Building a Digital Home Entertainment Network
Multimedia in Every Room
Published on 4. August 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-0-7897-3318-4 (ISBN)
Description
Play music in the living room from your PC in your home office. Connect to the Internet on your laptop in any room in your house. It can be done and all by you! Building a Home Entertainment Network: Multimedia in Every Room will show you how to take an Internet connection, digital audio and video equipment, and a PC, and then integrate them into a home entertainment powerhouse. Building a Home Entertainment Network will show you how to exploit your computer and other devices. You'll even learn tips on how to plan for your home entertainment network and how to purchase the best equipment. You have all the pieces, now just learn how to put them all together!
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 188 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
331 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7897-3318-4 (9780789733184)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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).
Content
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)
Wireless and Networked DVD Players
Summary
17. Programming Your Own Media Network.
Planning Your Program Schedule
Creating Your Own Video Programs
Producing the Video
Creating Your Own News Pages or Banners
Creating Audio Messages and Radio Stations
Organizing Your Media Network
Summary
A. Resources.
Thoughts About the Digital Home
Thoughts About Wireless Networks and Network Security
Thoughts About Media-Centric PCs
Industry Standards for Wired and Wireless Networking
Networking Hardware Resources
Wired and Wireless Networking Hardware
Media Extenders
TV Tuner Cards
Networking Software
Firewalls, AntiVirus, Spyware, and Spam Protection
Network Entertainment Guide Software
Electronic Program Guides
Online Movie Rentals
Online Music Sites
Internet Radio Station Portals
Index.
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)
Wireless and Networked DVD Players
Summary
17. Programming Your Own Media Network.
Planning Your Program Schedule
Creating Your Own Video Programs
Producing the Video
Creating Your Own News Pages or Banners
Creating Audio Messages and Radio Stations
Organizing Your Media Network
Summary
A. Resources.
Thoughts About the Digital Home
Thoughts About Wireless Networks and Network Security
Thoughts About Media-Centric PCs
Industry Standards for Wired and Wireless Networking
Networking Hardware Resources
Wired and Wireless Networking Hardware
Media Extenders
TV Tuner Cards
Networking Software
Firewalls, AntiVirus, Spyware, and Spam Protection
Network Entertainment Guide Software
Electronic Program Guides
Online Movie Rentals
Online Music Sites
Internet Radio Station Portals
Index.