SOS POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

MBA FA 401
SUBJECT NAME: COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATION

UNIT-V
TOPIC NAME: MODEM
MEANING OF MODEM:

Modem is short for "Modulator-Demodulator." It is a hardware component that

allows a computer or another device, such as a router or switch, to connect to the
Internet. It converts or "modulates" an analog signal from a telephone or cable wire
to digital data (1s and 0s) that a computer can recognize. Similarly, it converts digital
data from a computer or other device into an analog signal that can be sent over
standard telephone lines.
The first modems were "dial-up," meaning they had to dial a phone number to
connect to an ISP. These modems operated over standard analog phone lines and
used the same frequencies as telephone calls, which limited their maximum data
transfer rate to 56 Kbps. Dial-up modems also required full use of the local
telephone line, meaning voice calls would interrupt the Internet connection.
Modern modems are typically DSL or cable modems, which are considered
"broadband" devices. DSL modems operate over standard telephone lines, but use a
wider frequency range. This allows for higher data transfer rates than dial-up
modems and enables them to not interfere with phone calls. Cable modems send and
receive data over standard cable television lines, which are typically coaxial cables.
Most modern cable modems support DOCSIS (Data over Cable Service Interface
Specification), which provides an efficient way of transmitting TV; cable Internet,
and digital phone signals over the same cable line.
Modem is abbreviation for Modulator – Demodulator. Modems are used for data
transfer from one computer network to another computer network through telephone
lines. The computer network works in digital mode, while analog technology is used
for carrying massages across phone lines.
Modulator converts information from digital mode to analog mode at the
transmitting end and demodulator converts the same from analog to digital at
receiving end. The process of converting analog signals of one computer
network into digital signals of another computer network so they can be processed
by a receiving computer is referred to as digitizing.

FEATURES OF MODEM:
1. AT Command Help Screens
AT commands allow you to control many of the functions of your modem. You
can use AT commands by typing them at the command line of any Terminal
program.
Your modem can display screens summarizing AT commands (AT$ and AT&$),
dial command options (ATD$), and S-Register functions (ATS$) (see AT
Commands).
2. Automatic Cable Sensor
3Com's analog cellular cables allow your modem to recognize the cellular
telephone to which it is connected automatically.
3. Automatic Calling Card Dialing
Whenever you make a calling card call, your modem will detect the tone that
sounds prior to entering your calling card number. You can have the modem
automatically enter your calling card number and place the call by entering the
following string:
 ATDT <phone#>&<calling card#>

4. Call Progress Detection

An optional set of result codes lets you know when:
• The telephone number you have dialed is busy
• The line has been picked up, but a modem is not answering the call
• There is no dial tone on the telephone line
• A call is coming in
These result codes, and the commands that enable or disable these result codes,
are controlled by the ATXn command. See the listing for ATXn in AT
Commands and Result Codes.
5. Caller ID
If you live in North America, your modem allows you to identify callers' names
and telephone numbers when they call. Your communications software must
support this feature, and you must subscribe to Caller ID from your phone
company.
Use AT#CID=1 to manually turn on Caller ID and set S=2, because Caller ID is
received between the first and second rings.
6. Analog Cellular Communications
With the purchase of a cellular upgrade kit, you can connect your modem to a
cellular telephone to send and receive data and faxes. See Analog Cellular and
GSM Communications for more information.
7. Dialing Stored Phone Numbers
Your modem can store up to four of your most frequently called numbers.
See AT&Z in AT Commands for storing numbers. For dialing stored numbers,
see ATDS.
For example, suppose you are dialing a phone number of 123-4567, and it is the
first number you have stored. You would enter AT&Z0=1234567 to store the
number, and ATDS0 to dial it. To dial the second phone number in the stored
numbers list, you would enter AT&Z1=9876543 to store it, and ATDS1 to dial it.
8. Digital Line Guard
For landline connections, protects the card circuitry from overvoltage from ISDN
or digital PBX lines.
9. Exclusive Line Probing
Exclusive Line Probing technology for V.90 connections automatically steers you
around even the worst line impairments, allowing faster connections and transfers.
10. Flash ROM
The firmware in your PC Card can often be updated to correct problems without
returning your card to 3Com. This capability is called "flash ROM." Current flash
ROM programs and the instructions to use them are on the BBS, the 3Com Web
site (www.3com.com), and online services (see Technical Support).
If your modem is functioning properly, there is usually no need to flash it. In any
case, we recommend flashing it only under the direction of a Customer Support
Application Engineer.
11. GSM Communications
You can connect your computer to a mobile telephone and use the GSM system to
send and receive data and faxes. See Analog Cellular and GSM
Communications for more information.
12. Redialing the Last Dialed Number
Your modem stores each dialed number until another number is dialed.
Enter ATDL to redial the last number dialed during the current session.
13. Speakerphone
With communications software that supports Speakerphone functions in Windows
2000, 98, 95, 3.1x, and NT 4.0, you can use your computer as you would a
telephone if your computer is equipped with a sound card, a speaker, and a
microphone (either built-in or externally attached), and a multimedia subsystem is
installed. Use your modem to dial the number, and then use your computer's
speaker and microphone to listen and to talk. Refer to your communications
software manual for instructions.
14. Telephone Answering Device (TAD)
Your modem, when used with communications software that supports this feature,
allows you to send and receive personal voice mail. If you have a multimedia
computer, you can send greetings and record voice messages as you would with a
standard answering machine. You can even access your voice messages remotely.
Your software and modem can auto detect incoming fax, voice, or data calls and
provide fax-on-demand services that you can tailor to your needs.
Many communications software packages support voice messaging. Refer to your
communications software help files or manual for details about using this feature.

TYPES OF MODEM:
Modems can be of several types and they can be categorized in a number of ways.
• Categorization is usually based on the following basic modem features:
1. Directional capacity: half duplex modem and full duplex modem.
2. Connection to the line: 2-wire modem and 4-wire modem.
3. Transmission mode: asynchronous modem and synchronous modem.
Half duplex and full duplex Modems:
Half duplex:
1. A half duplex modem permits transmission in one direction at a time.
2. If a carrier is detected on the line by the modem, I give an indication of the
incoming carrier to the DTE through a control signal of its digital interface.
3. as long as they camel' IS being received; the modem does not give permission to
the DTE to transmit data.

Full duplex:
• A full duplex modem allows simultaneous transmission in both directions.
• Therefore, there are two carriers on the line, one outgoing and the other incoming.
Wire and 4-wire Modems:
• The line interface of the modem can have a 2-wire or a 4-wire connection to
transmission medium. 4-wire Modem
• In a 4-wire connection, one pair of wires is used for the outgoing carrier and the
other pair is used for incoming carrier.
• Full duplex and half duplex modes of data transmission are possible on a 4- wire
connection.
• As the physical transmission path for each direction is separate, the same carrier
frequency can be used for both the directions.

2-wire Modem:
• 2-wire modems use the same pair of wires for outgoing and incoming carriers.
• A leased 2-wireconrlection is usually cheaper than a 4-wire connection as only one
pair of wires is extended to the subscriber's premises.
• The data connection established through telephone exchange is also a 2-wire
connection.
• In 2-wire modems, half duplex mode of transmission that uses the same frequency
for the incoming and outgoing carriers can be easily implemented.
• For full duplex mode of operation, it is necessary to have two transmission
channels, one for transmit direction and the other for receive direction.
• This is achieved by frequency division multiplexing of two different carrier
frequencies. These carriers are placed within the bandwidth of the speech channel.
Asynchronous & Synchronous Modems:
Asynchronous Modem:
• Asynchronous modems can handle data bytes with start and stop bits.
• There is no separate timing signal or clock between the modem and the DTE.
The internal timing pulses are synchronized repeatedly to the leading edge of the
start pulse.

Synchronous Modem:
• Synchronous modems can handle a continuous stream of data bits but requires a
clock signal.
• The data bits are always synchronized to the clock signal.
• There are separate clocks for the data bits being transmitted and received.
• For synchronous transmission of data bits, the DTE can use its internal clock and
supply the same to the modem

Modulation techniques used for Modem:

The basic modulation techniques used by a modem to convert digital data to analog
signals are:
• Amplitude shift keying (ASK).
• Frequency shift keying (FSK).
• Phase shift keying (PSK).
• Differential PSK (DPSK).
These techniques are known as the binary continuous wave (CW) modulation.
• Modems are always used in pairs. Any system whether simplex, half duplex or full
duplex requires a modem at the transmitting as well as the receiving end.
• Thus a modem acts as the electronic bridge between two worlds - the world of
purely digital signals and the established analog world.

FUNCTIONS OF MODEM:
• Modulated Signals:
The essential function of a modem is to create an easily transmitted and
decoded signal that allows digital data to be sent from place to place without
the loss of information. The most familiar use of modems is to send
information over a telephone channel, but modems can be used to relay data
 over any system that provides a means of transmitting analog signals,
including radio and optical networks.
• Data Compression:
To reduce the amount of time it takes to send data and to cut down on the
amount of error in the signal, modems need to employ data compression.
This was especially necessary in the early days of modem technology, since
data had to be sent via conventional phone lines. Not being designed for
digital information, phone lines placed heavy limitations on the size and
speed of signals sent over them. Data compression techniques reduce the
size of the signal needed to send the required data.
• Error Correction:
When information is transmitted between modems, it can sometimes be
damaged meaning that parts of the data are altered or lost. To get around
this, modems use error correction. Information is grouped into batches,
called frames. Each frame is tagged with a checksum, a small piece of data
derived from the information in the frame. A checksum can be thought of as
a kind of fingerprint, unique to the data in a particular frame. The modem
that receives the information derives its own checksum from the frame it has
been sent, and then compares its checksum data with the checksum sent by
the transmitting modem. If the checksums match, the information is
undamaged. If they don't match, the data has been corrupted in transmission;
the receiving modem sends it back and waits for the transmitting modem to
re-send that frame.
• Flow Control:
Individual modems send information at different speeds. It's necessary for
faster modems to slow down so that slower modems can catch up, otherwise
the slower modem will receive more data than it can process. If this starts to
happen, the slower modem transmits a character to the faster one. This
character is a signal for the fast modem to pause in sending information until
 the slow modem gets caught up. When the slow modem is ready for more
data, it sends a different character that signals to the fast modem that it can
start transmitting again. In this way, the two modems can match their speeds.
• Modem Speed Classification:
The speed of a modem is typically classified by the amount of data it can
send in a specific length of time. This is generally expressed in terms of bits
per second (bps). An alternative way of classifying modem speed is the
change in the state of the signal per unit time the number of times a modem
sends a new signal in a given length of time. This is known as the symbol
rate and is measured in units called baud (Bd).

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MODEM:

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• More useful in connecting LAN • Slow speed when compared to
with the internet. hub.
• Speed depends on the cost. • Acts just as an interface between
• Modem is probably the most LAN and internet.
widely used data • No traffic maintenance modem
communication roadway. is speed, if although if you
spend more money you get more
speed but that shouldn’t be
expectable.