Understanding SONET / SDH and ATM: Communications Networks for the Next Mellennium

For any one trying for introduction to the topics SONET/SDH ATM This book is the best. Very lucid explanation with lot of good figures and mainly you can read it at bedtime/while travelling and get authentic overview of the subject , A must for the managers in the field and engineers starting to work in the field. The main feature is that it packs a lot of information in such a compact book and which is very well readable.

This book is certainly not a in-depth/exhaustive documentation of SONET and ATM. However, it does provide a general understanding of how SONET/ATM fits in the grand scheme of things. It explains some of the obvious facts of why things are the way they are (e.g. 4Kbps BW of human voice signal, and therefore 8Ksps by Nyquist's sampling theory).I do agree with Newport Beach reader that there seems to be some errors (I didn't know Shannon is accredited with 2X sampling theory, I have never heard of frequency hopping associated with DMT, usual just CDMA/SS).I do find the book well organized and ideas flow in continuous manner. This is good for picking up buzz words but be prepared to look elsewhere for a full explanation. As an example, it mentions about optical components such as EDFA and pumps. If you know what these components are, then everything flows. If not, then you'll have to google.Book should be good for manager/sales people. Even an average engineer with minimal experience (like me) would find it too brief. This is the kind of book for bedtime reading (i.e. no equations) and would most likely sit on the shelf after.

Coming to the telecommunications industry from a totally different area - I didn't know where to begin, the learning curve was steep and there isn't a lot of learning material on SDH in North America. I loved this book. There's a bunch of online tutorials if you look to the industry leader websites, but it's all assumming a core level of knowledge. I found I was wasting too much time just trying to figure out the smallest details.Kartalopoulos - has taught the subject at many seminars and knew which areas gave people the most difficulty. It's obvious that he took this input to heart when clarifying issues that many others don't think to spend time on - and the way he does it is great.

Coming to the telecommunications industry from a totally different area - I didn't know where to begin, the learning curve was steep and there isn't a lot of learning material on SDH in North America.I loved this book. There's a bunch of online tutorials if you look to the industry leader websites, but it's all assumming a core level of knowledge. I found I was wasting too much time just trying to figure out the smallest details.Kartalopoulos - has taught the subject at many seminars and knew which areas gave people the most difficulty. It's obvious that he took this input to heart when clarifying issues that many others don't think to spend time on - and the way he does it is great.