sale now (10-Nov-2009).

→ See also - Top 802.11n Wireless Routers

A New Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter - Coming Soon originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 04:36:54.

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DISCUSS: Braindumps are Illegal

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:52:20 +0000

A spammer on our message board recently posted a set of product advertisements that appeared to include braindumps for computer networking certification exams. What's a braindump? According to O/Siris, braindumps are illegal copies of exam questions. Find out why braindumps are considered unethical at best, and check out his good tips for identifying questionable outfits that peddle these things.
→ Discuss - Braindumps are Illegal
→ See also - What Is a Braindump? (certification.about.com)

DISCUSS: Braindumps are Illegal originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 02:52:20.

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Blocking Access to Social Networking Sites

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:35:54 +0000

For several years now, many business and school network administrators block access to Facebook, Myspace and other social networking site on the grounds that they distract employees from more important work. Preventing access to Web sites by name is straightforward, but resourceful employees can find a site's IP addresses and enter those into the browser easily enough. Consequently, administrators often try for more sophisticated IP address blocks. These sometimes also be circumvented via proxies. Have you been on networks that block access to social networking sites and tried to get around it?
→ See also - What Is a MySpace Proxy?
→ See also - What Is Facebook's IP Address?

Blocking Access to Social Networking Sites originally appeared on About.com Wireless / Networking on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 03:35:54.

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