Reviews of the Second (and Latest) Edition

Richard Forno, infowarrior.org, former Chief Information Security Officer for Network Solutions:

[The] new Wireless Networking Starter Kit takes a very complex (and constantly-changing) topic and reduces it to bite-sized portions that readers of all levels can understand and learn from....Even I learned a few new things from their musings, analysis, research, and clearly-presented how-to examples....The Wireless Networking Starter Kit satisfies everyone, regardless of experience.....

Unlike feel-good books written for "dummies" or "idiots," this book deserves a prominent place on my geek reference bookshelf for its breadth and depth of useful information and the very readable manner that it's presented.  Perhaps the "Starter Kit" in the title is a misnomer; were it up to me, I'd call it the "Best Damn Wireless Reference Guide Anywhere" and ship it with all new wireless products.

Operation Gadget

The other day, I bought a copy of The Wireless Networking Starter Kit, Second Edition, read a significant part of it, and browsed through the rest....this is one of the best books on wireless networking that has been published recently in terms of breadth of topics covered and readability.

David Weeks, MyMac.com

Whether you're a Macintosh or Windows user, this is the best book for the average reader on how to use and understand wireless networking. ...The Wireless Networking Starter Kit Second Edition provides a fine mixture of comprehensible technical explanations as well as  "plug this cable into this socket" setup help.

Andrew King, Webreference.com:

Co-authors Adam Engst and Glenn Fleishman are grizzled veterans at Wi-Fi and online writing and it shows. Combined with Peachpit's light touch their breezy style makes for a compelling, yet useful read. If you want to enter the world of Wi-Fi, buy this book. Highly recommended.

Tim Pozar, Wi-Fi guru and regulatory expert:

...It is one of the best balanced and complete books out there on wireless.

Reviews of the First Edition

Peter Lewis, technology editor, Fortune magazine:

Glenn [Fleishman] and his co-author, Adam Engst, have written a great primer for anyone who wants to get connected to the Internet wirelessly.

Scott Rosenberg, Salon.com:

...a year or two after the 802.11b/WiFi revolution took all geekdom by storm, I have finally joined the bandwagon -- with a little help from a book I'm happy to recommend, Adam Engst and Glenn Fleishman's Wireless Networking Starter Kit. (Engst's Internet Starter Kit was the book I used to put my Macintosh on the Net back in 1994, so this all felt right.)

Brian Livingston, InfoWorld:

[This book] is an ideal way to get up to speed on designing, installing, and troubleshooting Wi-Fi hot spots and other devices.

LockerGnome Windows Daily:

I've had a wireless network in my house for about 18 months and I'm learning some things I should have implemented ages ago. From the basics to get you up and running, to security concerns, to boosting wireless signals with external antennas, this book covers everything you need to know in order to be wireless at home or in your office.

Once you're comfortable with the basics, there's plenty of good information to let you experiment with more advanced wireless concepts, explained in a way that won't leave you feeling like you've just discovered some language of the ancients.

If you've been holding out on getting some Wi-Fi gear because you weren't sure what to do with it once you got it home, this book would be an excellent choice to assist you in deciding what to buy and how to use it.

Andrew King, Webreference.com:

...This book is a great introduction to wireless networking and covers the hardware and software you need to start surfing while sipping that expresso double latte.

David Weeks, MyMac.com (in-depth review):

[This] is the best book so far for the average reader on Wi-Fi/AirPort/802.11b networking. If you want to cut the (Ethernet) cord, start by reading this book!

Kirk McElhearn, ATPM (in-depth review):

The authors’ comfortable, reassuring tone helps the reader feel at ease with this technology. Their detailed coverage of all the issues affecting this form of networking ensures that network administrators, who may be discovering wireless networking, fully understand how to design and optimize their networks.

J.D. Lasica, technology journalist:

Finally, here's a smart, accessible, comprehensive guide to the often incomprehensible world of wireless. This book's got it all -- lowdowns on 802.11b and Bluetooth, the differences between a router, hub and gateway, network security, taking it on the road, and much, much more. Yes, it all gets a bit technical at times (you're free to skip ahead), but Adam and Glenn are two tech journalists who know how to make even the most complex and arcane subjects understandable -- and fun to boot.