Understanding Fiber Optics

Rating:
Summary: The perfect first read in fibre optic communications!
Review: I'll be entering the master's program in electrical engineering at Stanford in the fall in fiber optic communications and I'm so glad that I read this book before hand. This book has to be one of the easiest technical (although nontheoretical/nonmathematical) reads. It helped me understand fundamental concepts without getting bogged down in mathematical derivations. Hecht presents the material in a very easy to understand manner. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about fiber optics. Now, after having read this book I'm confident to tackle more advanced texts in fiber optic communications.

Rating:
Summary: good, but some mistakes
Review: it is good to understand overall range of fiber optics, but this book has some fatal errors( for example, Figure7.10 & 2nd paragraph at p135, also things about self-phase modulation of soliton transmission, and several other things at another pages), is vague & feels uncertainty because of skipping necessary details.

Rating:
Summary: good, but some mistakes
Review: it is good to understand overall range of fiber optics, but this book has some fatal errors( for example, Figure7.10 & 2nd paragraph at p135, also things about self-phase modulation of soliton transmission, and several other things at another pages), is vague & feels uncertainty because of skipping necessary details.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for learning the Fiber Optics.
Review: The fourth edition of this book is a product of many years of practical experience and trials of previous editions. I always wondered if more information than just reader's level as beginner, intermediate and advanced should be printed on the technical books. What you are looking for in a book and level of satisfaction depends on your involvement in that area of expertise. Please stay with me while I try my thinking on this book. If you are already an expert working in Optical Engineering field this book is not a research paper. Probably you need Warren J. Smith's book Modern Optical Engineering. If you are a student learning about Fiber Optics this book has enough information and practice questions to be qualified as a good text book, but may not be enough for your Graduate School research thesis. If you are like me, a practicing Network Engineer or technician, this book provides everything you need to know and more than enough information. It is written in an easy to understand style, and chapters are in a perfect sequence and length. That's why I am rating it 5 Stars.

Rating:
Summary: Superb introduction text
Review: This is an excellent introduction to the technology of fiber optics for the non-technical person. No previous knowledge is assumed, and equations are kept to a minimum. If you're completely new to the lightwave transport field, this is the first book you should read!

Rating:
Summary: Understanding fiber optics is outstanding!
Review: Understanding fiber optics is a wonderful instrument for those of us who need to know the basics. I enjoyed the non-technical yet fundamental aspects that were covered. If you are interested in Fiber Optics, I highly recommend this book.