Telecommunications and VoIP Training Video Courses

Course V1: Fundamentals of Telecom 1

The PSTN - Telephony - The Telecom Industry - Telecom Equipment

Length 142 minutes (2 hours 22 minutes). Available 55-page student manual. Produced 2006.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V1: PSTN and Loops · Telecommunications training on DVD

It all starts with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Plain Ordinary Telephone Service (POTS). We’ll begin with the basics of telephony: loops, trunks, circuits, analog, the voiceband... fundamentals that are key to understanding of newer technologies and services.

To complete the picture, we take a practical journey through different types of equipment. We'll review switches, PBXs, Centrex, multiplexers and routers, as well as ancillary equipment like ACDs, voice mail and interactive voice response (IVR) systems.

With this framework in place, we'll review the telecommunications industry and understand the main players and competitors, how Local Exchange Carriers connect to Inter-Exchange Carriers and how CLECs fit into the picture.

The topics in this video course - how the telephone system and industry work, provide the essential foundation on which everything else, including digital communications, data circuits and networking are built. 2 hours 22 minutes of career- and productivity-enhancing training! Many people tell us this is training they wish they'd had years ago!

Part 1 Fundamentals of Telephony
1.03 The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
1.05 Analog Circuits
1.07 What is Sound?
1.09 The Voiceband
1.11 Plain Ordinary Telephone Service (POTS)
1.13 DTMF Address Signaling
1.15 Signaling System 7 (SS7)

Part 2 Telecom Equipment
2.03 Telephone Switches
2.05 PBX vs. Centrex
2.07 Voice VPNs
2.09 Call Centers

Part 3 The Telecommunications Industry
3.03 US Domestic Telcos
3.05 AT&T and Verizon
3.07 Canadian Telephone Companies
3.09 PSTN Switching Centers Before Competition
3.11 Accessing The Interexchange Carriers
3.13 Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs)

Course V2: Fundamentals of Telecom 2

Voice Digitization - DS0-DS3 - Digitial Transmission and TDM
T1 - T3 - ISDN - SONET - Fiber and DWDM

Length 124 minutes (2 hours 4 minutes). Available 63-page student manual. Produced 2006.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V2: Voice Digitization · Telecommunications training on DVD

In this course, we understand the concepts, standards and technologies for transmitting voice calls using traditional techniques. We'll give you a real understanding of what "digital" actually means and how it is implemented. You'll understand DS0 and the digital hierarchy and take a practical tour of digital circuits including T1, T3, SONET and ISDN. At a high level, we'll see how voice, data and video can be integrated via TDM and channelization. Then we'll take a closer look at how this is actually done, with multiplexers, pulses and repeaters, copper, fiber optics, fiber rings and DWDM.

Most of the transmission systems we have in place were designed for digital voice communications using these techniques... but they are also used for data and networking. This course provides you with the concrete knowledge of the infrastructure necessary to a full understanding of circuits and services.

Part 1 Digital Communications
1.03 Why Digital?
1.05 Analog and Digital: What Do We Really Mean?
1.07 Continuous Signals, Discrete Signals
1.09 Voice Digitization (Analog ? Digital Conversion)
1.11 Voice Reconstruction (Digital ? Analog Conversion)
1.13 Voice Digitization Summary
1.15 The Digital Hierarchy: Industry Standard Line Speeds
1.17 Popular Technologies: Digital Carrier Systems
1.19 ISDN BRI and PRI
1.21 Digital Circuit Voice Applications
1.23 Digital Circuit Data Applications
1.25 Digital Video
1.27 Integration: Voice, Video, Data

Part 2 Transmission Systems
2.03 Time Division Multiplexing
2.05 T1 Carrier System
2.07 T1 Basics: Multiplexers
2.09 Framing and Channels
2.11 Pulses and Repeaters
2.13 How T1 is Provided
2.15 Fibers and Cables
2.17 SONET and DWDM: Core Networks
2.19 International Digital Hierarchies

Course V3: Fundamentals of Datacom and Networking

WANs and LANs - MAC Frames vs. IP Packets - The Network "Cloud"

Length 106 minutes (1 hours 46 minutes). Available 65-page student manual. Produced 2006.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V3: Packets vs. Frames · Datacom and networking training on DVD

In this course, we'll begin by establishing a model for a data communications circuit, then provide examples and context for each of the components of the model, and review different circuit configurations including LANs and WANs.

In the second chapter, we’ll look at how data is formatted for transmission, beginning with the older concepts of “synchronous” and “asynchronous”, then cover the newer ideas of frames and packets, how frames and packets are related, and the addresses on frames and packets, and the structure of IPv4 packets.

We'll complete this course with an understanding of the “Network Cloud”, why people use clouds to draw networks, and what is really going on inside that cloud.

This set of topics, particularly the understanding of packets and frames, the addresses on each, and how they are related; and the idea that there are three kinds of network services – and three kinds of edge equipment - is the foundation for all further study of LANs, WANs, IP and just about any other kind of communications, including Voice over IP.

Part 1 Introduction to Data Communications and Networking
1.03 Data Circuit Model
1.05 Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)
1.07 Analog and Digital Data Circuits
1.09 Data Circuit Terminating Equipment (DCE)
1.11 Configuration Example: Point-to-Point
1.13 Multidrop Circuits
1.15 LANs
1.17 Wide Area Networks

Part 2 How Data is Formatted for Transmission
2.03 Data Communications Basics: Bits and Bytes
2.05 ASCII Code Set
2.07 “Asynchronous”
2.09 Frames
2.11 Details for Reference: Cyclic Redundancy Check
2.13 Packets
2.15 Packets vs. Frames
2.17 IP Packets

Part 3 The Network “Cloud”: How Data Circuits are Actually Provisioned
3.03 Anatomy of a Digital Circuit
3.05 Common Carriers’ Transmission Networks
3.07 Network Equipment: How and Where Each is Used

Course V4: Understanding Networking 1

OSI Layers - Protocol Stacks - The FedEx Analogy
IP Addressing, DHCP, NAT - Bandwidth on Demand Services
Frame Relay - ATM - MPLS

Length 127 minutes (2 hours 7 minutes). Available 58-page student manual. Produced 2006.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V4: The OSI Layers: The FedEx Analogy · Networking training on DVD

This course builds on the basic packet, frame and IP networking concepts of Course V3, Fundamentals of Datacom and Networking, to put in place a solid understanding of protocol stacks, the OSI model and layers and IP addressing including address classes, static vs. dynamic public vs. private and network address translation.

In Part 3, we move to the next higher level of knowledge, understanding packet networks and bandwidth on demand services from telecommunication service providers. After understanding the core concepts, including virtual circuits, we use the grand-daddy of packet services, X.25 to explain jargon: connection-oriented vs. connectionless and reliable vs. unreliable packet networks.

Then we progress through technologies: Frame Relay, ATM and finish with MPLS. We'll trace the flow of TCP and IP packets from server to client across Frame Relay, then see how the same TCP/IP works over MPLS.

IP over MPLS will end up replacing all other services including ISDN, T1s, Frame Relay, native ATM. Understanding the OSI layers, how a protocol stack works and TCP/IP over MPLS is career-enhancing knowledge.

Part 1 Protocol Stacks and the OSI 7-Layer Reference Model
1.03 Protocols and Standards
1.05 ISO OSI Reference Model
1.07 OSI 7-Layer Model
1.09 Protocol Stacks
1.11 Protocol Stack in Operation

Part 2 IP
2.03 IP Address Classes
2.05 Dynamic IP Addresses
2.07 IP Addresses for Private Networks
2.09 Network Address Translation

Part 3 WANs – Bandwidth On Demand: Packet Network Services
3.03 Statistical TDM
3.05 Bandwidth On Demand Service Concepts
3.07 Virtual Circuit Technologies
3.09 X.25 and Jargon
3.11 Frame Relay
3.13 TCP/IP over Frame Relay
3.15 Frame Relay Performance: CIR and BIR
3.17 ATM: Capacity Management
3.19 MPLS
3.21 TCP/IP Over MPLS

Course V5: Understanding Networking 2

The Internet - ISPs - The Web - IP Security - Viruses - Firewalls - Encryption - IPsec - VPNs

Length 151 minutes (2 hours 31 minutes). Available 54-page student manual. Produced 2006.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V5: VPNs · Networking and security training on DVD

In this course, we cover the Internet and IP Security.

We'll start at the beginning of the story, understanding where the Internet came from and its fundamental principles of operation. Then we'll look at some details and improvements such as the Domain Name System, MIME, HTML and HTTP... which form “the Web”. We'll review how you can connect to the Web from a residence and from an enterprise or organization.

In the second part, we'll make a reasonably comprehensive overview of security in the IP world. We'll begin with a discussion of risk areas, vulnerabilities and measures. Then we'll examine several areas: computer security and malicious software like viruses and Trojan Horses and the measures to protect against these risks; network security and firewalls, public key and private key encryption, authentication, IPsec and VPNs.

This multimedia DVD-video - over 2 1/2 hours long - provides you with a real understanding of what the Internet is, how it functions and current issues, plus practical knowledge of computer security, viruses, exploits, network security and firewalls, information security, IPsec and VPNs.

Part 1 Understanding The Internet
1.03 Internet History
1.05 Internet Basics
1.07 TCP and UDP
1.09 Internet Service Provides
1.11 Commonly Used Internet Protocols
1.13 Domain Name System
1.15 MIME and Base-64 Encoding
1.17 World Wide Web
1.19 HTML, HTTP and HTTPS
1.21 Accessing the Internet: Home Connections
1.23 Accessing the Internet: Organization Connections

Part 2 IP Security
2.03 Risk, Measures and Policy
2.05 Viruses
2.07 Trojan Horses, Denial of Service Attacks, Spyware and Exploits
2.09 Network Segmentation and Perimeters
2.11 Packet Filtering
2.13 Firewall Proxies
2.15 Stateful Packet Inspection
2.17 Encryption
2.19 Authentication
2.21 IPsec
2.23 Customer-Premise-Based VPN
2.25 Carrier VPNs

Course V6: Understanding Wireless 1

Wireless Fundamentals - Cellular: CDMA, TDMA, GSM, GPRS
3G: UMTS, CDMA2000, 1X, 1XEV-DO - Wireless Web

Length 134 minutes (2 hours 14 minutes). Available 134-page student manual. Produced 2003.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V6: Cellular · Wireless training on DVD

Understanding Wireless 1 begins with basic radio concepts, understanding "analog radio" and "digital radio", then covers fundamentals of mobile communication networks: base stations, cells, handoffs and mobility.

With this in place, we go through the first and second generation technologies: AMPS, TDMA, GSM and CDMA, and understand how each works, their strengths and weaknesses and how they relate to each other.

In Part 3, we concentrate on data over cellular and 3G, and cover the differences between GPRS, Wideband CDMA or UMTS, cdma2000, 1X, 3X and 1XEV-DO. We review expected throughput in bits/second and which carriers are supporting which technologies. We conclude with applications such as i-mode, SMS, wireless email, web surfing, WAP and XML.

This video provides you with a real understanding of how a cellular network operates, the main technologies, the opposing camps championing different systems, and wireless applications.

Part 1 General Principles
1.03 Wireless
1.05 Analog Radio
1.07 Digital Radio: Keying
1.09 Limitations and Impairments

Part 2 Cellular
2.03 Mobile Communications
2.05 Cellular Standards
2.07 2G, 2.5G, 3G Migration
2.09 Cellular Principles
2.11 1G: Analog
2.13 2G: Digital
2.15 Digital Cellular: Voice
2.17 2G: TDMA (IS-136)
2.19 2G: GSM
2.21 GSM System Architecture
2.23 2G: CDMA (IS-95, cdmaOne)
2.25 CDMA: Coding
2.27 CDMA: Spread Spectrum
2.29 CDMA Particularities
2.31 CDMA System Architecture

Part 3 3G and Data over Cellular
3.03 Modems over 1G
3.05 CDPD: Packets over 1G
3.07 Data over 2G Cellular
3.09 Data over TDMA/GSM
3.11 GPRS: 2.5G
3.13 Data over CDMA
3.15 3G
3.17 IMT-MC: cdma2000
3.19 1X, 3X and 1xEV-DO
3.21 IMT-DS: Wideband CDMA
3.23 Throughput Comparisons
3.25 Service Providers

Part 4 Applications and Delivery
4.03 SMS and i-mode
4.05 Wireless E-mail
4.07 Device Evolution
4.09 Delivering Web Content
4.11 WAP
4.13 XML

Course V8: Understanding Voice over IP 1

Components - Standards - Architectures

Length 134 minutes (2 hours 14 minutes). Available 60-page student manual. Produced 2007.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V8: Softswitches and Visit to a CO switch · VoIP training courses on DVD

Understanding VoIP is a series of high-quality video courses designed for those needing to get up to speed on and understand Voice over IP technologies, buzzwords, jargon and mainstream solutions, and importantly, the ideas and fundamental concepts underlying VoIP, independent of any particular vendor's viewpoint… knowledge you can't get reading trade magazines or talking to salespeople.

Featuring detailed graphics, bullets, extensive text notes and our engaging and often humorous instructor Eric Coll, M.Eng., P.Eng., these training courses will give you the solid foundation you need to intelligently discuss, compare, evaluate and understand VoIP technologies, products and implementations.

We get started understanding VoIP with the Big Picture. Covering everything from talking through your computer over the Internet, to VoIP Carriers, PBX replacement and VoIP over WANs, we'll introduce all of the different ideas, concepts, hardware and software involved with VoIP.

We'll discuss regulatory issues, positioning of different carrier services, issues to plan for, and provide you with valuable strategic insights that will be of immediate benefit in planning for and managing any aspect of Voice over IP.

This course provides you with a big-picture view of Voice over IP, understanding each component of a VoIP system including softswitches and gateways, the standards like RTP and SIP that are used, and all of the different ways VoIP can be implemented.

Chapter 1 VoIP Systems, Components, Standards, Jargon and Buzzwords
1.03 The Big Picture
1.05 Terminals
1.07 Voice in IP Packets
1.09 Soft Switches / SIP Servers / Call Managers
1.11 Media Servers
1.13 Gateways
1.15 LANs and WANs
1.17 Key VoIP Standards
1.19 Where All of This is Headed: Broadband IP Dial Tone

Chapter 2 VoIP Architectures and Implementation Choices
2.03 Computer-Computer VoIP over the Internet
2.05 Skype and IM
2.07 Computer to Phone e.g. SkypeOut (DS0 Interconnect to LEC)
2.09 Phone to Phone over the Internet e.g. Vonage
2.11 Managed IP Telephone Service (MIPT)
2.13 IXCs and IP-based Backbones
2.15 VoIP for Businesses and Organizations
2.17 VoIP-Enabled PBX and Migration Options
2.19 PBX Replacement
2.21 Hosted PBXs
2.23 IP Centrex
2.25 Asterisk and Open-Source IP-PBX Software
2.27 SO/HO IP Phone Features and Uses

Course V9: Understanding Voice over IP 2

Voice Packetization - Voice Quality - Codecs, Jitter and Packet Loss - Diff-Serv - Network QoS with MPLS

Length 119 minutes (1 hour 59 minutes). Available 48-page student manual. Produced 2007.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V9: QoS and Traffic Conditioning · VoIP training courses on DVD

In this course, we cover packetized voice and voice quality.

The first part explains the process of voice packetization and codecs, issues like jitter and packet loss that can affect the quality of the reconstructed speech, and the role of RTP and jitter buffers and finish with a review of "best practices" for achieving voice quality.

The second part explains network QoS: MPLS and Diff-Serv. We'll explain MPLS and show how it is used to implement prioritization for Service Level Agreements. We'll also cover 802.1P and queuing methods.

This course provides you with an understanding of how voice is packetized, the factors that can affect sound quality, all of the different codecs that can be used, RTP and jitter buffers, QoS, MPLS, Diff-Serv and Service Level Agreements.

Part 1 Voice Packetization, Codecs and Voice Quality
1.03 Voice Packetization
1.05 Measuring Voice Quality
1.07 Factors Affecting Voice Quality
1.09 Codecs: Voice Coding and Compression
1.11 Delay
1.13 Jitter
1.15 RTP
1.17 Protocol Stack: RTP, UDP, IP, MAC
1.19 Packet Loss
1.21 Tips for Maximizing Voice Quality

Part 2 QoS: Quality of Service in the IP World
2.03 Virtual Circuit Technologies
2.05 MPLS
2.07 Differentiated Services (Diff-Serv)
2.09 Meters, Markers, Shapers and Droppers
2.11 Interworking Diff-Serv and MPLS
2.13 802.1P
2.15 Implementing QoS: Queuing Techniques

Course V10: Understanding Voice over IP 3

SIP and IP Call Flow - Carrier Interconnect - Megaco

Length 116 minutes (1 hour 56 minutes). Available 54-page student manual. Produced 2007.

Full quality preview · Full quality free sample: Video Tutorial V10: SIP · VoIP training courses on DVD

In this course, we'll cover SIP and how connections are made.

You'll understand the SIP trapezoid, how it works, demystify jargon like proxy server and location server, understand how SIP fits in with softswitches and call managers, and trace the establishment of an IP phone call step by step.

In the second part, we'll cover connecting to carriers using traditional DS0 PBX trunks and PRIs, how Megaco fits in to the story, plus IP interconnect, co-existence with legacy systems, integrated messaging and more.

This course provides you with a solid working knowledge of SIP and IP call flow, as well as the options for connecting VoIP systems to the PSTN, LECs and IXCs.

Part 1 SIP and Call Flow in the IP World
1.03 What SIP Is and What It Can Do
1.05 Relationship to Other Protocols
1.07 SIP URIs: “Telephone Numbers”
1.09 Register: Update Your Location
1.11 INVITE: “Dialing”
1.13 Location Service: Finding the Far End
1.15 The SIP Trapezoid
1.17 SIP Message Example
1.19 How SIP Relates to Softswitches and Call Managers
1.21 SDP: Session Description Protocol
1.23 SIP Glossary

Part 2 Carrier Interconnect
2.03 Internet - PSTN Interconnect via DS0 (Vonage / SkypeOut)
2.05 Internet - PSTN Interconnect via IP
2.07 Session Border Controllers
2.09 Carrier - Business Interconnect Using DS0 and SIP
2.11 Interconnect using MEGACO
2.13 Carrier - Business Interconnect Using IP and SIP
2.15 Co-Existence with a Legacy PBX
2.17 Integrating Integrated Messaging