Building a home entertainment network, multimedia in every room

Shows readers how to take an Internet connection, digital audio and video, and a PC and integrate them into a home entertainment powerhouse!

• Author Terry Ulick is a recognized PC and digital entertainment expert who previously created AOL's "You've Got Pictures" and Zap2it.
• Readers will network their PC and entertainment using the latest technology such as media adapters, Wi-Fi, HomePNA, HomePlug, and Ethernet
• Approved by Intel, the leading manufacturer of computer processors, with more than 80% market share

Building a Home Entertainment Network: Multimedia in Every Room shows readers how to install, configure and interconnect wired and wireless networks for information and entertainment access. Today, the combined power of PCs and broadband Internet connections can deliver much more than simple Web pages. Enjoying digital audio and video over the Internet is nearly as simple as turning on the TV. And with wireless connectivity, digital entertainment can easily be played in every room. But even technically-savvy consumers need help setting up and configuring their digital home. Readers will learn to use home networks to share and enhance digital audio and video, and Internet access. The book covers every step from planning and purchasing equipment to enjoying streaming media in your living room from your PC in the office. About Intel Reviewed and approved by Intel, the leading manufacturer of computer products.Intel, one of the best-known brands in technology, is synonymous with computers that run Windows - more than 80% of all computers use Intel processors. And Intel means more than just computers - personal digital assistants and wireless computing also depend on Intel technology. This series of hands-on technology guides will show consumers how to get the most from their computers and other devices which depend on or work with Intel technology. Terry Ulick is a technologist and author who starting writing about PCs for PC Magazine in the 1970's. He created the first online digital photo service for America Online, worked as Executive Director of Business Development for Tribune Company Entertainment Products, and created Zap2it, one of the first interactive TV services. He wrote one of the first books on digital publishing, and most recently wrote The PC Magazine Guide to Windows XP Media Center PCs (Wiley, 2004). Experts from Intel will work with Terry to ensure that readers get the most from their home entertainment and network.

Introduction. I. PLANNING YOUR HOME ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. 1. Planning the Right Home Entertainment Network for Your Home. Making a Plan Wired Networking: Running into Walls Wired Network Basics Benefits of a Wired Network Running Cables Dealing with Walls Wireless Networking: Homes Without Walls Wireless Network Basics Benefits of a Wireless Network Dealing with Signal Strength Overcoming Signal Problems Mixing Wired and Wireless Networks Mixed Network Plan Making Sure the Network Can Handle Media Summary 2. Configuring Your PC As an Entertainment Server. Making Sure That Your PC Can Network Adding TV and FM Tuner Cards TV Tuners for Laptops FM Tuners DVR Software Having Enough Storage Choosing Drive Size Choosing Internal or External Drives Backing Up Important Media Files Summary 3. Using PCs and TVs As Clients in Your Network. Using a File Sharing Configuration Understanding Client/Server Networks Using Media Extenders in a Client/Server Network Using PCs on a Client/Server Network Putting the Right Device in the Right Place Using PCs When Computing Power Is Needed Using TVs for Media Playing Lowest Cost Media Viewing Solution Listening to Music with TVs Summary 4. Getting the Right Networking Gear. Identifying the Gear That Fits Your Plan Hubs Routers Understanding Network Types Wired Ethernet Network Wireless Networks Power Line Ethernet Networks Using Other Network Solutions Understanding Wired Ethernet Networking Hardware Understanding Wireless Networking Hardware Putting the Plan into Action Summary II. INSTALLING THE NETWORK. 5. Adding a Network Router to Your Main PC. Getting Ready for Router Installation Identifying Your PC's Ethernet Connection Finding an Ethernet Port on a Desktop PC Understanding Network Interfaces on a Laptop Installing Drivers for Your NIC Choosing Ethernet Cables Connecting a Router for the First Time Using an Installation Wizard Web-Based Control Router Installation Step 1: Connect the Router Step 2: Configuring Your PC to Work with the Router Step 3: Configuring the Router Step 4: Connecting to the Internet Completing the Installation Working with Dial-up Internet Connections Adding Other PCs to the Router Summary 6. Securing Your PCs. Securing Your PCs Types of Security Threats Viruses Spyware Computer Invasion Using Common-Sense Security Measures Summary 7. Securing Your Home Entertainment Network. Understanding Hardware-Based Firewalls Firewall on Your DSL or Cable Modem Firewalls on Your Broadband Router Changing Firewall Settings General Settings for Firewalls Securing a Wireless Network Understanding MAC Filtering Understanding WEP Summary 8. Adding Additional PCs to the Router. Connecting PCs to the Network Establishing a Wired Connection Establishing a Wireless Connection Installing Wireless Adapters Installing the Drivers and Software Adding a Wireless Adapter to a Desktop or Tower PC Adding a Wireless Notebook Adapter to a Laptop PC Adding a Wireless USB Network Adapter to a Laptop or PC Completing the Installation Using the Wireless Network Utilities Improving Signal Strength Using the Wireless Network Utilities Using Wired and Wireless Connections Summary 9. Adding TV and Media Extenders to the Network. Adding a TV Tuner Card to Your PC Installation on a Desktop or Tower PC Installation on a Laptop Viewing Video on a TV from Your PC Making Audio Connections Using Media Extenders Installing a Media Extender Playing Files on a Media Extender Using a Media Center Edition Extender Using Audio Extenders Summary 10. Limitations of Media Extenders on Wired and Wireless Networks. Understanding the Different Types of Media Extenders Bandwidth Issues with Video and Music Files Using Photos Files with Media Extenders Comparing a Wired and Wireless Media Extender Media MVP Wired Media Extender Media Lounge Wireless or Wired Media Extender Using Media Extenders Makes Sense Overcoming the Limitations of Media Extenders Summary III. MANAGING A HOME ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. 11. Sharing Files and Adding Users. Adding Your Computers to the Network Creating a Workgroup Adding Your Computer to the Network Setting Up Wireless Networks Setting Up File Sharing on Each Computer Sharing Drives on the Network Sharing Files or Folders on the Network Saving Power with a Network Drive Assigning Users to Your PCs Summary 12. Creating a Media Server Strategy. Creating a Media Server Managing Your Media Files and Libraries Recording TV Shows Scheduling TV Recordings Recording More Than One Show at One Time Watching and Recording Shows at the Same Time Making the Move to Nonlinear TV Deciding Who Can View Files Limiting File Access on Media Extenders Working with User Settings from Windows XP Summary 13. Adding Media Content from the Internet. Including Internet Access in Your Entertainment Mix PC Content Displayed on TVs Using MSN TV to Access Internet Sites Content from the Internet Using Media Extenders Finding Great Internet Media Content Finding Music Finding Videos, Rental Movies, and Enhanced TV Adding News, Sports, and Weather to the Mix Sharing Pictures from the Internet Using Email on Your Home Entertainment Network Thinking About Web Access Summary 14. Working with Portable Entertainment Devices. Working with Portable Audio Devices on the Network Working with MP3 Players and Hard Drive-Based Players Working with iPods Better Than MP3s: Portable Media Players Pocket PCs Are Media Players Too Getting Files from Digital Cameras and Camcorders Moving Pictures from Your Digital Camera to Your PC Getting Video from Camcorders Attaching Network Printers Summary IV. GOING BEYOND THE PC NETWORK. 15. TV Sources: Cable, Satellite, Antennas, and DVDs. Deciding on a TV Source Antenna Reception Using Cable Service The Sky's the Limit with Satellite Connecting a TV Source to a TV Tuner Card Making Standard Cable and Antenna Connections Making Set Top Box Connections Mixing TV Sources in Your Home Managing Set Top Boxes from the Network DVDs in a Home Entertainment Network Summary 16. Using Game Consoles, DVD Players, and Digital Video Recorders. Connecting Game Boxes Sharing the TV Sharing the Audio Sharing an Internet Connection with a Game Console Xbox Media Center Extender Working with DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) Wirel