Book Review: The Book of Wireless

The Book of Wireless is a reference version of the user manuals that a person seeking to set-up, from the wireless LAN components like routers and access points, might require. In seventeen short and utility chapters, the author has done a good job of helping out the confused user of this still hotly researched technology.

One of the discussions revolves around the possibilities of Wi-Fi networks and broadband wireless vis-a-vis the 3G and various mobile telephony technologies. The large advantage of high-speed provided by the wireless broadband and Wi-Fi highlights the risks faced by the mobile operators when they pay astronomical sums to gather the renewable licenses. The basic disadvantage is that the mobile networks are developed for the voice communication and data communications are an add-on to the voice facility whereas Wi-Fi and wireless broadband are developed keeping high-speed data communication over wireless in mind.

There is also an interesting discussion of pulling down costs of wireless Internet access by setting up neighborhood wireless networks by sharing a single link from the ISP via a router/modem and spreading it across a private network. Maybe this is one way how the technologies evolve to bring down costs.

Summing up, the discussions are lively and text-matter useful for the end-users. This is a recommended add-on giving a big picture to the user manuals that users will have to read anyway. On a critical note, the book could have done with a little more number of illustrations and figures.