Product Description

Wireless networking is poised to have a massive impact on communications, and the 802.11 standard is to wireless networking what Ethernet is to wired networking. There are already over 50 million devices using the dominant IEEE 802.11 (essentially wireless Ethernet) standard, with astronomical growth predicted over the next 10 years. New applications are emerging every day, with wireless capability being embedded in everything from electric meters to hospital patient tracking systems to security devices.

This practical reference guides readers through the wireless technology forest, giving them the knowledge, the hardware and the software necessary to design a wireless embedded device rapidly, inexpensively, and effectively. Using off-the-shelf microcontrollers from Microchip and Atmel, the author provides step-by-step instructions for designing the hardware and firmware for a fully operational wireless networking device. The book gives a thorough introduction to 802.11 technology and puts it into perspective against the other wireless standard options. Just enough theory and mathematics is provided to give the depth of understanding needed for practical design work.

The book thoroughly covers:
* Laptop wireless Ethernet card introduction and theory
*Introduction to CompactFlash-to-microcontroller interfacing
* Implementing the laptop wireless Ethernet card in an embedded environment

In addition, the book includes a CDROM containing all of the code, schematics and programs necessary to implement embedded 802.11 wireless networking.

* Covers the hottest new embedded market area- wireless networking

* Shows designers how to save money and time by using microcontrollers in their embedded wireless designs instead of expensive, complex prefab boards

* CD-ROM accompanying book contains all the code, schematics and programs necessary to get started now!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #680492 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-16
• Released on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Review
"The world needs this book!" -Lewin Edwards, embedded engineer and author

About the Author
As an engineering consultant, Fred Eady has implemented communications networks for the space program and designed hardware and firmware for the medical, retail and public utility industries. He currently writes a monthly embedded design column for a popular electronics enthusiast magazine. Fred also composes monthly articles for a popular robotics magazine. Fred has been dabbling in electronics for over 30 years. His embedded design expertise spans the spectrum and includes Intel's 8748 and 8051 microcontrollers, the entire Microchip PIC microcontroller family and the Atmel AVR microcontrollers. Fred recently retired from his consulting work and is focused on writing magazine columns and embedded design books.

Customer Reviews

Fred Hits Another Home Run
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.

A must have!
Very useful book for anyone wanting to make their own wireless sensors based on atmel avr and pic 18f micros.

Good coverage of getting a prism based wireless cf card working with the included example code. Takes you through step by step so someone with a good understanding of c and microcontrollers can understand and see how it works.

Also covers interfacing cf cards to avr and pics.

Definately worth having a copy on your bookcase along with Fred's other book Networking and Internetworking with Microcontrollers.

Very good book for senior students and hobbiests looking for a next project.

Just ignore the last paragraph of marketing bs on the amazon page.

Not for the uninitiated
If you are looking for grounds up information on this subject then this book is NOT for you. This book is for you if you are an advanced practicing embedded engineer and know a lot about wireless LAN already. There's hardly any theoretical information, this is a hands-on book all about the hardware and the code. The book was not what I expected and I had to return it, but this book could be quite useful to someone with previous experience in these areas. Also the book is really quite steeply priced.