| If you've used any sort of wireless device -- | | | | antenna at the back. You connect the Extender |
| telephone, laptop, PDA, or even a simple remote | | | | directly to your TV or stereo, and then install the |
| control -- you know how convenient it can be. | | | | software that interacts with the Extender on |
| You're not tethered to ... well, to anything. And | | | | your PC. To use the |
| you're free to move around while doing your | | | | Media Center Extender, your PC needs to be |
| work. | | | | running Windows XP Media Center Edition and |
| One area that's ripe for wireless is a home or | | | | you'll need to have a wireless network up and |
| office sound system. Once a dream, it's now | | | | running. |
| relatively cheap and easy to set up such a | | | | Apple has always had an edge over PCs in |
| system. Imagine being able to listen to your digital | | | | multimedia. If you have a recent Mac and a |
| music without wires – you've probably got | | | | high-speed Internet connection, you can turn that |
| most of the components already. For a couple of | | | | Mac into a media server using an AirPort wireless |
| hundred dollars or less, you can have a great | | | | base station. Just plug the AirPort base station |
| wireless sound system. | | | | into your stereo or your speakers, and let your |
| Why Go Wireless? | | | | Mac and the iTunes software do the rest. |
| Obviously, the main advantage to going wireless is | | | | According to Apple, iTunes will automatically |
| to cut down on all of those pesky cables that | | | | detect the base station and you can start playing |
| have been the bane of audiophiles for decades. | | | | your tunes immediately. However, at $99, the |
| Withwireless, you can place your speakers just | | | | AirPort base station isn't cheap, especially if you |
| about anywhere in your home without being | | | | want to have your audio piped to multiple |
| limited to the length of wire that connects back | | | | locations in your home. |
| to your audio system. | | | | Speakers |
| If you're like many people these days, you've | | | | Getting good sound from a wireless system – |
| probably got more music in a digital format like | | | | or any audio system for that matter – is |
| MP3 than you have on CD. Maybe you've ripped | | | | partly a matter of having a good audio source to |
| your CDs and/ordownloaded music from the | | | | work with and mainlya matter of having a decent |
| iTunes Store or other popular online music | | | | set of speakers. |
| vendors. It's easier to play these files directly | | | | The great thing about a wireless sound system is |
| from your computer instead of burningthem on | | | | that you don't necessarily need to buy a new set |
| to a CD and having to fumble with those disks. | | | | of speakers. If you have a stereo, then you can |
| And let's face it: no matter how good your PC | | | | use thespeakers that you already have. If course, |
| speakers are, they're no match for a decent set | | | | if you can afford it, a new set of speakers can't |
| of stereo speakers. Piping your music to | | | | hurt. The only problem with using stereo speakers |
| speakers, even thosein another room, will only | | | | is that you'restill restricted by the speaker cables. |
| enhance your listening pleasure. | | | | Your sound source can be anywhere, but the |
| How It Works | | | | position of the speakers is limited to the length of |
| A wireless sound system works sort of like radio. | | | | cable connecting themto your stereo. |
| A transmitter is connected to a device -- usually a | | | | Wireless speakers, on the other hand, can free |
| computer -- that stores and plays your music. | | | | you of that limitation. You can (within reason) |
| Areceiver, plugged into a stereo or a set of | | | | position the speakers anywhere you want in your |
| speakers, picks up the signal from the transmitter. | | | | house or evenoutside. Most are light enough that |
| There are two ways in which signals can be sent | | | | you can position them anywhere. With most |
| from thetransmitter -- analog and digital. | | | | wireless speakers, however, will need to be |
| Analog is similar to FM (Frequency Modulation) | | | | positioned near an electricalsocket -- this will limit |
| radio. The signal is strong and constant, but the | | | | where you can position your speakers. There are |
| frequency of the signal changes slightly based on | | | | battery-powered wireless speakers, but most of |
| theinformation being sent. If you still listen to | | | | them only hold a charge for aboutfour hours. As |
| terrestrial (as opposed to satellite) radio, you're | | | | the batteries run down, so will the quality of the |
| probably familiar with FM. The quality of the | | | | audio that's coming out of them. |
| signal isgood and signal strength is decent, though | | | | You can expect to pay several hundred dollars |
| it can be affected by barriers (like walls) in the | | | | for a decent set of wireless speakers. Models |
| way of the signal. | | | | from Panasonic, for example, can cost anywhere |
| Digital, on the other hand, converts sounds to | | | | from $200 to |
| packets of electronic data. In the case of a | | | | $1,700 dollars. Ones from Acoustic Research or |
| wireless audio system, this data is sent over the | | | | JBL will cost quite a bit more. But, as with |
| air from atransmitter and the data is converted | | | | anything else, you get what you pay for. The |
| back to audio when it reaches the receiver. It's | | | | quality of the soundwill be better with a slightly |
| really the same principle as a wireless Internet | | | | higher-end set of speakers. That said, you should |
| connection. | | | | really only buy what you can afford and if you |
| Wireless devices, like the ones described in this | | | | can afford it. |
| Tech Tip, operate over a specific range of | | | | You can usually find some pretty good bargains |
| frequencies -- usually between 900 MHz to 2.4 | | | | on online retailers – papatek.com, for example. |
| GHz. This range of frequencies is used by most | | | | Of course, how you position your speakers in a |
| consumer wireless devices. That means a | | | | room is almost as important as choosing the right |
| consistent level of signal quality, but it can also | | | | speakers. How you position your speakers will |
| lead to interference from other devices. Luckily, | | | | depend on thesize of the room and its layout. You |
| the hardware used in setting up a wireless sound | | | | can find some good advice on this topic here and |
| system enables you to select different | | | | here. |
| frequencies to avoid or at least minimize | | | | A Few Caveats |
| interference. | | | | Remember that a wireless sound system has a |
| Ways to Go Wireless | | | | limited range -- from around 30 feet to 100 feet, |
| There are a couple of ways you can go wireless. | | | | maybe a bit more. This isn't a problem in the |
| If you're an iPod user, you can turn your gadget | | | | average home, but if you want to play music |
| into a music transmitter using the Wireless Music | | | | outside then you might experience a drop in the |
| System for iPod by Logitech. This device clips to | | | | quality of the sound. |
| your iPod, turning it into a transmitter. You | | | | Speaking of putting your speakers outside, while it |
| connect a small base station to your stereo or a | | | | may seem like a good idea to have your favorite |
| set of powered speakers and you can use the | | | | bit of music playing during a BBQ or garden |
| iPod's controls you can shuffle through songs or | | | | party,remember that many speakers aren't |
| play your favorite play lists. | | | | meant for use outdoors. They could get damaged |
| You can also get FM transmitters for certain | | | | by the weather or careless guests. If you're using |
| makes of MP3 player. The transmitter -- like iriver | | | | battery-powered speakers, remember that the |
| AFT-100 or the Belkin TuneCast II -- plugs into | | | | life of the batteries is limited -- probably |
| your MP3 player and literally sends the music on | | | | (hopefully!) shorter than the duration of your |
| the device to an FM receiver. That receiver could | | | | party. |
| be a stereo or even a car radio. Essentially the | | | | On top of that, the sound that is sent to |
| transmitter turns your MP3 player into a | | | | speakers might not arrive at the same moment, |
| short-range radio station. The range of these | | | | depending on how far the from your media |
| devices is limited – about ten to 30 feet. But | | | | center the speakers are set. |
| over those distances, the signal is clear and has | | | | In most cases, you might not notice any |
| little or no interference. | | | | problems with the sound. Sometimes, though, you |
| Or, you can use a desktop computer (which is | | | | will definitely notice a small lag. If that happens, |
| often called a media server) to store and | | | | then you'll haveto experiment with the placement |
| broadcast your audio. You don't need an | | | | of your speakers. |
| up-to-date, lightning fast system with the latest | | | | As mentioned earlier, most wireless devices |
| version of your operating system (although | | | | operate in a similar range of frequencies. Some |
| that does help), either. An older computer | | | | wireless speakers work in the range of 900 MHz. |
| running Windows XP and with a decent amount of | | | | That's thefrequency range used by many |
| memory and a fair sized hard drive is usually | | | | common household wireless devices like cordless |
| more than enough. I know at least two people | | | | telephones or baby monitors. You might |
| who turned old eMachines desktops with 512 MB | | | | encounter some interference from such devices |
| of memory and 80 GB hard disks into serviceable | | | | in your home or even those used by a neighbor |
| media servers. Using a software media player -- | | | | (depending on how close your nearest neighbor |
| like Windows Media Player, iTunes, RealPlayer, or | | | | lives to you). |
| WinAmp -- you can create play lists or play all of | | | | Conclusion |
| your audio in bulk. | | | | For less than a couple of hundred dollars (more, if |
| A popular way to turn a PC into a sound system | | | | you want to splurge), you can put together a |
| is the Logitech Wireless Music System. This device | | | | decent wireless sound system in your home or |
| consists of two parts. The first is a small | | | | office. |
| transmitter that you plug into a USB port on your | | | | Installing and configuring the hardware and |
| computer. The second is a receiver that you | | | | software doesn't take long and once that task is |
| connect to your stereo or a set of wireless | | | | out of the way, you can enjoy your music |
| speakers. Then, just fire up the media player on | | | | anywhere in your homeor office without worrying |
| your computer and you're ready to go. | | | | about stringing (and tripping over) a knot of |
| The Linksys Wireless Media Center Extender not | | | | unsightly cables.Or you may just buy the things |
| only does audio, but also video and Internet radio. | | | | on net,such as papatek. |
| The Extender looks like a DVD player with a small | | | | |