Customer Reviews

Wireless Communications & Networks

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If there is one word by which I would have to describe this book, it would be: "complete". The author assumes that the reader has nothing but very basic mathematic and scientific training and takes him all the way from first principles in those disciplines to the details of cellular networks, wireless LANs and Bluetooth to mention three of the latter chapters. The ample usage of illustrations, review questions and www-references position this as a high-quality textbook.

Then again, if you are an experienced engineer, looking to solve a concrete problem for the wireless system you are presently sitting in front of, you will find that Stallings' book, because of its breadth of treatment, does not reach the necessary depth. In that case: read one of the many references for further study that the author offers.

First of all, this is a high quality book. Hardcover and fine paper makes it a pleasure to handle. The chapters are well organized into four parts, from Technical Background to Wireless Lans. Beware however, that this is a quite theoretical book. If you are looking for a fast approach to WLAN technologies, perhaps you should try simpler books like O'REILLY's 'Wireless Community Networks'.
Nevertheless, it is an ideal textbook for academic purposes. I am using it as a reference for undergraduate courses. Chapters related to Signal Encoding and Spread Spectrum are really well written, and 802.11 and Bluetooth fundamentals are fully explained.
Even if several parts of the book are taken (with little or none modifications) from other Stallings' books, the book is still worth to have since this fact makes it a completely self-contained reference.

Very suitable for beginners and intermediates. Easy to understand the sentences and main points but I think it would be much better if there is a solution guide for selected question at the end of the book.

Clear, well-organized, and good level of detail. I was frustrated that so many data networking books do not adequately cover wireless, and this does that perfectly. There is even a website with PowerPoint presentations and pdf files of images from the text.

I followed it in my undergraduate studies. It is an okay book, not anything exceptional, just average. I found Mobile Communications by Jochen Schiller better than this book. However with respect to contents it covers much more, particulalry on wireless communications stuff. Actually it should not be compared to Schiller's book because the two are covering relatively different contents. As the title of this book suggests: "Wireless Communicstions and Networks", much of the stuff it covers belong to wireless communications rather than wireless networks e.g., transmission fundamantals, antennas and propagation, signal and encoding techniques.

Many topics are actually belong to the introductory computer networks books but have been included here again, such as the introduction of TCP, IP, in chapter 4, which is, believe me, written in very dry style. Even interesting things look boring if presented this way.

Particulalry the chapters I found relatively well written are Chapter 5 "Antennas and Propagation" and Chapter 10 "Cellular Wireless Networks". However the contents on the cellular wireless networks are too limited. The networks technologies have been merely touched here. In contrast Schiller's book describes GSM, GPRS, UMTS/WCDMA, etc in a lot more detailed and interesting way. I did not follow WLAN chapters of this book since I consulted Schiller's book for it therefore I cannot say much about it.

Also sometimes it feels that too much math have been included, the writing style is not very interesting.

This textbook arrive right on time, in new condition, and was priced right for me. My only complaint is that it feels more like an operating manual rather than a textbook. So much to learn in this field, the course required this and an additional 2 books because no one author could put it all in one book. Glad to have this in my reference library, however.

Book arrived in described conditions, it was a fast shipment as well. But later, I needed to return the book. When I contacted with seller, there was no problem with returns! If I need to get a book, I will definetly check this seller again.

The book is written highly technical and scientific, I recommend to get a manual guide along with it. The best manual I recommend is Ciampa's CWNA Guide to Wireless Lans. Otherwise, you will be lost without the Ciampa's text.

I do not like it for the following reasons:

-It touches the subjects and does not go deep into it.
-It does not have examples.
-The very few examples in the chapters are not clear. You have to decipher it.
-Some of the end of the chapter problems talks about things not covered.
-It is not an easy read. You have to read a paragraph several time to figure it out.
-I do not recommend it.
-On second thought, I should have given it 1 star but it seems I can not change that.

This textbook is one of the best CS textbooks authored by Dr. Stallings!
However, best among what?

It seems that there is a strange, perhaps not very healthy situation that
major CS textbooks are monopolized by Dr. William Stallings. Why
does not somebody even give Dr. Stallings some competition. I am
a believer of the competition. No competition, no better products.

I guess it might be that many CS professors, especially those highly
qualified (say at top 10) are busy at writing proposal rather than
spending time on an undergraduate textbook. If that conjecture is
true, it might be a shame for the whole CS academia. Those big NSF
or DARPA grants receivers should ask themselves, what have I
done for my students? remember most students never have
chance to read your grant proposal and most undergraduates
simply do not have time to even read your research papers
published in journals or monographs.