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