ADSL and DSL Technologies [Paperback]

Walter J. Goralski (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070246793 | ISBN-13: 978-0070246799 | Publication Date: March 6, 1998

Bid farewell to ISDN and welcome ADSL -- the new technology that also simultaneously transmits data, voice, and video over existing telephone lines, but does it 50 times faster and cheaper. This clear, comprehensive overview covers all the permutations: ADSL and DSL (Asymmetric and regular Digital Subscriber Lines). used in homes; and HDSL and VDSL (High-Speed and Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Lines), used by business. It awakens telecom engineers to the applications of DSL technology in video conferencing, telecommuting, and on-line video: the convergence of DSL and ATM; and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Discover how to unclog the Internet bottleneck and move data across the public switched telephone network faster than ever before! What loads Web pages up to 50 times faster and cheaper the ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) channels, the fastest data transmission technology currently available to home users? ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology. It's here today, and it uses the existing copper lines that already connect 600 million subscribers to the PSTN. Recently released standards promise to spur rapid growth in the development of a new high-speed ADSL-based applications--vastly faster Internet access and new broadband services like entertainment video telecommuting, video conferencing, enhanced telephhone, and more.

Now telecommunication engineers, vendors, and business managers in the cable and telephone industries can quickly get a handle on ADSL technology - without having to wade through ADSL guidebook sorts it all out and translates it into terms that everyone involved with this new technology (carrier personnel, educators, consultants, and consumers) can understand.

Topics covered include: Applications of ADSL technology in video conferencing, telecommuting, and online video; DSL architecture and all of tis variants - DSL, ADSL, HDSL (High-Speed digital Subscriber Line), and VDSL (Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line); complete coverage of the evolution of digital transmission methods; convergence of DSL and ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode) technologies; In-depth discussion and analysis of ADSL. If you need to not only understand ADSL technology, but also how to apply and install it, this highly readable and practical book is for you. It includes numerous real-world applications and examples that will help you quickly and cost-effectively tap the awesome power of ADSL.

About the Author

Walter Goralski (Hopkins, MN) has spent more than 30 years in the data communications field, including 14 years with AT&T. Walter is currently a course developer with Juniper Networks and is the best-selling author of Sonet, 2/e, and several books on VoIP, ATM, and frame relay. He has also written numerous articles on data communications for Network Magazine and other publications. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (March 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070246793
• ISBN-13: 978-0070246799
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive overview of xDSL, September 1, 1998

By 

Duwayne Anderson (Saint Helens, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ADSL and DSL Technologies (Paperback)

Writing a popular book about xDSL technology is a daunting task, but one that Walter Goralski largely accomplishes in his book "ADSL and DSL technologies." The book begins with a global view of the US telecommunications network, how the Internet is challenging this network, and what technologies are being developed to address the problems. This world view does an excellent job of placing xDSL technologies in perspective: they are solutions to digital data transport over portions of a telecommunications network designed specifically for analog voice traffic.

The author has provide an excellent summary of how the American telephone network began, how it evolved, the various regulatory actions along the way, and the current state of affairs. For example, many people familiar with load coils and bridge taps know they can cause problems for xDSL technologies. Goralski explains how these devices got into the network in the first place, and the specific problems they pose for digital high-speed technologies. As part of this discussion the author describes the first analog systems, later digital systems, multiplexing and trunk topologies, different switching technologies (packet and circuit) and the first wave of digital services such as ISDN.

After a brief discussion of modems, the author launches into the main subject, which is the xDSL family of products and technology. He gives a brief high-level descriptions of HDSL, SDSL, RADSL, CDSL, IDSL, ADSL, and VDSL. Up to this point the number of acronyms is relatively manageable, but once he begins discussing xDSL in earnest the acronyms emerge exponentially. Fortunately, Goralski has a list of about 250 acronyms in the back of the book. This list is especially useful later in the book where the author uses them with abandon. Though extensive, the list is not complete. For example, the acronyms PCM and STU are not included. Of course, the author says there is "really no such thing as an `STU,' at least not as a standard device." This only adds to the confusion of the use of such an acronym, and contributes to the "acronym overload" one often feels when reading this book.

After the brief introduction to the xDSL family, the author devotes a full chapter each to HDSL and then to ADSL. After this, the book deals almost exclusively with ADSL-related issues (except for a chapter on VDSL at the back of the book).

I was disappointed the author spent so little time describing the digital coding techniques that are so important for DSL technologies. Except for a brief mention of QAM, the author leaves his audience almost entirely in the dark as to how the digital codes work, and what are their individual strengths and weaknesses.

The author goes into considerable detail (more than any other individual topic) describing the ADSL architecture and interface systems. Chapter nine, dealing with ADSL interfaces, is confusing and would benefit from more diagrams. Several subjects are discussed without proper introduction, leading to questions people might ask if they are not already familiar with the terminology. Additional topics in the book's midsection include descriptions of transport classes, bearer channels, frames, super frames, frame structure, interleaved data, and overhead. The author also provides considerable high-level detail about various configurations in which ADSL can be deployed.

The book ends with three of its most important chapters. Chapter 13 describes migration scenarios from the various derivatives of xDSL to ADSL, and from ADSL to VDSL. Chapter 14 describes VDSL in more detail, since the author apparently concludes VDSL will be the ultimate mechanism by which telecommunications companies will provide truly broadband services. Chapter 15 finishes with a discussion about the major outstanding issues for DSL. These last chapters are especially useful for global thinking and positioning.

Goralski discusses some market issues for the deployment of ADSL, but most of the book centers on technical topics. The author clearly favors xDSL technologies, with the apparent conclusion it will win the day over cable modems. It would be useful, however, to see more detailed analysis in this area, especially regarding cost for deployment. Though Internet access (e.g. as offered via xDSL) is important, Internet access alone will be unable to compete against true broadband services offering video on demand in addition to fast Internet access. Goralski seems to recognize this when he discusses VDSL, but even here he fails to address economic issues and whether VDSL can compete on price with cable modems.

Goralski has a clear, readable style, and the book has many figures that greatly help in assimilating ideas. On the negative side, the index is inadequate. When reading my copy I used lots of colored markers and sticky tabs so I could go back and find important information. The book also has many typographical errors. Clearly, this book went to print in a hurry, though this might be somewhat unavoidable given the subject matter and rate with which technology is progressing. None of the typographical errors cause significant problems with comprehension. Most are like the one on page 12, where the word "enabled" was spelled as "abled." Overall, however, I really enjoyed reading this book. If you are just learning about ADSL technologies, or want to brush up on the subject I highly recommend it.

Duwayne Anderson

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written primer, September 4, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ADSL and DSL Technologies (Paperback)

The book is well written (by computer book standards :) ), and offers a surprising amount of information about the current US phone system (europeans, africans, etc. are out of luck....). It would have been interesting if there had been information about say Covad, Cisco and others who are actually implementing these technologies.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for engineers, December 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: ADSL and DSL Technologies (Paperback)

This book is not good for technical people (they should read Thomas Starr "Understanding Digital Subscriber Line Technology" as the best technical reference book), but this may be a good one for marketing and management people, and for general reading.