BKITTATS.RVW   20000508

"Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems", A. Michael Noll,
1998, 1-58053-000-1, U$49.00
%A   A. Michael Noll
%C   685 Canton St., Norwood, MA   02062
%D   1998
%G   1-58053-000-1
%I   Artech House/Horizon
%O   U$49.00 800-225-9977 fax: 617-769-6334 artech@artech-house.com
%P   373 p.
%T   "Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems, Third Edition"

The introduction states that this book is intended for educated
managers and laypeople who do not have an engineering degree.  I
certainly fit within that category, and I could probably lay claim to
a bit more.  However, I was disappointed in the work contained in this
volume.  The explanations are not as clear as they could be, and while
the text has some interesting and useful explanations for a little
known field, it doesn't live up to its promise.

Chapter one is a general introduction to telecommunications, including
a rather interesting table showing that telephone service generates
more revenue than television and movies combined.  Some simple network
concepts are outlined in chapter two.  The components of telephone
sets and stations are described in chapter three, with a fair amount
of history thrown in.  Chapter four looks at the physical side of
things with analogue transmission media and systems.  Digital
transmission systems are listed in chapter five, with various related
technologies being discussed along with T-1s, fibre, and undersea
cables.  Electromechanical switches may be of merely historical
interest nowadays, but chapter six does not really do them justice. 
Digital switching also gets some historical background in chapter
seven.  Chapter eight is a very basic introduction to signalling. 
Wireless concepts, in chapter nine, get a good, quick introduction
that concentrates on cellular phone service.

Chapter ten's review of data communications is possibly workable for
non-professionals, but seems to indicate that the author is not really
comfortable with the topic.  A variety of telecommunications services
in listed in chapter eleven, including video, Internet, 800 service,
videotex, fax.  Not all of these, of course, were useful or well
received.  A history of the US telecom industry is given in chapter
twelve.  The final chapter, as is common, is an editorial and
forecast.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKITTATS.RVW   20000508