Connecting Network Multimedia Devices

You want to add a standalone device, or two, to your wireless network. These devices might include an MP3 player, such as the Compaq IPaq Music Center for about $800, or a printer server, which can run from $75 to $200.

Not all of your equipment needs to be connected to a PC. You can use devices that will speed up your network, such as a wireless printer server, which needs no physical connection to the network. You can also make a device that everyone uses, such as a scanner or MP3 player, more easy to access by connecting it to an access point that has ports for a hub (many do, and it won't add much to the price).

In the next section we'll consider how older equipment can be used with equipment that is introduced later, and typically helps speed up elements of your network.