The Book End

The Essential Guide to RF and Wireless
Carl J. Weisman
Prentice Hall PTR
232 pages; $34.99
ISBN: 0-13-025962-4

Here is a book on RF and wireless components and systems that is strictly intended for a nontechnical audience. It has two simple objectives: to provide a conceptual understanding of RF components and wireless systems, and to expose the reader to the vocabulary used in the wireless communications industry.

Although the book can be read in parts depending on the interest of the particular reader, the author suggests Chapters 1 and 2 should be read by all since they lay the groundwork for basic RF concepts and behavior. Subjects such as basic electronic terminology, transmitters and receivers, device loss and gain, and the meaning of impedance match are among the topics covered.

Chapter 3 describes basic system components, offering block diagrams of a typical receiver and transmitter, antenna characteristics, amplifier operation, the function of filters and mixers and their properties, sources and how they work, and the basic voltage-controlled oscillator. Other components, such as switches, attenuators, dividers and combiners, and couplers, are covered in Chapter 4 along with circulators and isolators, transformers and detectors. In each case a block diagram of the item is presented along with a description of the device’s function and system use. Chapter 5 discusses circuits and signals, beginning with a description of diodes, transistors and integrated circuits, then proceeding to circuit technologies and modulation techniques. Various forms of signal transmission means, such as cables, waveguide and printed circuit traces, are described.

Chapter 6 begins the section on older RF systems by describing radio and television broadcasting, radar and satellite communications. System operation is explained as is the role each plays in modern communications. Chapter 7 describes the newer wireless systems, including point-to-point microwave, wireless local loop and spread spectrum technology. Mobile telephony is covered along with the cellular radio concept and next-generation systems.

This book is ideal for nontechnical personnel such as advertising agents, sales administrators, marketing and communications personnel, and financial analysts who desire a basic understanding of the technology and its operation.
To order this book, contact: Prentice Hall PTR, PO Box 11073, Des Moines, IA 50336 (800) 947-7700.

Wideband CDMA for Third Generation Mobile Communications
Tero Ojanper and Ramjee Prasad
Artech House Inc.
439 pages; $99, £68
ISBN: 0-89006-735-X

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) and third-generation (3G) networks. It offers a technical background for understanding how W-CDMA air interfaces are designed, starting with the system requirements, applications and radio environments, along with a detailed treatment of technical solutions for spreading codes, coding, modulation, RAKE receivers and soft handover.

The book begins by introducing basic definitions and the background of 3G system development. Chapter 2 defines the principles of CDMA and provides details of spread spectrum and CDMA technologies. Chapter 3 introduces International Mobile Telecommunications-2000, the International Telecommunication Union’s 3G network. The system’s service targets and applications also are detailed. Chapter 4 presents radio environments and their characteristics. Chapter 5 covers all aspects of W-CDMA air interface design, starting with frame structures and physical channel design, including spreading codes and their properties, and radio resource management aspects such as handover and power control. Chapter 6 reviews the main W-CDMA air interfaces, and Chapter 7 describes the performance of W-CDMA, including spectrum efficiency and range. Hierarchical cell structures are discussed in Chapter 8, while Chapter 9 explains the time division duplex (TDD) concept and introduces second-generation systems. Chapter 10 describes implementation of W-CDMA mobiles and base stations, and network planning is discussed in Chapter 11. Chapter 12 presents network aspects, different core network solutions, the generic radio access network concept and the evolution of second- generation networks. Chapter 13 compares W-CDMA to TDMA and other 3G air interfaces, and the final chapter discusses standardization organizations and future directions of W-CDMA.

This book is intended for everyone involved in the field of mobile radio systems and provides a good background for understanding 3G development and implementation issues.
To order this book, contact: Artech House Inc., 685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062 (781) 769-9750, ext. 4002; or 46 Gillingham St., London SW1V 1HH, UK +44 (0) 20 7596-8750.