This book provides a detailed survey of a wide range of data communications hardware topics. It is intended to introduce the field to someone who plans to design or acquire a data communications system.

The book covers principles of asynchronous and synchronous communications, interface standards, modem control, automatic calling units, multiplexers, error detection, digital transmission, packet switching, local area networks, the ISO model, and ISDN. Examples include descriptions of UARTs and other standard chips and extracts from various interface standards. There are also interesting descriptions of the history and present function of the telephone switching network, although, in my opinion, such material is extraneous to the main purpose of the book.

This book does not, in itself, provide a sufficient basis for designing a data communications system. It does, however, describe how the various components work together, and it gives the background necessary to understand the specification sheets. It also includes copious references to the standards documents and other literature.