BKDSWLNT.RVW   20011013

"Designing a Wireless Network", Jeffrey Wheat et al, 2001,
1-928994-45-8, U$49.95/C$77.95
%A   Jeffrey Wheat et al
%C   800 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA   02370
%D   2001
%G   1-928994-45-8
%I   Syngress Media, Inc.
%O   U$49.95/C$77.95 781-681-5151 fax: 781-681-3585 amy@syngress.com
%P   379 p.
%T   "Designing a Wireless Network"

Designing a wireless network would seem to be a rather larger topic. 
What kind of network?  How large?  For what type of applications?  For
what audience, environment or market?  Going by the case studies
provided, this book is intended to address those designing local area
networks: perhaps extending to other buildings, but not crossing
public roads.

Chapter one is a brief history of communications and computing, with
some very questionable facts.  The physical and engineering
characteristics of radio signals given in chapter two are clearly
explained, but the details aren't sufficient for antenna siting
engineers, and aren't really of practical use for other people. 
Again, there is a lucid exegesis of TCP/IP and the OSI layering model,
but limited applicability to wireless networks, in chapter three. 
Chapter four could use some of the previous clarity and information:
the material dealing with the various applications and standards
involved in an assortment of wireless systems is terse and poorly
structured.  The process of design is covered in chapter five, but
only in a vague way and at a high level.

More details of planning are given in the case studies in chapters six
through nine--but not many.  Security, traffic analysis, and antenna
siting are touched on, but only in a very superficial way.  Security
tends to be dismissed as covered, traffic analysis seems limited to
the number of terminals in existence, and radio footprints often
overlap, sometimes to a ridiculous extent.  (One example uses five
antennae where one would probably be sufficient.)  The home office
case study has a good discussion of interference sources, but bogs
down in a section detailing the connection of Windows to the Internet.

As noted, some of the explanations are very good--but they aren't
explanations of wireless technology.  The design process outline and
the case studies do point out aspects or wireless networks that should
be addressed--but they don't provide information about how to address
them.  This book is a good overview of the factors involved in
designing a wireless network--but it doesn't give you the information
you need to come up with the design.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2001   BKDSWLNT.RVW   20011013