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)

Some families have a home theater setup that includes digital video recorders (DVR) and game consoles. Newer home entertainment devices support networking and offer additional features when connected to the Internet. Often these devices are located in a different room than the Internet modem and the home router, however, making network installation more difficult.

Reader 'das22' recently asked for help getting his two DVRs and a Sony PS3 connected to a wireless home network. Purchasing a wireless Ethernet bridge for each piece of equipment is one option, but that's relatively expensive. On our message board we've offered him an alternative. Can you think of any better way? Discuss - Wireless Networking for Home Entertainment Gear

→ See also - Can Two Routers Be Used on the Same Home Network?

Many hotels offer free wireless Internet service, but others do not. And even if it's free, the quality of Wi-Fi service can vary from one hotel to the next. HotelChatter's Annual Hotel WiFi Report 2009 correctly notes that the dependability and speed of hotel Internet is more important to travelers than ever before. Check out their list of best and worst Wi-Fi chains to consider when planning your next trip.

If you're staying in a place that charges for wireless Internet service, you may be able to save some money by finding and using alternative nearby hotspots. First you should confirm, though, that any hotspot you connect to is operated by someone reputable and you have their permission to use it.

→ More - Check Out On Hotel Wi-Fi Fees
→ See also - Avoiding Hotels That Don't Provide Free High-Speed Internet

Looking to find out whether any uninvited guests are sneaking into your private office when you're in another part of the house, at work, or even on vacation? Adding digital video cameras to your home network can help. One home network surveillance system designed to help catch these offenders on video is Logitech WiLife.

Logitech sells indoor, outdoor and spy (hidden) camera products as well as accessories like a cool night vision light system. Their system does not actually use Wi-Fi. WiLife uses HomePlug powerline networking technology instead, which according a Logitech spokesman is "even better than wireless" for security and stability. That's great, although an ideal video home monitoring system would offer both wired and wireless options allowing you to network via whatever method you prefer.

→ More - Favorite Customer Stories and Videos (wilife.com)
→ See also - Using Remote Desktop to Catch a Computer Thief

Logitech WiLife Digital Video System - Photo: logitech.com

Some of you probably use NTP (Network Time Protocol) to keep your computer (and router) clocks synchronized to the correct time of day. NTP is a great technology, as left on their own the clocks on computers tend to drift and be inaccurate.

If your network uses NTP, its computers should be able to set their clocks within a few milliseconds of official time according to research studies. That's plenty accurate enough for most people. If you don't use NTP, consider setting it up (but you'll no longer have an excuse to be late for appointments!) On Windows PCs, simply look for the Internet Time tab under Control Panel "Date and Time."

→ More - Network Time Synchronization Research Project (udel.edu)
→ See also - What is the NTP Pool Project?

The new iPhone version 3.0 software release brings several nice improvements over earlier versions. One of these is the ability to automatically log in to AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S - a real time saver over having to make connections manually. iPhone 3.0 also attempts to simplify connecting to other providers' hotspots, although the benefits of this vary depending on type of service and network configuration.

Do you use the Wi-Fi connection on your iPhone more now that 3.0 is available?

More - IPhone 3.0 Excels at Wi-Fi Hotspots (PCWorld via Macworld.com)

Apple iPhone - Photo: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

A tech-savvy reader from Kentucky has been looking to share his Internet connection with a guest house some distance from the main home and primary wireless router, a Linksys WRT54G. Check out his tech specs on our message board and see if you can build a better WLAN.

Quiz question: Without peeking at the thread, do you know what a RooTenna is? Would this really help?

→ Discuss - Setting Up a Rural Wi-Fi Network

RooTenna 19dBi 2.4G Panel Antenna - Photo: www.fab-corp.com

Having regular access to computers and networks is something many of us take for granted. If something on our home network breaks, we tend to replace it quickly. Many of us also spend time evaluating new network products with an eye toward upgrading our older gear and possibly adding some cool new functions to our environment.

Take a minute to answer our poll question (right) by specifying what types of network gear you're expecting to purchase in the new feature. Check all the items that apply. Then see how others are voting.

→ See also - Types of Wireless Network Gear