BKINTMCE.RVW   20000506

"Introduction to Mobile Communications Engineering", Jose M.
Hernando/F. Perez-Fontan, 1999, 0-89006-391-5, U$83.00
%A   Jose M. Hernando
%A   F. Perez-Fontan
%C   685 Canton St., Norwood, MA   02062
%D   1999
%G   0-89006-391-5
%I   Artech House/Horizon
%O   U$83.00 617-769-9750 fax: 617-769-6334 artech@artech-house.com
%P   535 p.
%T   "Introduction to Mobile Communications Engineering"

According to the preface, this is a textbook to be used for a course
introducing engineering students to mobile communications.  However,
the authors feel that it can also be used as a technical reference.

Part one outlines the basic concepts.  Chapter one looks at
propagation channel characteristics, with lots of math and graphs but
limited discussion of the implications.  The simplest system of mobile
communications, private mobile radio (PMR), still makes chapter two
extremely complex.

Part two details propagation modelling.  Chapter three examines
multipath propagation, reflections, scattering, and yet more math. 
Propagation path loss is dealt with in chapter four.  Mobile network
systems engineering, in chapter five, concentrates on traffic and
coverage, in the aspects of quality, availability, and extent.  The
new mobile scenarios involved with microcells and indoor connections
add to propagation complexity, and are addressed in chapter six. 
Chapter seven's analysis of base station design is primarily concerned
with schematics for multifrequency use of antenna systems, and has
much less detail than the preceding material.

Part three reviews standards for mobile communications.  Chapter eight
outlines trunked systems components, management signalling, and
traffic.  The additional concepts involved in cellular systems,
concentrating on the basic AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), are
given in chapter nine.  Chapter ten provides a good overview of the
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).  Other mobile radio
systems; such as North American Digital Cellular (NADC), CDMA (Code
Division Multiple Access), and cordless; are listed in chapter eleven. 
Chapter twelve looks at future mobile communication systems, mostly
protocols in progress.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKINTMCE.RVW   20000506