Fundamentals of Telecommunications by Roger L. Freeman

From the Publisher

Demystifying the technology of telecommunications: a guided tour for the non-engineer
This book provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the complex technical world of telecommunications. From bandwidth to data transfer protocol to PSTN, ISDN, PCS, or ATM-widely respected telecommunications expert and author Roger L. Freeman explains it all. He walks the reader through a vast array of current topics, providing an encyclopedic overview of all branches of telecommunications-telephony, data communications, enterprise networks, television transmission, wireless systems, and cellular/personal communication services (PCS). Written for the layperson as well as newcomers to the field, this primer:
* Assumes no mathematical or technical know-how on the part of the reader
* Introduces all topics from the ground up
* Clearly defines all terms, illustrating them with tangible examples
* Features review questions at the end of each chapter, designed to test understanding and reinforce comprehension
* Includes one hundred figures to highlight the text
* Reviews, in three appendices, the most rudimentary of mathematical and electrical concepts, as well as decibels and their applications Fundamentals of Telecommunications allows sales, marketing, and management personnel in the telecommunications industry to better understand the various technical and operational issues that come up in the course of their work. It also gives investors and financiers a basic reference to draw upon when dealing with clients in this rapidly evolving market.

Booknews

A text for an entry-level course for high-school graduates who understand algebra, logarithms, and basic electrical principles such as Ohm's law. Appends even these however, for any necessary review. Explains such aspects of the technology as bandwidth, data transfer protocol, PSTN, ISDN, PCS, and ATM. Considers all areas of telecommunications systems, including telephony, data communications, enterprise networks, television transmission, wireless systems, and cellular/personal communication services. Defines all terms according to the industry's standard references. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Product Details

• Table of Contents
• Forewords & Introductions

Table of Contents

Forewords & Introductions

To meet my stated objective, whereby this text acts as a tutor for those with no experience in telecommunications, every term and concept is carefully explained. Nearly all terminology can be traced to the latest edition of the IEEE dictionary and/or to the several ITU (International Telecommunication Union) glossaries. Other tools I use are analogies and real-life experiences.

We hear the expression "going back to basics." This book addresses the basics and it is written in such a way that it brings along the novice. The structure of the book is purposeful; later chapters build on earlier material. The book begins with some general concepts in telecommunications: What is connectivity, What do nodes do? From there we move on to the voice network embodied in the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN), digital transmission and networks, an introduction to data communications, followed by enterprise networks. It continues with switching and signaling, the transmission transport, cable television, cellular/PCS, ATM, and network management. CCITT Signaling System No. 7 is a data network used exclusively for signaling. It was located after our generic discussion of data and enterprise networks. The novice would be lost in the explanation of System 7 without a basic understanding of data communications.

I have borrowed heavily from my many enriching years of giving seminars, both at Northeastern University and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The advantage of the classroom is that the instructor can stop to reiterate or explain a sticky point. Not so with a book. As a result, I have made every effort to spot those difficult issues, and then give clear explanations. Brevity has been a challenge for me. Telecommunications is developing explosively. My goal has been to hit the high points and leave the details to my other texts.

A major source of reference material has been the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU had a major reorganization on January 1, 1993. Its two principal subsidiary organizations, CCITT and CCIR, changed their names to ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector and the ITU Radio Communications Sector, respectively. Reference publications issued prior to January 1993 carry the older title: CCITT and CCIR. Standards issued after that date carry ITU-T for Telecommunication Sector publications and ITU-R for the Radio Communications Sector documents.

Acknowledgments

Some authors are fortunate to have a cadre of friends who pitch in to help and advise during the preparation of a book. I am one of these privileged people. These friends have stood by me since the publication of my first technical text. In this group are John Lawlor, principal, John Lawlor and Associates of Sharon, MA; Dr. Ron Brown, independent consultant, Melrose, MA; Bill Ostaski, an expert on Internet matters who is based in Beverly Farms, MA; Marshall Cross. president, Megawave Corp., Boylston, MA; and Jerry Brilliant, independent consultant based in Fairfax, VA.

I am grateful to my friends at Motorola in Chandler, AZ, where I learned about mentoring young engineers. In that large group, four names immediately come to mind: Dr. Ernie Woodward, Doug White, Dr. Ali Elahi, and Ken Peterson-all of the Celestri program.

Then there is Milt Crane, an independent consultant in Phoenix, AZ, who is active in local IEEE affairs. Dan Danbeck, program director with Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison, who provided constructive comments on the book's outline. Ted Myers, of Ameritech Cellular, made helpful suggestions on content. John Bellamy, independent consultant and Prof. John Proakis, series editor and well-known author in his own right, reviewed the outline and gave constructive comments to shorten the book to some reasonable length.

I shall always be indebted to Dr. Don Schilling, professor emeritus, City College of New York and great proponent of CDMA in the PCS and cellular environment. Also, my son, Bob Freeman, major accounts manager for Hispanic America, Axis Communications, for suggestions on book promotion. Bob broke into this business about five years ago. Also, my thanks to Dr. Ted Woo of SCTE for help on CATV; to Fran Drake, program director, University of Wisconsin-Madison, who gave me this book idea in the first place; and Dr. Bob Egri, principal investigator at MaCom Lowell (MA) for suggestions on the radio frequency side.

Roger L. Freeman
Scottsdale, Arizona
November, 1998