MODEM

A modem (modulator-demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier

signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to
decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be
transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data. Modems can
be used over any means of transmitting analog signals, from driven diodes to radio.

Microcomputers require modems to send and receive

messages over telephone lines. However, not all
computer communications should have converters such
as modems. Computer systems connected by coaxial or
fiber- optic cables can send and receive digital signals
directly through these circuits. Most modems today are
both data and fax modems in that they can transfer
computer data and also acting as fax machines.
Modems are generally classified by the amount of data they can
send in a given time, normally measured in bits per second (bit/s,
or bps). They can also be classified by Baud, the number of times
the modem changes its signal state per second

Communications Speeds
The modem handles the dialing and answering of the call and controls
transmission speed. Communications speeds are expressed in bits per
second (bps). A baud is commonly and erroneously used to specify bits
per second for modem speed. This is not always true. Modems are
classified by the speed at which they operate. The modems used with
microcomputers usually operate at 2400, 9600, 14400, and 28800 bits
per second.
The higher the speed, the faster users can transmit a document and
therefore the cheaper your line costs. For example, transmitting a 100-
page single-spaced report takes 25 minutes at 2400 bps. It takes 6 1/4
minutes at 9600 bps, about 4 1/6 minutes at 14400 bps, and 2 1/12
minutes at 28800 bps.

Types of Modems

An External modem can be used to the same purpose and in the

same conditions as internal computer modem. However external
modem is a small box that uses other kind of interfaces to be
connected to the computer.
It could be a serial modem, named thus because it uses the serial port to
connect to the computer. Usually installed on the back of the computer, the
serial port is an easy-to-install option for the external modem. The same
small box, on the other hand, can be an USB modem which normally uses
USB port usually placed on the back or in front of the computer.

First of all external modem can be a Dial-Up modem but more expensive
than the internal.

type of external modem you may consider two important types of

modem: cable modem and DSL modem if you need high-speed
internet services. All ISPs usually supply a specialized modem
named digital modem in the broadband package.

It’s important to notice that cablemodem has to connect to an

Ethernet card, placed on the computer PCI slot to provide a
broadband internet connection to the user. This is true if you opt
to use Ethernet connection. However you won't need it if your
option goes to use an USB connection.
Cable modem. The cable modem uses a coaxial cable television
lines to provide a greater bandwidth than the dial-up comuter
modem. An extremely fast access to the Web is providing by the
cable modem with downstream transmission up to 38 Mbits/s and
an upstream transmission up to 1 Mbits/s.

Unfortunately this transmission rate fluctuates with the number of

users because of the shared bandwidth on which the cable
technology is based.

DSL modem. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modem is exclusively

used for connections from a telephone switching office to the
user. This technology, available and frequently usable, split up
into two main categories:

ADSLor Asymetric Digital Subcriber Line is used in North

America and supports from 1.5 Mbits/s up to 9 Mbits/s of
downstream transmission rate and up to 3 Mbits/s of upstream
transmission rate.

SDSL. SDSL or Symetric Digital Subcriber Line is used in Europe

and has the same data rates for downstream and upstream
transmission which is 128 Kbits/

PC Card modem.
These modems, designed for portable computers, are the size of
a credit card and fit into the PC Card slot on notebook and
handheld computers. These modems are removed when the
modem is not needed. Except for their size, PC Card modems
are like a combination of external and internal modems. These
devices are plugged directly into an external slot in the portable
computer, so no cable is required other than the telephone line
connection. The cards are powered by the computer, which is
fine unless the computer is battery-operated. Running a PC Card
modem while the portable computer is operating on battery
power drastically decreases the life of your batteries.

WORKING Methodology
When a modem first makes a connection, you will hear
screeching sounds coming from the modem. These are
digital signals coming from the computer to which you
are connecting being modulated into audible sounds. The
modem sends a higher-pitched tone to represent the digit
I and a lower-pitched tone to represent the digit 0.

At the other end of your modem connection, the computer attached to its
modem reverses this process. The receiving modem demodulates the
various tones into digital signals and sends them to the receiving
computer. Actually, the process is a bit more complicated than sending
and receiving signals in one direction and then another. Modems
simultaneously send and receive signals in small chunks. The modems
can tell incoming from outgoing data signals by the type of standard
tones they use.

Another part of the translation process involves transmission integrity.

The modems exchange an added mathematical code along the way. This
special code, called a checksum, lets both computers know if the data
segments are coming through properly. If the mathematical sums do not
match, the modems communicate with each other by resending the
missing segments of data. Modems also have special circuitry that
allows them to compress digital signals before modulating them and
then decompressing them after demoduating the signals. The
compression/decompression process compacts the data so that it can
travel along telephone lines more efficiently.

Modems convert analog data transmitted over phone lines into digital
data computers can read; they also convert digital data into analog data
so it can be transmitted. This process involves modulating and
demodulating the computer’s digital signals into analog signals that
travel over the telephone lines. In other words, the modem translates
computer data into the language used by telephones and then reverses
the process to translate the responding data back into computer
language.

Advantages /Disadvantages

Advantages:
1. More useful in connecting LAN with the Internet
2. Speed depends on the cost
3.It converts digital data to analogue

Disadvantages:
1. Acts just as a interface between LAN and Internet
2. No traffic maintenance is present
3.Slow speed when compared to hub
4.Limited no of systems can be connected max-8 or 12
RS-232
RS-232 (Recommended Standard 232) is a standard for
serial binary single-ended data and control signals
connecting between a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment)
and a DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment). It is
commonly used in computer serial ports. The standard
defines the electrical characteristics and timing of
signals, the meaning of signals, and the physical size and
pinout of connectors.