A wireless network in your home is a great way to share an Internet connection, but it’s got many more uses. You can share a printer and turn your house into a multimedia wonderland.
People choose wireless networking because it’s inexpensive and convenient. Theoretically, wireless products work wherever you set them. So you can take your laptop to the kitchen or bedroom and still connect to the Internet.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are three products that really let you get the most of your wireless network.
1. Printers: Just because you have three computers doesn’t mean you need three printers. You can tie a printer into your network, even if it doesn’t have wireless capability. You can access the printer through a stationary computer. But that can be a struggle to set up.
Wireless is easier. You just need a wireless print server. These devices connect to your printer through a USB or parallel cable. Some have multiple ports, so you can make several printers simultaneously wireless. The computers speak wirelessly with the printer or printers through the print server.
Wireless print servers are made by companies such as D-Link (www.dlink.com), Netgear (www.netgear.com) and Hawking Technology (www.hawkingtech.com) and printer manufacturing companies. Prices start at $50 and go up. Before buying one, be sure it’s compatible with your printer.
You can skip all this if you buy a new printer. Models from Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com), Canon (www.canon.com) and Brother (www.brother-usa.com) offer built-in wireless capability. They are priced comparably with nonwireless printers that offer similar features.
2. Digital media: You probably have thousands of songs and videos on your desktop. But who wants to sit in the computer room and listen to music? Digital media receivers stream the files from your computer to your television or stereo system.
If you use Apple’s iTunes, the AirPort Express Base Station with AirTunes (www.apple.com; $130) might be your best bet. As iTunes runs on your computer, the sound plays to the connected stereo or set of powered speakers. The optional Keyspan Express Remote ($60) allows you to pick and choose your music.
The SoundBridge M500 from Roku Labs (www.rokulabs.com; $150), Linksys Wireless-G Music Bridge (www.linksys.com; $100) and Logitech Music System for PC (www.logitech.com; $150) play a variety of audio formats. They use iTunes or Windows Media Player. However, the SoundBridge will not play iTunes’ protected songs.
3. Cameras: You can monitor the pool or rooms with wireless cameras. D-Link, Hawking Technology and Linksys offer small wireless cameras. They can be placed anywhere in reach of your wireless network. These cameras start at $100 and beam video and audio to your PC.
They can be used as security devices. Many have motion-detection sensors and can be set up to record the video they capture. Some will even e-mail you a clip of the video recorded. Now you can finally find out which neighbor’s dog has been digging up your plants.
