Customer Rating:  
Summary: Book Need to be improved and updated
Comment: I got and read this book, taking Cisco Wireless Lan course. I was excited first but was very disappointed for first 1-3 chapters, especially for the area covering various spread spectrum and modulation techniques for 802.11a and 802.11b, very poor work and very confusing. I recommend that an excellent and easy-to-read book such as "Guide to Designing and Implementing Wireless LANs" by Ciampa (2001, From Course Technology, or to wait for "CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs" Second Edition by Ciampa) on one extreme side, to other extreme side of a highly technical or scholarly book such as "Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice" (2nd Edition) by Rapport (Prentice Hall).
My second disappointment is the absence of 802.11g even considering its publication date and the flood of other vendor's 802.11g products in market (and for 802.16 Wi-Max, especially considering the price that I paid for this book and the reputation of CISCO).
I am somewhat happy with the rest of the book, done reasonably well, on the topics but hoped that it could be done much better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cisco Networking Academy Program Fundamentals of Wireless LA
Comment: "Fundamentals of Wireless LANS", published by Cisco Press, is a most appropriate title. Having read other books that were intended to have a similar fundamental-in-nature content, "Fundamentals of Wireless LANS" definitely offers more detail. The number of pages alone - almost 800, excluding appendices - are an indication right away that this book will contain a sufficient amount of detail. The reference about the book being authorized for the Cisco Networking Academy Program is also appropriate. The book is definitely geared toward the use of Cisco wireless networking equipment.
The level of experience to fully comprehend the subject matter, and to perform the exercises throughout the book, are no more than that required of someone with CCNA-level knowledge. The focus of the book is on wireless networking equipment so, there a minimal references to traditional (wired) networking equipment. Also, the infrequent reference to wired networking equipment assumes that the reader understands the function(s) of this equipment, and again, this understanding is not beyond the level of CCNA knowledge.
The reader that will find this book most useful is someone who wants to develop a solid foundation in wireless LAN principles, and wants to gain that understanding from a Cisco-centric perspective. Also, anyone pursuing the Cisco Wireless LAN specialization certification will find this book as an excellent preparatory source.
There are examples that are illustrated in the chapters, along with examples on a CD-ROM that is included with the book. The examples throughout the chapters are extremely easy to follow; so easy, that each concept can fully comprehended without the use of any actual equipment. Of course, if the reader does have access to the actual equipment (or software utility) that are referenced in the examples, that will only serve to enhance the learning. Each illustration is well thought out, that makes it very easy for someone with good self-study skills to follow. Each chapter concludes with a list of the "key terms" restate where the focus was placed. Also, to challenge and test the comprehension of the material in the chapter, there are 10 questions that serve to reinforce the subject matter. Some chapters also contain URLs to Cisco websites that offer additional materials on the equipment or subject being discussed.
The CD-ROM that is included with the book is awesome. The CD-ROM is comprised of the following components: 1)Test Engine, 2)Photo Zooms, 3)Interactive Activities, 4)Demo Activities, and 5)references to other Cisco-related WLAN resources. The "References" to other Cisco-related WLAN resources include some tools and utilities that are right on the CD-ROM.
The Test Engine on the CD-ROM is consists of 2 components: 1) Study Mode, and 2) Practice Exam. The Study Mode component contains 296 questions, and the Practice Exam includes 70 questions. The questions cover concepts presented in all 12 chapters of the book. The Study Mode allows the reader to customize the number of questions to be tested, the chapters from which the questions will come from, and the time period (number of minutes) that is allowed to answer questions.
The PhotoZooms provide photographs of the Cisco WLAN equipment that is referenced throughout the book. These photographs give a lot of credence to the cliché - a picture is worth a thousand words. Being able to the equipment that is referenced throughout the book is invaluable. Also, along with each equipment photo is a description of the equipment.
The Interactive Activities section of the CD-ROM provides 42 hands-on exercises. The exercises are a combination of dynamic and static illustrations. As the CD-ROM describes, these exercises are intended to help the reader to "...master the basic Wireless concepts." These exercises are a bonus even if the reader has access to the actual equipment.
The Demo Activities on the CD-ROM contains 13 animated exercises. Once again, providing a most needed benefit to the reader that does not possess access the actual equipment and utility software.
On the inside front cover of the book, a comment is made that this book will prepare the reader to attempt Cisco Wireless LAN Specialist certification exam. After examining the chapters' and CD-ROM content, I have to agree with this comment. In addition to certification preparation, the book is an excellent resource for gaining a healthy understanding of WLAN fundamentals.
Without hesitation, I would read (and recommend) titles from Cisco Press - this title in particular. This book is just the book that I needed to gain the solid understanding of wireless technology fundamentals that I wanted. The illustrations and practical applications afforded me an understanding about wireless networking that I hadn't been able to glean from other books; books that were substantial in their own way but, nevertherless, unable to provide that fundamental knowledge transfer. The rating that I would assign the book would be a 5 - on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Logical and Clear Wireless Guide
Comment: The Cisco Network Academy Program book on Wireless Networking entitled "Fundamentals of Wireless LANs" published by Cisco Press is developed for a specific audience. Normally, any Cisco Press book is geared towards individuals in the network arenas; and while many of these books are even more specific in nature, and geared to a defined set of individuals, with this book they do not forget that there are generalists that are also involved in the particular network environment that this book covers. Most of the time, possessing sufficient general knowledge of networking and how items interoperate, you can understand the text's intentions and learn from it. A key ingredient in understanding this book is to realize that wireless networking is in of itself not specific to a platform or concept, but a globally desired resource.An initial glance of the book was used to determine what the book had to offer and whether it was worth reading. This basic scan revealed that wireless technology and the deployment of this technology is not as simple as plugging in an access point and configuring your client card. The figures and tables provide excellent examples of the importance of the process and understanding needed to deploy a wireless environment. If you look at the back cover for an overview, you are only led to believe this book is designed to assist an individual in preparing for a certification from Cisco Systems as a wireless specialist, but this book contains so much more. I believe that this book is a must have for any individual researching the wireless networking environment, how it interoperates, and is developed; or for anyone responsible for an already established network. Having personal knowledge of deploying a large scale WLAN environment in the past and supporting it on a global basis, I wish this book had been available two years ago when I had to plan, execute and train individual network engineers on the fundamentals of a wireless network. The concepts and skills needed by any individual to develop and support any wireless environment are different from those needed for a basic network; and thus, this book helps not only educate the individual but also explains the do's and don'ts, the why's and why not's, that matter in an Radio Frequency (RF) environment. The book is divided into five (5) clear sections (Background, Equipment, Site Security and Preparation, Managing, and finally an Appendix), each dealing with specifics. While at times this book is clearly a Cisco product and designed towards the Cisco Aironet product line as best demonstrated in Part II where the book mentions specific parts and components of the Aironet products, it still provides the general principles for designing and establishing a WLAN network regardless of vendor. With each section new information clearly builds on prior information, but also is general enough to allow an individual to only use that section. For example, in Chapter 4 Wireless Topologies, the chapter builds on prior items like wireless radio technology of Chapter 3 and the background of Part I, yet it is still independent enough to provide an understanding of how to deploy a wireless environment. This book does come with a supplemental CD that offers several components like demos and interactive labs, in addition to a practice exam to help you prepare for the actual Cisco exam. While the practice exam questions gave me a feel for the actual exam I found the rest of the CD of no additional benefit in supplementing what was covered within the book itself. What this book makes up for in specifics of itself, its' CD lacks several features that could make it better. Among these features are audio explanations of the examples and demos. Since Cisco Press used Macromediaâ„¢ for the interactive demos and labs, it would seem only logical to include audio in the demos. I found this item a bit disconcerting and it made my exploration of the demos a bit more difficult. Otherwise, the CD is well structured and an excellent help, especially in preparing for the certification itself. Overall, even with the problems of the CD itself, I would highly recommend this book to any individual consider adding an understanding of the wireless environment or just looking for an excellent reference book on the subject. If they are only adding to their library for the understanding of wireless networking and the need to support it; even if they are not pursuing a Cisco certification in wireless this book is a clear must have.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent source for Wireless LANs config, troubleshooting
Comment: This is a very comprehensive book meant for beginners, as well as experts in need of a practical guide for designing deploying and troubleshooting wireless LANs. The book has a very comprehensive explanation of various aspects of the wireless technologies. The first few chapters are very good source of information for those who are novices in this field. They emphasize the need for wireless LAN's, different components used in the deployment of a wireless LAN, and the various challenges in such a deployment. The next few chapters go into detail explanation of the wireless technology, the various components like access points, bridges, antenna etc, and also explain the various wireless topologies, the security challenges and the available options.The book has a very practical approach towards teaching the topics. It explains the concepts with practical examples and references to real world situations. The last 2 chapters are a very good source of reference for those who are in process of deployment of a wireless LAN for their company or their SOHO. Apart from this, the book also aids in preparing for the Cisco wireless LAN support specialist exam. The book is meant for all types of readers, from students to professionals and has a very organized structure, with each chapters focusing on the important concepts, components and functions of wireless LANs. The companion CD-ROM with the book has some very useful articles and graphical demos, which supplement the book. The CD-ROM also has a good collection of questions meant to help in preparing for the Cisco Wireless LAN support specialist exam. I would highly recommend the book for anyone who is either studying or working in the field of networking, and for people who are into wireless networking this is book is a must have.... The book has a very practical approach towards teaching the topics. It explains the concepts with practical examples and references to real world situations. The last 2 chapters are a very good source of reference for those who are in process of deployment of a wireless LAN for their company or their SOHO. Apart from this, the book also aids in preparing for the Cisco wireless LAN support specialist exam. The book is meant for all types of readers, from students to professionals and has a very organized structure, with each chapters focusing on the important concepts, components and finctions of wireless LANs. I would highly recommend the book for anyone who is either studying or working in the field of networking, and for people who are into wireless networking this is book is a must have....
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