Voice & Data Communications Handbook (Standards & Protocols) [Paperback]

Regis J. Bates (Author), Donald W. Gregory (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0072131888 | ISBN-13: 978-0072131888 | Publication Date: July 25, 2001 | Edition: 4

Once again, Bud Bates brings you the most comprehensive and definitive reference covering the latest in networking and telecommunications technologies. Updated to cover wireless protocols, optical networking, and high-speed broadband services this easy-to-understand resource contains comprehensive coverage of this fast-growing industry. Learn everything from basic concepts to practical implementation techniques--all presented in a straightforward and jargon-free style.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The most complete voice and data communications reference available

Voice and data communications expert Bud Bates once again brings you the most comprehensive and definitive reference covering the latest in networking and telecommunications technologies. Featuring all new material on wireless protocols, optical networking, and high-speed broadband services this easy-to-understand resource contains comprehensive coverage of this fast-growing industry. You'll learn everything from basic concepts to practical implementation techniques on topics ranging from digital signaling and virtual private networks to frame relay and fiber optics. Straightforward and jargon-free, this updated edition is highly useful for anyone wanting to understand the latest advances in telecommunications, and the rapidly evolving field of voice and data communications.

• Work with new wireless technologies including 3G, WAP, and wireless LANs
• Get details on high-speed broadband services including xDSL and CATV
• Transmit data securely through use of VPNs and remote access networks
• Learn about Voice over IP and voice over data services
• Understand methods of computer-to-telephony integration
• Trace the evolution of the T-Carrier and T1 systems
• Discover the advantages of using packet switching technology
• Find out about optical systems--including SONET and Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM)

Topics covered:

• Analog versus digital transmission
• Private Branch Exchanges (PBX)
• OSI model, SNA, TCP/IP
• Full-service intranets
• Ethernet, LANs, and token rings
• Frame relay, ISDN, and ATM
• DSL and xDSL
• PCS and cellular

About the Author

Regis (Bud) Bates (Phoenix, AZ) has more than 33 years of experience in telecommunications and management information systems (MIS). He oversees the overall operation of TC International Consulting, Inc., a full service management consulting organisation. He has designed data processing centres and has also been involved in the design of major networks including LANs and WANs. Bud also develops and conducts various public and in-house seminars ranging from a managerial overview to very technical instruction on voice, data, and LAN/WAN and Broadband communications. For the past 2 years he has devoted much of his development and training activities on the convergence of voice and data communications. He has written eight books on the technologies many of which have been "best sellers" for McGraw-Hill. Including Voice and Data Communications Handbook and Broadband Telecommunications Handbook. Donald Gregory (Portsmouth VA) is a Partner with Computer Sciences Corporation's Consulting Group (CSC). Prior to Joining CSC, he spent several years at Arthur Andersen, International Harvester/Navistar, and Digital Equipment Corp. During most of that time he has specialised in the design and implementation of data and voice communications networks. In addition, he knows a fair amount about operating systems and PC configuration.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1032 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 4 edition (July 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072131888
• ISBN-13: 978-0072131888
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #790,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Keep looking for "the" one-stop, comprehensive telecom book, November 24, 2001

By 

Richard Bejtlich "TaoSecurity" (Metro Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Voice & Data Communications Handbook (Standards & Protocols) (Paperback)

I am a senior engineer for network security operations. I bought "Voice and Data Communications Handbook, Fourth Edition" (VADCH:4E) to gain a general understanding of communications technologies beyond the LAN. Although the book mentions all of the systems which interested me, I was not satisfied with the manner in which they were covered. VADCH:4E is better than Ross' "Telecommunications Technologies" but inferior to Green's "Irwin Handbook of Telecommunications." Nevertheless, I'm still looking for an author who delivers the goods on voice and data communications essentials.

VADCH:4E's table of contents is sure to impress; it mentions T carriers, VPNs, X.25, Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, SMDS, Frame Relay, ISDN, ATM, DSL, SS7, LNP, Cellular/PCS, WAP, 3G Wireless, SONET/SDH, and other key telecom systems and concepts. Unfortunately, I rarely finished a chapter with a good grasp of the material. I desperately searched for clues to questions I felt were key to understanding each technology. Rather than launching into an extended discussion of each system, I would have preferred hearing exactly how each technology works, with comparison to other technologies. More is not better if the "more" isn't helpful!

VADCH:4E is advertised as being "straightforward and jargon-free." This approach supposedly appeals to management types. In reality, the book swings wildly from mind-numbing grade-school-level analogies to material only understood with outside references. A 1074 page book needs to pick a writing style and stay the course. Otherwise, it alienates both nontechnical and technical readers. (Incidentally, technical readers may wonder why the authors believe Windows screen savers contribute to LAN traffic; see page 674 to read this odd claim.)

On a positive note, VADCH:4E consistently offered useful information on the history and business rationale for many telecom systems. Many of the connectivity diagrams were excellent. (These were usually offset by cheesy "clip-art" type graphics elsewhere, unfortunately.) VADCH:4E also includes descriptions of the framing formats for most telecom transmission systems.

Overall, I don't recommend reading a book this large if it doesn't answer the key questions I expect readers to ask. While I'm more familiar with telecom basics after reading VADCH:4E, I still hope another book makes more sense of the telecommunications environment.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good General Information, December 29, 1999

By 

"sparkopup" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voice and Data Communications Handbook: Signature Edition (McGraw-Hill Computer Communications Series) (Paperback)

The information was good, but not technical. The section about PBXs discussed cost more then how they work. As a managerial tool, its not bad, but as an engineer, I found it lacking in technical information that I like to have. If you're looking for diagrams and formulas, look for something else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about voice and data, September 20, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Irving Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voice & Data Communications Handbook (Paperback)

While this is a big fat book< almost a thousand pages, and not many pictures> this was a very easy read. Just about everything was covered in the voice and data world, anyone working in either field would have a good history and working knowledge what where we have been where we are and where we are going. The writing style was enjoyable entertaining and funny while keeping to the point, overviews where given followed by description of the technical with applied examples. Even the person makinf discisions on Voice or data issues would be well served to buy the book for the 1st 7 chapters alone, if you work on the engineering side I am sure you will continue to the end of the book. I liked this book so much I ordered his other book on Broadband.