Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) is a new wireless packet data communications system which was developed by a consortium of U.S. cellular service providers to augment their voice communications systems. The main goal of the CDPD system design was to provide wireless packet data connectivity to mobile data communications customers. This thesis presents fundamental information required to successfully implement CDPD base station or mobile equipment. This information includes an introduction to the operation of data networks, a discussion of Gaussian Filtered Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), and a detailed analysis of Reed-Solomon error correction codes. / Master of Science