8 Best Books On Wireless Communication in 2024(Hand-Picked)

Last updated on March 28th, 2024 at 11:47 am

Wireless communication revolutionized the world of communication. Earlier it used to take days to deliver a single message but now with wireless communication, we can send hundreds of pages of data in just a few seconds. This transition was only possible due to wireless communication. We believe there is much more advancement to be made in this field.

But to get you started somewhere, we recommend going through our curated list of 8 best books on wireless communication. We hope you find the inspiration to take the legacy forward.

List of best books on wireless communication

Which is the best overall book on wireless communication? (Our pick)

Fundamentals of Wireless Communication  by David Tse and Pramod Viswanath is the best overall book. It is because the authors provide clear explanations of complex concepts, making the book accessible to readers with a variety of backgrounds. In addition, the book includes numerous worked examples and exercises, providing readers with an opportunity to test their understanding of the material.

Which is the best book for beginners in wireless communication? (Our pick)

Wireless Communications  by Andrea Goldsmith is the best book for beginners on wireless communication. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of radio propagation and antenna design to more advanced topics such as coding theory and information theory. With its clear and accessible style, it is easy to understand the complex concepts of the subject.

Wireless Communications from the Ground Up

If you are looking for a book on wireless communications that gives you a unique perspective from a Software Defined Radio (SDR) point of view, then you just found the one.

Key Features:

  • Equations visualized in the form of beautiful figures
  • Logical and intuitive explanations of the text
  • Use of school-level simple mathematics to understand radio technology
  • Collection of simple answers to questions about why specific things happen in wireless communication technology
  • Functions of GNU radio blocks
  • Use of time as well as frequency domain to explain complex derivations in mathematics

Ideal for: Wireless Communication Academics

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 828

Number of chapters:

Millimeter Wave Wireless Communications

This book is a part of the Communications Engineering & Emerging Technology Series from Ted Rappaport. The series comprises 5 books in total.

Key Features:

  • Focuses on microwave systems
  • End-to-end coverage of all aspects of future microwave wireless communications technology
  • Comprehensive coverage on microwave wireless design issues for 60 GHz microwave band
  • Introduction to emerging design techniques that we dominate academia and research in the future
  • Other important topics covered are digital communication, analog circuit design, radio wave propagation characteristics, antenna arrays, etc

Ideal for: Engineering students

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 704

Number of chapters: 9

Fundamentals of Wireless Communication

If you are pursuing your degree in electronics and communication engineering and wish to clear basic concepts of the subject, then this is the book for you.

Key Features:

  • Emphasis is given to the implementation of theoretical concepts in real-world applications
  • Important topics covered include MIMO (Multi-Input, Multi-Output) communication, space-time coding, opportunistic communication, OFDM, and CDMA
  • Examples of real-time wireless systems such as GSM, IS-95 (CDMA), IS-856 (1 x EV-DO), Flash OFDM, and UWB (Ultra-WidebBand)
  • The text is a combination of systems experience, theoretical vision, and engineering insight
  • Practice exercises available at the end of each chapter

Ideal for: Electrical and Computer Engineering students

Not ideal for: Readers not having a basic background in probability and digital communication

Number of pages: 564

Number of chapters: 10

Wireless Communications

You can get the most out of something when you start right from the bottom. This book will take you through the underlying theory of wireless communications and the tools and techniques used to design the technology.

Key Features:

  • Emphasis on design insights and trade-offs throughout the book
  • 200+ figures and illustrations
  • 300+ homework exercises
  • 700+ external references
  • Comprehensive chapters on the fundamentals of wireless communication
  • Topics covered include characteristics of the wireless channel, modulation, coding, signal processing schemes, state-of-the-art adaptive modulation, multicarrier, spread spectrum, multiple antenna techniques, multiuser communications, cellular system design, ad-hoc network design, etc

Ideal for: Engineers and Engineering students

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 674

Number of chapters: 16

Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice

Stay up-to-date with the advancements in wireless communications with Theodore, as he makes you acquainted with new technological developments.

Key Features:

  • Overview of key technologies in wireless communications
  • Design fundamentals of wireless systems
  • Comprehensive coverage of the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and 3G systems
  • The focus is given to wireless LAN technologies including IEEE 802.11a/b, HIPERLAN, BRAN, and more
  • Advanced technologies including Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) and Bluetooth wearable computers

Ideal for: Professionals working in the communications field

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 707

Number of chapters: 11

The Hands-on XBEE Lab Manual

Do you also find XBEE interesting? Learn to use it and deploy wireless communication systems with the help of this book.

Key Features:

  • Set up and deploy XBEE modules
  • Introduces capabilities and potential uses of XBEE modules
  • Valuable insight into the product data sheets
  • Fully documented source code and downloadable configuration files available with the book
  • Each section covers module setup, configuration, module functions and capabilities, introduction to necessary microcontrollers and software

Ideal for: Engineers

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 427

Number of chapters: 22

Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications

This book is a part of the Communications Engineering & Emerging Technology Series from Ted Rappaport.

Key Features:

  • Completely new chapters on synchronization, OFDM, and MIMO
  • Step-by-step implementation guidance
  • Diagrams and numerical throughout the book to explain the key concepts
  • Learn source coding including differential PCM, amplitude quantizing, and adaptive prediction
  • Coverage on channel coding techniques such as advanced turbo coding and LDPC

Ideal for: Engineering Students and Professional Engineers

Not ideal for: Children and Beginners

Number of pages: 1136

Number of chapters:

5G NR: The Next Generation Wireless Access Technology

Looking for a book to satisfy your 5G New Radio (NR) requirements? You just found your perfect guide.

Key Features:

  • Backgrounds such as requirements, spectrum aspects, and the standardization timeline of 5G NR
  • Covers RF and spectrum, co-existence and interworking of 5G NR with LTE, and NR physical-layer structure and higher-layer protocols
  • Technical features of the basic NR transmission structure
  • BS and UE requirements of NR for both new microwave bands and legacy bands

Ideal for: Communications Engineers

Not ideal for: Beginners

Number of pages: 608

Number of chapters: 27

Get acquainted with the basic concepts and then move on to advanced applications with the help of this list. This list might not be ideal for absolute beginners but if you are an engineering student then the list will help you a long way.

For beginners, we prefer Wireless Communications by Andrea Goldsmith. While if you want to explore more in the field of wireless communication we would suggest Fundamentals of Wireless Communication by David Tse and Pramod Viswanath.

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Vikas Gariyal

Electrical engineer by profession, I employ graphic design as a visual art to simplify and enhance electronic content for clarity and engagement, making complex ideas easily understandable. My work combines creativity and technology to create captivating and effective visual storytelling.

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