Modem

1. Short for MODulator/DEModulator, the first Modem was first released by AT&T in1960 when it introduced its dataphone. The Modem is a hardware device that enables a computer to send and receive information over telephone lines. The Modem is responsible for converting the digital data used by your computer into an analog signal used on phone lines and then converting it back once received on the other end. In the picture to the right, is a UsRobotics 56k external Faxmodem, an example of what an external dial-up Modem looks like.

Modems are referred to as an asynchronous device, meaning that the device transmits data in an intermittent stream of small packets. Once received, the receiving system then takes the data in the packets and reassembles it into a form the computer can use.

Stop 1 bit

Data 8 bits

Start 1 bit

Stop 1 bit

Data 8 bits

Start 1 bit

Packet 10 bits

Packet 10 bits

The above chart represents how an asynchronous transmission would be transmitted over a phone line. In asynchronous communication, 1 byte (8 bits) is transferred within 1 packet, which is equivalent to one character. However, for the computer to receive this information, each packet must contain a Start and a Stop bit; therefore, the complete packet would be 10 bits. In the above chart is a transmission of the word HI, which is equivalent to 2 bytes (16 bits).

For visitors who did not grow up on a dial-up Modem or those of you who are nostalgic, click the example MP3 link to the left, to hear a dial-up modem connecting to the Internet. In this audio file, you'll hear the modem dialing the phone number and then communicating with the other modem over the phone line.

Below are the three available versions of a computer Modem that can be used in computers.

Internal modem that connects to a PCI slot inside a newer desktop computer or ISA slot on an older computer.

External modem is located within a box and is hooked up externally to the computer, usually the Serial Ports or USB port.

Removable modem that is used with older laptops PCMCIA slot and is removed when you need the PCMCIA slot for another device, but are not planning on using the modem.

2. A Modem or Broadband Modem is also used to refer to the hardware device that connects a computer or router to a broadband network. For example, a Cable Modem and DSL Modem are two examples of these types of Modems