From ptownson Wed Feb 4 12:21:45 1998 Return-Path: Received: by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.7.4/NSCS-1.0S) id MAA28146; Wed, 4 Feb 1998 12:21:45 -0500 (EST) Received: from DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.7.4/NSCS-1.0S) id MAA28104; Wed, 4 Feb 1998 12:20:58 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 98 12:13 EST From: Perillo@DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL Subject: Re: General Telecom books To: hans@COLBA.NET Message-ID: <980204171309.548753@DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL> Status: RO This was previously posted on the Telecom Digest in October, and I believe answers Jean-Francois Vaillancourt's recent posted question (Telecom Digest V18-025)? (plus many others) You might want to archive this post for reference. 06:30:51am Tuesday October 21, 1997. Subject: Telecommunications Book List, Re: Wanted, General Telecom Book Suggestions? [A Final corrected version, Fall 1997] Most Community Colleges teach a Telecommunications Certificate program, which includes an "Introduction to Data Communications". I have listed the standard texts used, which are available through most bookstores. The Telecommunications program usually consists of five core courses: 1 - Introduction to Telecommunications, Telecommunications Survey course. Studies the major aspects of Telecommunications including history, legal and regulatory, technology, and management. Analyzes voice, data, imaging, and video systems. Describes Access-Egress, and Transmission facilities. Overviews carrier services (links and trunks), Traffic Engineering, and the OSI Reference Model. Usually requires three books: "Voice & Data Communications Handbook", Bud Bates and Donald Gregory, McGraw-Hill, 1995, $65.00 . The main text, a good introduction and comprehensive resource to the full range of converging voice and data telecommunication areas and technologies. "Signals, the Science of Telecommunications", John R. Pierce and A. Michael Noll, Scientific American Library, 1990, $33.00; A good coffee table book with lots of pictures and diagrams explaining basic telecommunications science. "Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 12th edition, the official Dictionary of Telecommunications, Computer Telephony, Data Communications, Internet telephony, Voice processing, Windows 95 & NT communications, LAN, WAN, and wireless networking"; Harry Newton, FlatIron publishing, 1997, $29.95 2 - Telephony. Basic Voice Telecommunications, basic voice services and facilities provided by the Telco's, Centrex, PBX, Voice Mail, Wiring and Cabling, Writing an RFP, Computer Telephony, and Automatic Call Distribution (ACD). "The McGraw-Hill Telecommunications Factbook"; Joseph A. Pecar, Roger J. O'Connor, and David A. Garbin, 1993, $29.95 . 3 - Introduction to Data Communications. Explains fundamentals of data telecommunications, the technologies behind Local Area Networks (LAN's), Internet, Public/Private Data Networks, transmission methods and protocols, including Network Management and Administration, plus network security services. Most colleges in the U.S. use: "Data & Computer Communications 5th ed.", William Stallings, 1996, Prentice Hall, $68.00 . The Standard Text, an excellent comprehensive and detailed book, down to the bit level on most protocols, a mandatory reference in most telecommunications shops. Most universities in Europe use: "Data Communications, Computer Networks and Open Systems, fourth edition", Fred Halsall, Addison Wesley, 1996, $59.95 . Some community colleges use a less rigorous, more introductory, more "why do we do this" text instead: "Business Data Communications, third edition", William Stallings and Richard Van Slyke, Prentice Hall, 1997, $57.00 . An excellent introduction and comprehensive overview of Data Communications. 4 - Network Facilities and Services. Explores in detail the PSTN Network Architecture, SS#7 - AIN, the business WAN architecture, Operations - Administration - Maintenance - Provisioning (OAM&P) concepts, value added features/services. Plus emerging technologies including ISDN, xDSL, Frame Relay, SONET, ATM, pagers, and wireless networks And how they fit into the Network Architectures. "Enterprise Networking: Fractional T1 to SONET, Frame Relay to BISDN", Daniel Minoli, Artech, 1992, $89.00 5 - Telecommunications Management and Administration. Studies administrative issues affecting Telecommunications. Integrates the global market place, behavioral, technical, and regulatory aspects along with business models for the telecommunications industry. Operations Support Systems (OSS). Includes budgeting, planning, project management, traffic engineering and capacity utilization, network performance monitoring, contracts, cost justification, financial analysis, and decision making for a telecommunications project. Usually requires two texts, none of them really fit, needs instructor handouts, best available books: "Information Telecommunications: Network, Products, and Services", Robert K. Heldman, McGraw-Hill, 1994, $49.95, ISBN: 0-07-028040-1. "The Art of Strategic Planning for Information Technology", Bernard H. Boar, AT&T/Wiley, 1993, $39.95 . -------- Robert J. Perillo, CCP, CNE Perillo@dockmaster.ncsc.mil Principal Telecommunications Engineer Richmond, VA Disclaimer: All comments or statements are solely my own, and do not reflect or represent any organization's that I may be associated with.