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Summary: The M&T Books Networking Technologies Series
Review: "Communications Systems and Networks" offers a comprehensive, common-sense explanation of current and developing communications systems and networks. The book broadly explores the current range of communications systems including wired and wireless voice, data, and video. It also features recently developed and emerging technologies such as Frame Relay, SMDS, and ATM. Convergence technologies and networks ranging from the Internet and video-on-demand, to interactive TV are evaluated in the context of the developing Information Superhighway. This valuable reference demystifies the complex layers of networking technology, places standards in perspective, and explains regulatory issues and trends. Each chapter addresses a key area of telecommunications technology and applications with an eye toward the development of meaningful and cost-effective solutions to vital communications concerns. Communications professionals including business people, network managers, regulators, TelCom attorneys, and manufacturers will use "Communications Systems and Networks" as the essential handbook for working with the complex, emerging communications systems for the next century.*Explains the fundamentals of transmission systems, data communications protocols, and carrier options *Describes emerging and broadband technologies, including their application, regulation, standards, and costs *Tracks the development of Network Convergence, including interactive applications and the Internet *Provides communications professionals and strategic market planners with an invaluable understanding of the entire networking marketplace
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Summary: A MUST for professionals
Review: A must read for all existing and aspiring Networking/Telecommunications professionals! Horak has succinctly, yet thoroughly, covered basic through advance information and history on one of the most complex issues of the last and this century. In my 33 years in this industry I have never encountered such a complete treatise in one place before. A seminal work!
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Summary: A MUST for professionals
Review: A must read for all existing and aspiring Networking/Telecommunications professionals! Horak has succinctly, yet thoroughly, covered basic through advance information and history on one of the most complex issues of the last and this century. In my 33 years in this industry I have never encountered such a complete treatise in one place before. A seminal work!
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Summary: Communications Systems and Networks
Review: A wonderful and essential book for all telecom engineers. It is a great work that should have scored my 5 but for the paper quality.
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Summary: Great Book!
Review: After reading several terrific reviews of Communications Systems & Networks, I purchase a copy, which I read from cover to cover. The reviewers were absolutely correct--without a doubt, it is the best book of its sort. Horak covers the full range of communications systems and network technologies--from voice to data to video--in a thoroughly understandable fashion. Compared with other books--all of which cover narrower ranges of subject matter, and in all too technical a fashion, and at twice the price--this book is a bargain!
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Summary: An excellent book
Review: An excellent book which takes the reader step by step into the details of communication technologies, gradually tracing their evolution. A must for professionals as well as the novice.
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Summary: Excellent knowledge baseline for communications networks
Review: As a switch software developer for many years, I have developed a deep understanding of small corners of switch features, but lacked a good overall knowledge of network architecture. Thank you, Ray, for providing me with the system overview essential for the systems engineering job that I have recently assumed. This is a comprehensive overview of modern communications networks (with interesting brief histories - a nice touch for good readability) aimed at a person with some telecom experience, but like me, with an incomplete background. This book has very nicely filled in knowledge gaps with a great overview of the technologies involved in today's networks. Some of this was familiar, and the rest I knew only in vague generalities. I have been recommending it to others in the field as a good reference. My only complaint is that it is large and cumbersome, so does not travel well. A CD-ROM version would be a very nice handy reference while on my frequent road trips. And he takes his solicitation for input, as stated in the foreword, very seriously. I think the level of detail is just right, as it gives me enough background to follow technical discussions and ask intelligent questions.
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Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: Communications Systems and Networks by Ray Horak is and excellent resource for anyone in the communication industry, whether experienced or not. I advise every new person in my group to purchase it and keep it close at hand. It has been helpful on many occasions when I needed to help an upper level manager understand a technical issue.
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Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: Communications Systems and Networks by Ray Horak is and excellent resource for anyone in the communication industry, whether experienced or not. I advise every new person in my group to purchase it and keep it close at hand. It has been helpful on many occasions when I needed to help an upper level manager understand a technical issue.
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Summary: A necessary addition to my library
Review: Communications Systems and Networks is a unique guide through a wide spectrum of complex technology. Horak's strength is his ability to clearly present the information in a way that is easily applied in terms of meaningful and cost-effective applications. If you are new to telecommunications or data communications or if you have years of experience, you will find Communications Systems and Networks a necessary addition to your library.
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