Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill Pocket Reference)

It is easy to see why Steve Lampen is such an esteemed author and lecturer and one of the most respected cable engineers in the industry. Steve Lampen does an excellent job of describing cables and their applications. Starting with the basics of the construction of the wire, Steve describes everything from the conductor's base metal to the insulation and shielding to the applications most appropriate for each cable. He defines all of the important wire specifications and gives you a much better sense of which type of cables are most appropriate for you application. While the book is very technical in scope, Steve makes the complex topics interesting and readable. It is filled with helpful charts, graphs and tables - color codes, NEC fire codes, resistance tables, dielectric constants and more.So much information is packed into this book that I consider it the best 400 pages of knowledge you can carry in your pocket! This is a must-have book for anyone interested in ANY aspect of cable installation or home-theater hookup.

I bought this book as a quick reference for a Technical Support group I manage. We have a few dozen products that require an installer to run wires throughout a house. Unfortunately, a large majority of the calls I get are wiring related and this book provides tremendous insight into the problems created by improper wiring.If you want to learn about wiring, this is the book to buy. I also bought the full book that goes with it. It must be good because I got the only paperback, and all the used hardback books are almost double the retail price.From this guide you'll learn everything relating to wiring. You'll learn balanced vs unbalanced, ground loop isolation vs cross talk, and the list would almost be half as long as the pocket guide. Simply put, if your livlihood depends upon wiring, this book will help you a great deal.**Edited after reading comments, moved stars up. Must have been a mistake to score a 1-star

For the home A/V novice, this is a great book, if you're interested in eventually becoming an expert.I'm on my third read of this book in a month - pretty dense.I think I'll eventually need dozens of similar books to get a good grip on the field of home A/V, but this is an awesome intro to cabling.Lampen has been around for decades, and injects some useful historical info. Although this book was published several years ago, it's not at all dated. Cat6 is covered well.This book won't really tell you what cables you need to install in your new home - search the internet for that. It gives you info on which types of cables would be useful for new home construction, and the reasoning, but it's not spelled out all to clearly.I'd say this is an ideal introductory textbook covering the field of A/V cabling, written by a reknowned expert.

I've been in the Audio and Video business for almost 40 years and I've learned much from this book. I knew much of the proper cable applications from years of experience but with the knowledge gained from this book I've learned and understood all the WHY and theory behind those cable applications. I highly recommend this book. I need to check if it is available as an electronic download as it will be invaluable to have on my computer to use as an SERCHABLE reference.

I loved this book. It is perhaps more of a technical guide than a field reference but it is still is filled with lots of useful stuff and manages to be entertaining at the same time.However, if you want to know have to attach terminals and do some of the real hand on stuff this isn't the book you want (try the Newnes Electronics Assembly Pocket Book or something similar instead).

Full of useful information and data charts. Just what the engeer needs for day to day work and in pocket size.

Being a novice I found this book informative with lots of general information and references that will be useful.

technical details on installing AV cable, coax and other, and is indispensible for those that want to start a business or are just wanting to fine tune their own installations.

fantastic - one of the best books I've ever read. - If you're in anyway swayed by hifi and cables ( you know who you are) read this. I sold 5 pairs of chord indigos after reading this book - just fantastic. 6/5!