7 Unbelievably Cool Wi-Fi Tricks
Wireless networks aren’t just for browsing the Internet in your
living room anymoreMARCH 2004 MAXIMUMPC 4
Bathtub surfing
No matter how good an idea it
seems, laptops and bathtubs just don’t
mix. Sure you can fire off an e-mail
while your conditioner sets in, but
you’ll never be able to get the suds out
of your portable PC. And if it’s plugged
in, you’ll never be able to get the life
back into your body.Don’t transfer large files
Wired networks are significant-
ly faster than wireless, which is reallyapparent when you transfer files larger
than a couple hundred megabytes.Don’t oversaturate your AP
Don’t try to connect too many
people to your access point. The maxi-
mum rated bandwidth of a wireless AP
is shared among all the users of your
wireless LAN. If you have more than
12 or 15 people, even 802.11g networks
will begin to bog down....And 3 Incredibly Dumb Tricks
Stream music to any
room in your home
With the Squeezebox (reviewed on page
70) you can convert any old stereo into a
jukebox storing every single CD you own.
By housing your MP3s on one machine
and streaming them to every other room
in your house wirelessly, you’ll be able
to stop worrying about managing your
music, and just enjoy it.Get rid of the Ethernet
cable from your Xbox(^) to your cable modem
Whether you’re into the Xbox, PS2, or
Gamecube, you can play countless console
games online. With a wireless bridge, you
can connect any number of wired Ethernet
devices to your wireless LAN.
Become your neighbor’s ISP
Some cutting-edge Internet
Service Providers have set up infra-
structure to allow users to share their
DSL connection wirelessly. This gives
your neighbor a fast, cheap connection
and can save you money on your month-
ly DSL bill. Speakeasy ( http://www.speakeasy.net )
started doing this first, and the company
even provides
the hardware to get your shared
connection up and running.
Set up a network
of Wi-Fi webcams
Ever wonder what your cat does during
the day while you’re at work? Connect a
wireless webcam—or three—and check in
on Mittens from work.
Participate in a community
Wi-Fi network
If you’re feeling generous, most major cit-
ies have free wireless LANs. You can config-
ure your access point so that any passerby
who needs a net connection can tap into
your broadband. You don’t get anything in
return, besides the warm, fuzzy feeling that
giving provides. Do it for the kids.
Make free (or maybe just
really, really cheap) phone calls
Voice over IP (VoIP) calling gives you a
super-cheap way to make long distance
calls over the Internet. With a wireless
handset and the right software, you can
even VoIP wirelessly.
Cook dinner
New ovens will be available later
this year that have wireless connections to
the Internet. What does that mean for you?
Because the oven also includes a cooling
element, you can put a casserole in the
appliance in the morning before you leave
for work, keep it chilled all day long, and
then log in to your oven at 3:00 pm to let
it know you’ll be home on time, so it can
commence cooking your covered dish. n
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“Who
needs
Viagra,
when
there’s
Maximum
PC?!”