Telecommunications Cabling Installation

Rating:
Summary: Great and getting better!
Review: After having been in the telecommunications industry for over 40 years, I have seen many technical document come and go. This is without a doubt the best "Installation Manual" for the installation of an ANSI/TIA/EIA compliant infrastructure that the industry has produced. It is fast becoming the standard for the industry both domestically and internationally. I personally know that both Japan and Korea have translated it and are using it in their countries and have heard that Brazil is also considering it.

Its my understanding that an update is in the works and it can only get better.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book
Review: I have reviewed this technical manual from its inception in 1996 to date. This is the second revision and is much more inclusive than the first edition. It is a "must have" for each installer/technician in the industry. Strongly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Book is dissapointing
Review: I was expecting a lot when I purchased this book. I have been in the cable installation industry for over 25 years. I was looking for a book to teach communication cabling installation to new employees and to other individuals thinking of entering the cabling installation industry. The book has two major problems. First, the book provides cabling specifications that are based on old TIA cabling standards. BICSI publishes other manuals that have more up to date information. Therefore, this book contradicts the latest TIA cabling standards and other information that is used by everyone in the cabling industry. Second, most of the book's content is filled with bulleted points organized into lists. I assume that these bulleted point must be important but there is virtually no meaningful expanation of what these bulleted points mean and why they are important. As a result, I read lots of pages but didn't learn any useful information from this book. If you purchase this book and think you will become a cabling expert, you won't!

Rating:
Summary: Book is dissapointing
Review: I was expecting a lot when I purchased this book. I have been in the cable installation industry for over 25 years. I was looking for a book to teach communication cabling installation to new employees and to other individuals thinking of entering the cabling installation industry. The book has two major problems. First, the book provides cabling specifications that are based on old TIA cabling standards. BICSI publishes other manuals that have more up to date information. Therefore, this book contradicts the latest TIA cabling standards and other information that is used by everyone in the cabling industry. Second, most of the book's content is filled with bulleted points organized into lists. I assume that these bulleted point must be important but there is virtually no meaningful expanation of what these bulleted points mean and why they are important. As a result, I read lots of pages but didn't learn any useful information from this book. If you purchase this book and think you will become a cabling expert, you won't!

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Obsolete
Review: Many portions of this book (the 2nd edition) are obsolete. This is due to a new TIA cabling standard (568-B) which was ratified right around the time of this book's release in the Spring of 2001. BICSI has since released a 3rd edition in 3-ring-binder format, but McGraw-Hill has not as of yet released the hardcover of the 3rd edition. If you plan on buying this book, either get the 3rd edition through BICSI or wait for McGraw-Hill to publish a hardcopy of the 3rd edition. But before you buy, read on...

Other than the now obsolete portions of this book, it is accurate, but without many exercises or detailed labs in this volume, I'd have to agree with other reviewers here and call it "lacking detail." Perhaps a lab-book is where all the details went. I have also noticed that this book goes so far out of its way to be "vendor-neutral" that it sometimes uses terms that almost nobody in the industry would recognize. This edition also fails to mention some new cabling innovations that have been around since early 2000.

Finally, just one point of interest here; the primary reviewer who has give this book a 5-star rating has a vested interest in the book as well. He is listed in the acknowledgements section of this book, so take those comments with a grain-of-salt.

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Obsolete
Review: This book contains old and soon to be obsolete information. Another reviewer says in his review "Its my understanding that an update is in the works and it can only get better". He is right. According to BICSI, they have written and will soon be selling a new version of this book. But this is the old book! I purchased this book now I find out that a new version is about to be released. I can't believe they are selling old book and passing them off as new material.

Rating:
Summary: Obsolete Information
Review: This book contains old and soon to be obsolete information. Another reviewer says in his review "Its my understanding that an update is in the works and it can only get better". He is right. According to BICSI, they have written and will soon be selling a new version of this book. But this is the old book! I purchased this book now I find out that a new version is about to be released. I can't believe they are selling old book and passing them off as new material.