T1: A Survival Guide

Matthew's book is a labour of love, and it shows. If you are curious about T1s, this is the book to have. Even though it's no longer a new book, it is still relevant; perhaps even more so now that open-source telecom platforms herald a renaissance for the ubquitous T1. A must for the hard core telephony geek!

This book is an invaluable reference to the art and science of T1 lines. If you're in a position where you regularly install or troubleshoot T1 lines, this book will make you infinitely more successfully at your job. The book puts many topics under 1 cover, including the physical wiring of T1 jacks, the configuration options needed when ordering, as well as the methodlogy used by the telephone company to troubleshoot malfunctioning lines. Unlike many telecommunications references, this book is written focusing on the practical aspects of installing, troublehsooting, and monitoring t1 jacks. There's sufficient background material to explain how things work, but it focuses on the practical, making it a much quicker read. By understanding the language and concepts of T1 lines you'll be able to much more effectively troubleshoot T1 activity and interact with the telco. Even if you don't work with these on a daily basis but are just curious, the book is well written enough that it makes for an interesting read.

Until now, it has been a difficult (impossible?) task to find a really good reference on T1s. There are plenty of books out there on digital communications, but they tend to be too general, lumping in SONET, ATM, etc. with minimal coverage on the T carrier system. Finally, in traditional O'Reilly style, we have a definitive focussed and entertaining reference book on the subject of many an IS manager's greatest nightmare. The author takes the reader on a tour of the T carrier system with clear explanations on signalling, timing, and the different components which make up the system to provide a cohesive overview of what goes on behind the scenes when that smartjack shows up in the wiring closet. Additionally, the coverage on PPP and frame relay is exceptional (if a bit brief on the frame side). Chock full of charts, tables and diagrams, the book is an excellent reference, while also serving as an entertaining introduction to the subject for the uninitiated. If you work with, plan to work with, or have ever been curious about T1s, this book should be considered required reading.

Gast's T1: A Survival Guide is a fantastic resource for networking professionals in the IP world. All too frequently we are called upon to interface with Verizon and other big carriers that speak a language that is completely foreign to our world (and they don't speak our language, either!). This book finally brings the lingo of the telco world into terms that the networking professional can quickly grasp and understand, which is something that anyone that has spent any time talking to switch and transmission techs can appreciate."It's blue? All 1s? MUX? DACS? Biscuit?"Finally these terms make sense!