BKWLSHCK.RVW   20031110

"Wireless Hacks", Rob Flickenger, 2003, 0-596-00559-8, U$24.95/C$38.95
%A   Rob Flickenger
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   2003
%G   0-596-00559-8
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$24.95/C$38.95 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005598/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005598/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005598/robsladesin03-20
%P   286 p.
%T   "Wireless Hacks"

Unlike most pieces that simply list the various wireless standards,
chapter one provides excellent coverage of both regulations and
protocols, giving clear and practical explanations of the benefits and
drawbacks of the various conventions, and recommending the best one
for any particular purpose.  This sets the tone for the book as a
whole, providing advice and information that far exceeds details and
suggestions found in other wireless works.  (I must say, though, that
the exegesis of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum and Frequency Hopping
Spread Spectrum is still lacking.)  Chapter two shows how to use
Bluetooth (mostly with cell phones, Mac OS X, and Linux) for some
amazing applications.  Descriptions of many monitoring tools are
furnished in chapter three, starting with system utilities.  There is
solid guidance on using these instruments in combination for best
effect.  Antennae, cables, and the use of minimalist equipment as
routers and infrastructure is covered in chapter four.  Five deals
with antennae in more detail.  Long distance point-to-point links are
examined in chapter six.  Wireless security, in chapter seven,
discusses the usual WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) cracks and SSID
(Station Set IDentifier) issues, but also reviews SSH (Secure SHell)
and tunnelling.

For anyone dealing seriously with wireless networks, there is a wealth
of information collected here that you will only find elsewhere after
prolonged searching.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2003   BKWLSHCK.RVW   20031110