Telecom Crash Course, Second Edition [Paperback]

Steven Shepard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071451439 | ISBN-13: 978-0071451437 | Publication Date: May 27, 2005 | Edition: 2

This unique book serves as a readable, holistic introduction to telecommunications. Far more than an acronym-studded quick fix, Telecom Crash Course is a true tutorial that offers context, connections--and humor-- to teach the importance of key technologies. Author Steven Shepard, an accomplished writer and teachers, uses lively stories that deliver important points about the markets that drive the technologies. He provides not only rigorous technical accuracy, with explanations of each technology's economic importance, but a market and customer-focused analysis of the use and business significance of each technology – and how they relate to each other.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If I were starting out in the telecom field this would be the first book that I'd recommend that anyone read. It gives you a high level look at: what protocols do and are used for; what the primary access technologies are; a great description of the telephony system that provides the main infrastructure of the Internet; and, the primary transport technologies that are being used today. Because this is a "crash course" book don't look for great detail in every topic, however, if you are looking for a compendium that covers the telecomm field all in one book then this is the book you need. My networking background has been mostly in the copper and fiber optic technologies, so I found the sections about the new 802.11 wireless technologies the most interesting. But some of things that I found unique for a book like this and most fascinating are the pictures of scenes and equipment taken inside of actual telephone central offices and the anecdotes about real life happenings in the telecom world. So if you have anything to do with telecom, be it as a user, CTO, IT manager, technology student, technology teacher, marketing or sales person of telecom or buyer of telecom, then this book should have a place on your desk." "The author of Telecom Crash Course, Stephen Shepard, is one of the most interesting, knowledgeable writers in the field today. He manages to turn what could be a dreadfully dull subject into a scintillating story of science, history and data communication hardware. The content is up-to-date and well organized, the illustrations very appropriate and the index very thorough. Personally, however, I find Mr. Shepherd's sense of humor in the face of such weighty topics to be the best part of my reading experience. Who else could work Vinton Cerf and Douglas Adams into the same narrative? Mr. Shepherd uses ingenious metaphors to clarify difficult concepts, as he does in the excerpt below regarding conflicting world standards. "Many countries play football, for example, but the rules are all slightly different. In the United States, players are required to weigh more than a car, yet be able to run faster than one. In Australian Rules football, the game is declared forfeit if it fails to produce at least one body part amputation on the field... They are both football, however. In data communications, the problem is similar; there are many protocols out there that accomplish the same thing." Mr. Shepherd manages to infuse what could be a terribly dry catalog of facts with cheerful, sometimes almost whimsical language that keeps the reader's interest throughout the most convoluted jungle of acronyms, jargon and obscure technical terminology. I found the information in this text to be clear, logical and very helpful in leading me to a better understanding of the highly important field of 21st century telecommunications. Buy this book, you won't regret it."

From the Back Cover

THE DEFINITIVE TELECOM RESOURCE -- COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED

Get a thorough introduction to the telecommunications industry -- from the technologies involved to the complex business, market, and regulatory relationships. This new edition of the acclaimed telecom guide provides a framework for understanding the concepts, trends, terminology, acronyms, systems, and services that make up this evolving field. Expert author Steven Shepard offers not only rigorous technical accuracy, but clear, easy-to-follow descriptions, real-world examples, and even a bit of humor, all of which enhance your understanding of the topics covered.

The Latest Innovations
Beginning with a detailed analysis of how and why the telecom industry faltered in the early part of the decade, Telecom Crash Course covers the current state of the field and delves into the myriad new technologies shaping the communications landscape including revolutionary advances in broadband, VoIP, and wireless. This is a must-have resource for all current and aspiring telecom professionals, including IT staff, business decision-makers, marketing and sales staff, and students.

Covers These and Other Key Topics:

• Digital Wireless
• Wi-Fi and WiMAX
• CDMA vs. GSM
• VoIP
• Softswitch
• NGDLC
• Passive Optical Networking (PON)
• MPLS
• 802.17
• New security threats

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KEEP ON TOP OF THE EVER-CHANGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY:
Introduction * Wireless * Wireline * Access Issues * Data Issues * Optical * IT and Computing

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 2 edition (May 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071451439
• ISBN-13: 978-0071451437
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Computers & Technology > Business & Culture > History

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Simply Brutal, July 9, 2008

By 

Robert Clarke (Toronto, CAN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Telecom Crash Course, Second Edition (Paperback)

I recently joined a Telecom company as a Marketing Manager, and wanted to acquaint myself with the technologies in our industry, so I picked up this book. BIG MISTAKE! I assumed "Crash Course" was meant for beginners like me - with little or no knowledge of telecom technology. Again, big mistake. This book is very poorly organized, doesn't take time to explain important concepts clearly, and it even lacks a glossery of terms (which is pretty bad considering this is suppose to be an introduction to a complicated topic). Take my advice and take a pass on this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, February 9, 2008

By 

E. Smith (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Telecom Crash Course, Second Edition (Paperback)

Great book for everything Telecom. Covers past, current and future technologies. If you are a tech nut like me, buy this book and read it cover to cover.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good, but may be overkill for some, July 12, 2005

By 

A. Foster (Potomac, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Telecom Crash Course, Second Edition (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book, especially the anecdotes in the introduction, but I can't realy see alot of applications for a "crash-course" that is this long. There are many situations I can envision where someone would need to learn about telecom networks quickly, but they probably wouldn't need to know many of the intricacies that Shepard deals with and they almost certainly wouldn't be interested in his anecdotes and discussion of undersea cable laying.

However, I don't know of any other comprehensive book like this so it may be your only option. Either way I certainly enjoyed reading it and intend to buy his other books, but to read at my leisure.