subject: Modem Technological Improvements For Internet Connectivity [print this page] Modem Technological Improvements For Internet Connectivity
The modem is an essential piece of equipment for Internet connectivity. The full term is modulator-demodulator and simply means that the piece of equipment demodulates frequencies into digital data. Without the modem a computer cannot communicate with other computers connected to the Internet.
The original 300 baud modem of the 1970s was used for connecting the computers in the network with bulletin boards. It could transmit 30 characters in a second. This was good enough for text, but when users started to share graphics it simply couldn't do the job any longer. From there we see extreme improvements in the modem to the ones we use today.
Within two decades it developed to the point where it could transmit 56kbps and could be used for dial-ups, but the ADSL modem was the new term of the 2000s. ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. The new technology made it possible to download and upload at the same time and at a very fast speed. Instead of someone only browsing the Internet or only using the phone, it was now possible to do both at the same time.
For some businesses however, upload and download data at equal speed is important. To create the same bandwidth for upload and download, the SDSL modem had to be developed. The "S" stands for Symmetric. Voice communication is not possible while it is connected and as such most businesses using such has a dedicated modem for the purpose.
The sat-modem is a satellite type of modem which converts digital data into radio waves. The radio waves are needed for communication with the satellite dish. It is a more expensive option, but well suited for businesses in remote areas where DSL connectivity is not offered.
The wireless modem connects a wireless network instead of the conventional telephone operation. The user computer or device is thus directly connected to a wireless ISP providing Internet access.
Technology has come a long way over the past few decades and one can only wait in anticipation to see how improvements in modem-technology will affect future data communication.
