Agilent Technologies Auroraduet N1726A, User Manual, Page: 358 / 507

Issue 01 - 06/99 7 - 51
Remote Control - Section 3
Modems - an
Overview
This section provides a brief introduction to modems and
how they operate. A troubleshooting guide is also
provided to help you if you experience problems with
your modem.
Why Use a Modem?
A modem acts as an interface between the analogue and
the digital world. Modems convert digital signals into
analogue tones which can then be passed over the
telephone network. A modem at the receiving end
reverses this process, converting analogue signals into the
original digital signal.
The process of converting digital signals into analogue
signals is called MODulation; the process of converting
analogue signals into digital signals is called
DEModulation, hence the name MODEM.
Some Useful Terminology
A modem is often referred to as a Data Circuit-
terminating Equipment (DCE). A computer is known as
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE).
The computer which initiates the call is termed the
Originating DTE and the computer receiving the call is
called the Answering DTE. For example, if you dial from
your PC at home into the computer at work, you are the
Originating DTE and the office computer is the
Answering DTE.
Chap7s3.PM6 17/06/99, 09:52 51