Dummies, Wireless

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Part IV: Using a Wireless Network
In this chapter, we expose you to some of the ways wireless home networking
is enabling this revolution toward a linked TV/PC world. You will find that
much of what we talk about throughout this book serves as the perfect foundation
for linking PCs and audio/video systems.
You may be thinking, “Whoa, wait a minute, I thought wireless was just for
data. Are you telling me that I need to move my PC to my living room and put
it next to my TV?” Rest assured: We’re not suggesting that, although you may
find yourself putting a PC near your TV sometime soon. You could indeed put
your PC next to your TV, link it with a video cable, and run your Internet interconnection
to the living room. But, if that’s your only PC and your spouse
wants to watch the latest basketball game, you may find it hard to do your
work!
The revolution we’re talking about — and are just getting started with in this
chapter and the ones that follow — is the whole-home wireless revolution,
where that powerful data network you install for your PCs to talk to one
another and the Internet can also talk to lots of other things in your home.
You hear us talk a great deal about your whole-home audio network or a wholehome
video network. That’s our code for “you can hear (view) it throughout the
house.” You built that wireless network (in Part III), and now other devices will
come and use it. And coming they are, indeed — by the boxful. Be prepared to
hear about all these great devices — things you use every day, such as your
stereo, refrigerator, and car — that want to hop onboard your wireless home
highway.
Wirelessly Enabling Your Home
Entertainment System
If you’re like most of us, your home entertainment system probably consists
of a TV, a stereo receiver, some components (such as a record player, tape
deck, or CD/DVD player), and a few speakers. For most parties, this setup is
enough to make for a memorable evening!
And, if you’re like most of us, you have a jumble of wires linking all this audio/
visual (A/V) gear together. The mere thought of adding more wiring to the
system — especially to link, for example, your receiver to your computer to
play some MP3s — is a bit much.
We have some good news for you. Regardless of whether you have a $250
television set or a $25,000 home theater, you can wirelessly enable almost
any type of A/V gear you have. Before we get into the specific options now
on the market, we need to discuss at a high level the wireless bandwidth
requirements for the two major applications for your entertainment system:
audio and video.