Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is an excellent peek into the low-level infrastructure of 802.11b radios. The micro controller enthusiast as well as the 802.11b WiFi-curious should find this book to hold many fascinating details. Fred takes the reader though his thought process and lab notes as he decodes and explains, down to the chip level, how the typical PRISM-based 802.11b wireless card works (Intersil developed then sold to Conexant the PRISM chip set used in millions of 802.11b wireless network card). In the process, Fred's light-hearted style of writing entertains the reader with trivia. Linux experts will, of course, realize that this is old hat for an x86-based Linux system. Fred acknowledges the fine contributions of the Linux word and adds his genius in the 8/16-bit micro controller world. The key difference in Fred's book as compared to the Linux driver code is the simplicity of Fred's explanations. The reader is given code that he or she can apply to the real world.
Beginning with chapter 1, Fred explains to the reader why he embarked this journey. That is with the lack of public information of PRISM-based 802.11 network cards, Fred had a huge task ahead of him. Chapters 2 and 3 explain the design of 2 experimental Microchip PIC (Chapter 2) and Atmel AVR (Chapter 3) `AirDrop' products (...). The AirDrop products allow the user to practice what they learn. In chapter 4 Fred lets the smoke out of several PRISM-based compact FLASH-style 802.11b cards and begins to put together the pieces of a bigger puzzle; the secrets held in the 802.11b ROM structures. At this point, the reader feels as if they are reading a mystery novel. In chapter 5, Fred discusses the interface of the micro controller covering two modes; memory and I/O. Chapter 6 begins a journey through the CIS (Card Information Structure) where the reader learns how to query the 802.11b card to find out the basic operating parameters. At this point, the reader could use the information to work with a compact FLASH memory card (The book does not cover memory cards, but the information is applicable). In fact, Fred's software has many routines needed to work with the memory cards; a clear bonus. In chapter 7, the reader learns how to work with the 802.11b NIC (Network Interface Controller). It is at this point in the book where the reader gains the respect of the TCP/IP heavy-weights. Reading Fred's first book (Networking and Internetworking with Micro controllers) would be helpful and recommended but is not necessary. The remaining chapters of the book teach the user to apply what they have learned illustrating various network related activities such as pinging, telneting, etc. to the AirDrop 802.11b world. Two nice bonus chapters cover how to implement WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) security, and the new ZigBee wireless protocol.
If you've wanted to learn how to interface 802.11b network cards to a micro controller or have a burning desire to learn what's inside that wireless adaptor card on your system this is a great book to learn from, in my opinion.
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