WiMAX Handbook: Building 802.16 Networks (McGraw-Hill Communications) [Hardcover]

Frank Ohrtman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0071454012 | ISBN-13: 978-0071454018 | Edition: 1

Wi-MAX is a big deal because it’s cheaper, smaller, simpler and easier to use than any existing broadband option (DSL, cable, fiber, 3G wireless) – it also bypasses the existing wired infrastructure and legacy service providers (i.e. the phone and cable companies). This book provides a basic technical introduction to the IEEE standard, allowing engineers, technologists, and decision-makers to ascertain how this hugely disruptive technology is going to affect their businesses.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Master 802.16

Get a thorough introduction to WiMAX--the revolutionary new 802.16 IEEE standard for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless broadband access. Written by networking expert Frank Ohrtman, this detailed guide annotates the 802.16 specification and explains how to design and build a robust, reliable, and secure WiMAX network that takes full advantage of the wide range, increased throughput, and “last mile” solutions offered by WiMAX.

Comprehensive Coverage

This unique resource describes how WiMAX affects current telecom technologies including Wi-Fi, fiber optics, and VoIP, and discusses the business and economic implications of this ground-breaking technology. Readers will find complete details on:

• Annotated 802.16 specification
• WiMAX architecture
• Range, power, bandwidth, and roaming
• QoS and security
• Enterprise and residential applications
• Wireless Metro Area Network (WMAN) deployments
• Regulatory aspects including FCC guidelines

A DETAILED GUIDE TO WiMAX

Introduction * The Specs on the IEEE 802.16 * Range, Power and Bandwidth--The “Why” of WiMAX * WiMAX Quality of Service * Security * WiMAX Architecture: The Death of Fiber-Optic Networks As We Know Them * VoIP, WiMAX, and Wi-Fi: The Death of Telephone Companies As We Know Them * Video and WiMAX: The Death of Cable TV as We Know It • Economics of WiMAX * Regulatory Aspects of WiMAX * Conclusion: WiMAX as Disruptive Technology

About The Author: Frank Ohrtman is the founder of Wi-Max Systems, a telecommunications consulting firm. He previously held positions with Vsys, Lucent, and Netrix, and is a former U.S Navy Intelligence Officer with a specialization in electronic warfare. He is the author of Softswitch and The Wi-Fi Handbook, both from McGraw-Hill.

About the Author

Frank Ohrtman (Denver, CO) is the Founder of Softswitch Consulting, a telecommunications consulting firm. He previously held positions with Vsys, Lucent, and Netrix, and is a former U.S Navy Intelligence Officer. He is the author of Softswitch and The Wi-Fi Handbook.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071454012
• ISBN-13: 978-0071454018
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The "straight stuff" on WiMAX November 30, 2005

By Mavis M.

Format:Hardcover

Our investment club kept hearing about WiMAX so we did some research and came across this book. We are not "techies" and found this book to be real helpful in understanding the future implications for our investment portfolios (phone companies, cable TV companies, etc) in regardds to WiMAX.

If you have a nickel invested in a telecommunications related company, you MUST read this book. It earned our five stars rating!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Overall good level but somewhat superficial and security pitfalls July 21, 2006

By J. Felipe Ortega Soto

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First of all, at present time you haven't got many options to choose from regarding WiMax. I purchased Ohrtman's handbook because it seemed to be a solid reference. I agree with this point, but in my opinion, the book only deserves 3 stars due to the following reasons:

1) Despite being a relativelly novel technology, there exist a lot of technical references and papers out there with technical details about WiMax. This book does a very good job as an overall introduction to several aspects of this technology (including WiMax economy) which could be very valuable for the non-tech corporate reader. So don't expect to find many technical inner details (you'll find a lot of info in the 802.16 IEEE PDFs).

2) The second reason, and the most important one, is the apparently lack of a rigurous treatment of security topics. For example, the author speaks about "X.509 encryption" several times. Well, as someone involved in computer security topics for more than 7 years, I think that the author completely missed the point here. There is a clear difference between authentication (which is the main goal of X.509 certificates) and encryption (provided by DES in WiMax).

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Telcos are toast if... December 1, 2005

By Fortune429

Format:Hardcover

...they don't get on the WiMAX bandwagon. I read in today's Wall Street Journal (12/01/05) that the big US telephone companies are trying to get rid of their copper wire land lines because they cost too much to operate. Rather they are trying to move to wireless where ever possible. This book helped me understand why WiMAX IS the future of telecommunications. It sure gets my 5 stars (and I don't give 'em out easy!)

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great spectrum policy coverage! July 18, 2005

By ofdm256

Format:Hardcover

Funny enough, our law librarian turned me on to this book. It contains a chapter on regulatory aspects of WiMAX. The book goes into exceptional detail what you can and cannot do with unlicensed spectrum, but what is most important about this book is that it covers recent developments at the FCC concerning future developments in spectrum policy.

Technology is fun, but ultimately you have to know the law on this stuff. As a telecom attorney, I have found this source most helpful. It fully earns 5 stars in my book.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best WiMAX book available! July 17, 2005

By Marconi

Format:Hardcover

I have over 20 years experience in the wireless industry and this book reads like a dream. Thank God some one got off the vendor propaganda and actually read and translated the IEEE spec. The author has taken real pains to make this techincal subject legible to engineer and business decision maker alike.

Unlike a number of tech books on the market, the author mentions no vendors. Given the newness of the technology and all the hype from vendors, this is a real breath of fresh air in tech book writing.

What almost NO tech book will do for you is investigate the legal and economic issues surrounding the technology. WiMAX Handbook goes into detail to alert the would be operator of issues they will face in the regulatory as well as the teechnical realm. By touching on the business case for WiMAX, Ohrtman went where no tech book writer will go and thats what adds real value to this book.

If you are remotely interested in the WiMAX industry I recommend you digest this book ASAP!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is puts it all together December 5, 2005

By schwarzie

Format:Hardcover

I was trying to get a grip on all the nexgen stuff (WiMAX VoIP, IPTV, IMS, EvDo, etc) when I got into this book. It really helped see what the next step is or at least how it all fits together. Very precient. A good investment in my telecom career.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An industry "must read" July 17, 2005

By Fresnel Zone

Format:Hardcover

I got this book at the USTA bookstore at SuperComm and read it on the trip home. I couldn't put it down. My company is in the Wi-Fi space and I wanted to get my arms around the WiMAX thing that every key note speaker at least mentioned at SuperCom. This book really helped me understand what all those VPs at the big telcos were ranting about.

Where this book really helped me out is to understand the difference between the spec and vendor hype. Ohrtman goes into detail describing OFDM, the MAC and PHY layers in words non-engineers can understand.

As I make the case for WiMAX to my company, clients and investors, I will be using chapters 5,6,7 and 8 directly from this book as the author nails the objections everyone has to wireless: QoS, security, interference and, most importantly "Can we do VoIP on that?" The case for IPTV over WiMAX is even more compelling.

Expect to see this book on every bookshelf in every telecom employee office/cubicle by 2007.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers all facets of WiMAX July 23, 2005

By Faraday64

Format:Hardcover

As a long time tech investor, I found this book especially helpful in that it tackles a lot of questions on top of technolog. For example, it devotes a chapter to the business case for WiMAX. Thats big! In addition, it delves into regulatory and economic aspects. Technology is fun, but won't "they" do something about it? This book really helped me get a grip on spectrum issues and full deserves 5 stars!