Network Magic is a general-purpose software utility designed to simplify the setup and maintenance of home networks. Originally created by Pure Networks and acquired by Cisco Systems last year, Network Magic helps automatically set up network file sharing, printing and security features.

One of our message board members is asking this week: "Anyone use Network Magic for wireless setup? Would you recommend it?"

Discuss - Network Magic - Do You Use / Recommend It?

The Compuserve Classic online service, famous in the 1980s for its popular online communities and groundbreaking Internet services that pre-dated the World Wide Web, was officially shut down this week by its owner America Online (AOL).

Starting in 1979, Compuserve functioned as a dialup Internet service provider with its own sophisticated software to manage things like email, discussion boards, and online shopping. Its services have since been replicated and improved upon many places online, but Compuserve maintained a nostalgic quality for those who were members in the heydey. Early users enjoyed the network via 300 bps (then often called baud modems that are incredibly slow by today's standards but rarely complained.

The legacy of Compuserve lives on, however. The next time you look at a GIF image on a Web site, for example, note that Compuserve created that format.

Mushroom Networks announced this week its newest product, the PortaBella Broadband Bonding Network Adapter (BBNA). This small device allows you to set up multiple mobile Internet connections and aggregate all of their individual bandwidth together for client computers connected to the unit locally to share. So-called bonding technology makes the total bandwidth available to a client automatically via a single connection point and IP address.

The PortaBella BBNA provides four ports for plugging in cellular networking cards. Each card must be configured with an Internet data service plan. It also provides two wired Ethernet ports for connecting the local clients. Basic PortaBella BBNA service only accelerates HTTP download traffic, but additional acceleration options are available with increased monthly subscription fees.

Mushroom Networks also sells other products for bonding DSL and cable broadband Internet. All of these including PortaBella BBNA use Ethernet for the local connections do not support Wi-Fi or other wireless local networking options yet.

→ See also - Multi-Homing - Can A Home Network Share Two Internet Connections?

AirView is a family of low-cost wireless spectrum analyzer products sold by Ubiquiti Networks. AirView2 covers the 2.4 GHz band used by Wi-Fi while Airview9 covers the 900 MHz band used by cordless phones and some other consumer gadgets.

To use AirView, simply plug its USB stick into a portable computer (Windows, Apple or Linux) and begin scanning the vicinity for wireless signals. If you'd prefer to not lug a computer around the house, you can also purchase an external antenna to use with either of these products instead. These tools produce charts like the one shown at right for Airview2, which break down the levels of wireless signal traffic and interference per channel, helping you set the optimal Wi-Fi channel number on your router and other wireless home network equipment.

→ See also - Find Wireless Interfererence with Wi-Spy

AirView2 Spectrum Analyzer - Channel Usage Chart - Image: Ubiquiti Networks (ubnt.com)