Monday, January 14, 2013

What Else Can I Do With My Wi-Fi?

By James Shelton


There are a bunch of things you could do with wireless networks that can automate tasks and save you time and/or money. Here are a few interesting ideas you might like to get you started.

Upload Files to Your Car

One interesting idea is to set up a mobile file server in your car. You take a Wi-Fi capable hard disk (there are a few on the market, one example is Seagate's GoFlex Satellite) and set it up in your car. This way you can send and receive files from any computer you're using within Wi-Fi range of the car. This way you don't have to send files to yourself over the internet or carry around a laptop or USB stick - you can just copy the files over to the car hard disk and drive off. Want some new driving music? Just send the music files over - no need to move anything physically.

These Wi-Fi hard drives tend to have a capacity of around 500GB. They have car chargers so you can keep them in your car permanently.

Make a Neighborhood-Wide Network

You can extend the range of wireless networks pretty far with the right tools. If your neighbors are into it, you could turn your area into a wireless hotspot. Share one super-fast Internet connection and divide up the cost - it'll probably save you lots of money! The way to do this is by setting up the actual modem in a central location and using wireless repeaters and directional antennas to boost the signal into all the areas that need coverage. There are repeaters like the Hawking HOW2R1 that are designed for use outdoors, and the company Amped specializes in high-range repeaters for bridging large gaps.

Of course, having more people on the same Internet connection will slow things down, which is why you should invest in a really fast one. You'll also probably end up needing to appoint a network administrator or two for any problems that come up.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment