BKUNDTEL.RVW 940608 SAMS Publishing 11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140 Carmel, IN 46032-5634 317-573-2500 317-581-3535 800-428-5331 800-428-3804 or 201 West 103rd St. Indianapolis, IN 46290 317-581-3718 fax: 317-581-4669 "Understanding Telephone Electronics", Bigelow, 1991, 0-672-27350-0, U$24.95/C$31.95 One of my professors was fond of remarking that a computer scientist was one who sat at a terminal connected to a wire that disappeared into the wall. Not only did the computer scientist not know what was on the other side of the wall, he or she did not *want* to know. For those involved in data communications, life is not quite that simple. There is a requirement to deal with hardware, both at the simple level of cables and phone cords, and up through modems, multiplexers and PADs. Most, however, stop short at the phone jack. The wires go off into the wall, and not only do the data comm types not know what is on the other side of the wall ... Some, however, may actually want to know. There are remarkably few sources outside of professional or engineering references. Thus, it is very heartening to find that this book is not merely a source of information, but is written clearly and presented well. Illustrations are illustrative and organization is thorough. (The end of chapter quizzes are so simple as to be a waste of time, but I suppose you can't have everything.) Logically divided chapters lay out the basics and details of the telephone system; telephone set; electronic speech, dialling and ringing circuits; integrated telephone circuits; electronics in the central office; network transmission; and wireless and cellular phones. We data mavens are remembered with chapters on digital transmission, modem and facsimile. The material is lucid and, at all points, within reach of the intelligent novice. This is, by no means, written specifically for the data professional. Anyone with an curiosity for what is inside a telephone will be interested. Electronics buffs may find enough detail in the schematics to try and build telephones; even quite advanced ones; at home. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKUNDTEL.RVW 940608 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" (Oct. '94) Springer-Verlag