BEST RADIO BOOKS
Hi there! I'm Jay, a passionate radio communication engineer fascinated by the world of radio communication, electronics, and wireless technologies. I’ve got decades of experience designing and building projects in the industry, and I always try to stay up-to-date with the latest innovations in the field.
This site curates what I believe to be some of the most insightful books in the tech sector, from radio and electronics to wireless networks, the Internet of Things, and smart home technologies.
If you are a fellow engineer, a tech enthusiast, or simply want to learn more about this exciting industry, I promise you’re going to find some valuable recommendations on Star28.
I wanted to highlight exactly 28 books on the site initially, but I simply couldn't replace some of them. So, the site includes 30+ books as of today.
If you’ve got a tech book recommendation, drop me a note. I’ll read the book, and if it’s got what it takes, I promise I’ll review it and add it to my list.
Let’s dive in!
Beginning LoRa Radio Networks with Arduino
"Beginning LoRa Radio Networks with Arduino" by Pradeeka Seneviratne is a great guide for people with various tech backgrounds who want to explore the Long Range (LoRa) technology using the Arduino platform.
The book starts with the basics of LoRa and LoRaWAN, discussing their potential integration with the open-source electronic prototyping platform.
If you’ve never worked with this tiny computer before, you will be happy to hear that the author has dedicated a full chapter to Arduino, discussing the necessary hardware and software.
Pradeeka Seneviratne also shows his readers how to configure the Arduino board for LoRa communication, and then teaches them how to build a simple LoRa node, which will later become a section of a LoRa network...
Building Wireless Sensor Networks
"Building Wireless Sensor Networks: with ZigBee, XBee, Arduino, and Processing" by Robert Faludi is dedicated to tech enthusiasts and professionals who are eager to work with wireless sensor networks, aka WSNs. Though it was published about a decade ago, the book continues to stand out due to its practical approach and easy-to-follow instructions.
Faludi begins his book by explaining the basics of WSNs and the advantages that arise from using ZigBee for low-power apps that don’t need to exchange a lot of data. He takes the time to demystify most of the tech jargon, making this section accessible to beginners as well.
The author’s hands-on approach becomes more and more valuable as you progress through the book, due to the huge variety of practical projects with step-by-step instructions and simple code snippets that do the job...
RFID Handbook: Technology, Applications, Security and Privacy
"RFID Handbook: Technology, Applications, Security and Privacy" by Gordon Colbach helps readers understand the complex world of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Due to its comprehensive nature, it is suitable for beginners and tech specialists alike.
The book starts with a brief introduction to RFID’s history, and then moves on to essential components such as tags, readers, and antennas.
Then, Colbach examines the more technical aspects of Radio Frequency Identification, showing the reader how the different components work together in harmony.
If I were to choose this book’s top strength, it would definitely be the applications section, which discusses how RFID is used in various industries, starting with supply chain management and ending with healthcare...
Computer Networks
"Computer Networks" (5th Edition) by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall is a well-known masterpiece in the tech world. It is one of the most comprehensive books on computer network theory and practice.
The authors have organized their work into ‘layers’ that are similar to the architecture of computer networks. It’s a unique, and yet highly useful approach that allows readers to explore the layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) models in great detail, starting with the physical layer and gradually moving towards the application layer...
Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications
This book is a comprehensive, authoritative guide to the mmWave technology, a term used for electromagnetic waves with a length between 10 mm and 1 mm and frequencies between 30 GHz and 300 GHz.
"Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications" starts with an introduction that discusses the importance of mmWave, which is essential for next-gen wireless communications and 5G networks, for example. The authors explain the physics and propagation characteristics of the mmWave radio signals, helping newcomers grasp the basic concepts.
The book continues with mmWave propagation, highlighting essential topics such as path loss, atmospheric attenuation, scattering, diffraction, and more.
The "System Design" section discusses antenna design, efficient transceiver architecture, common modulation techniques, and channel modeling. Beamforming, MIMO, and spatial multiplexing are covered as well...
Networking Made Easy
"Networking Made Easy: Get Yourself Connected," part of the "Computers Made Easy" series by James Bernstein, is a great book for people who are new to computer networks. The author has successfully managed to simplify complex concepts, making them accessible to beginners.
The book starts with foundational concepts, and then builds on them, defining LANs, WANs, etc. The author also discusses the essential hardware components: routers, switches, modems, and more.
Bernstein is known for his straightforward, jargon-free language – always a plus, imho. His use of simple explanations accompanied by practical analogies helps demystify complex terms and concepts.
It’s not just about theory, though; as the book progresses, you will discover chapters that provide step-by-step guides on how to set up and configure both wired and wireless networks...
5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology
"5G Mobile and Wireless Communications Technology" is an informative read for people who work in the wireless communications sector.
The book starts with an introduction to 5G, presenting its evolution from 4G and the key features of the fifth-generation technology used by cellular networks. Then, the authors discuss 5G network architecture, including radio access networks, core networks, and transport networks.
Physical layers, protocol stacks, authentication, authorization, encryption, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and more, are discussed in great detail.
It’s a book that focuses on theory, but it also covers 5G applications such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), etc...
Next Generation Wireless LANs: 802.11n and 802.11ac
"Next Generation Wireless LANs: 802.11n and 802.11ac" is a well-regarded resource for network engineers, because it discusses the most recent advancements in WLAN technology.
The first few chapters introduce WLANs, explore their evolution, and then set the stage for an in-depth exploration of the 802.11n and 802.11ac standards.
Moving on, seasoned experts Eldad Perahia and Robert Stacey discuss advanced topics such as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), beamforming, and channel bonding.
The book must be praised for its balance of technical depth and real-world applications. The sections that explain network planning, deployment, and optimization are very valuable, and the detailed diagrams and charts simplify things a lot...