Mobile communications, or rather the desire for them, is driving the development of third-generation (3G) wireless applications that make people's lives easier but also make the engineering required to support the new technology altogether more complicated. So, that's why finding this book by Paul Burns is such a stroke of luck for any engineering professional struggling to develop new products using software-defined radio.
Burns starts out by describing software-defined radio and explaining its desirability. He then looks at the architecture, the use of radio frequency (RF) engineering in system design, the conversion from analog to digital and back again, and digital frequency converters, both up and down. Next, Burns gets into signal processing hardware and software architecture components. There is also a great chapter on applications for wireless systems, and another on smart antennas using software-defined radio. Burns then presents what he calls "implementation-level detail for an experimental [and low-cost] software-defined radio platform." He finishes up with a look at engineering design assistance tools.

Engineers exploring this interesting new field need look no further. Burns brings the advancement of this fantastic technology together, so that you can confidently explore its place in the wireless industry. John Vacca

John Vacca, the former computer security official (CSO) for NASA's space station program (Freedom), has written 38 books about advanced storage, computer security, and aerospace technology.

“Please accept my compliments for such a good book. You have covered all the relevant issues in SDR's and the content is explained in a very good manner. Your book is quite comprehensive and I think its the first book which can be used as a text-book if someone's to teach SDR” Prakash Sainani

Prakash Sainani is studying for a Master of Science in Wireless Systems at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm Sweden, between 2001 and 2002 he took part in a software defined radio project for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India.

Engineers and engineering students will be the main audience for this text on 3G software and its applications. Burns (one of the developers of 3G software) describes systems design and partitioning for the hardware as well, with attention to mobile cellular radio systems and silicon technologies. Topics include analog-to-digital conversion and vice-versa, digital frequency up- and down converters, signal processing hardware components, software architecture, and smart antennas. The design for a low-cost experimental software radio platform is provided. Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR