The Wireless Cookbook

by Bill Zimmerman

Fall 2025, 432 pp.

ISBN-13:

9781718504363

Wireless networking combines two complex technologies—networking and radio frequencies—making it a challenging yet rewarding area to explore.

The Wireless Cookbook provides those skills through a hands-on, project-based approach designed for hobbyists, educators, and Linux enthusiasts. This book uses accessible step-by-step recipes to teach readers about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Long Range (LoRa) technologies through practical, feature-rich projects built with Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers (SBCs).

Each chapter presents a self-contained project, guiding readers from foundational concepts to real-world applications as they gain fluency in Python and essential Linux tools, all while uncovering the capabilities of modern SBCs.

Unlike theoretical guides, The Wireless Cookbook emphasizes functional, customizable projects you can use in daily life or expand into your own creations, providing the knowledge and confidence to experiment with cutting-edge technologies.

Covers the fundamentals of the 802.11 wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Long Range (LoRa) wireless, and the LoRaWAN protocol in depth.

Author Bio

Bill Zimmerman is a passionate software engineer, formerly at Microsoft; a successful startup founder; educator; and Linux evangelist of more than 30 years. He's created teaching labs and curricula, delivered workshops, and mentored learners of all ages in technology and entrepreneurship at locations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. When not working on open source projects, he's often found trail running or paragliding.

Table of contents

Introduction

Part I: The Big Picture
Chapter 1: Understanding Wireless
Chapter 2: Getting Started

Part II: The Recipes
Chapter 3: Visualizing Wi-Fi with a TFT Display
Chapter 4: Basic and Advanced Captive Portals
Chapter 5: Bluetooth Audio in Two Ways
Chapter 6: Exploring Long Range with LoRa
Chapter 7: Intrusion Detection with Kismet
Chapter 8: Wireless Air Quality Monitoring
Chapter 9: Pwning Wi-Fi with Pwnagotchi
Chapter 10: Exploring Mesh Networking
Chapter 11: Wireless Displays in Two Ways

Part III: Troubleshooting
Chapter 12: The Engineer’s Mindset

The chapters in red are included in this Early Access PDF.