Wireless Communication Networks and Systems

"Wireless Communication Networks and Systems" by William Stallings and Cory Beard covers both basic and advanced topics meticulously.

The book starts by discussing core concepts: radio transmission principles, signal propagation, the electromagnetic spectrum, and so on. So, the first chapters will be easy to digest even for people who are new to wireless communication.

The next sections move on to Wi-Fi standards (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth, Zigbee, and cellular systems, up to the newest 5G technologies.

What makes this book stand out is its thorough look at the most important vulnerabilities of wireless networks. The authors take the time to discuss the flaws of WPA2 and 802.1X protocols. It’s a very important topic, especially in our age, where the number of cyber threats has been constantly growing.

I couldn’t end this quick review without mentioning another favorite chapter, which deals with wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and wireless personal area networks (WPANs), discussing the most important applications and potential developments in the sector.

While some of the topics will be much easier to understand for people who have a background in computer networks, I strongly believe that the book will be a very valuable resource for all beginners who are willing to put in the required effort.