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The Role of Modems in Data Communication: Analog Signals

information technology

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Kylie smith
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5 views

The Role of Modems in Data Communication: Analog Signals

information technology

Uploaded by

Kylie smith
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The role of modems in data communication

Data is transmitted by two types of signals:

1. Analog signals

2. Digital signals

Analog signals: This is a continuous electrical signal in the form of a wave.

An analog signal has two characteristics that can be altered:

1. Frequency – the number of times the wave repeats itself.

2. Amplitude – The volume/loudness/strength of the wave or signal.

Digital signals: these signals use on/off or present/absent electrical pulses in discontinuous or
discrete bursts rather than a continuous wave.

This two-state kind of signal works perfectly in representing the two-state binary language of zeroes and
ones that computers use.

The modem & its function:


Modem (modulate/demodulate) – this device coverts digital signals into analog signals (modulation) to
send over phone lines. A receiving modem at the other end of the phone line then converts the analog
signal back into a digital signal (demodulation) which the computer is able to understand.

The speed of a modem is measured in bits per second (bps). The speed at which a modem can transmit
or receive data is limited by the line over which the data is to be transmitted.

A modem can be either internal or external.

Kbps – Kilobyte per second

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