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SBV5422 SURFboard Digital Voice Modem
Glossary
coaxial cable
(coax)
A type of wire consisting of a center wire surrounded by insulation and a grounded shield of
braided wire. The shield minimizes electrical and radio frequency interference.
DOCSIS
The CableLabs Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification defines interface standards
for cable modems and supporting equipment.
download
To copy a file from one computer to another. You can use the Internet to download files from
a server to your home PC. A DOCSIS digital voice modem downloads its configuration from
a server during start-up.
downstream
In a network, downstream describes the direction of data received by your computer from
the Internet.
Ethernet
The most widely used type of local area network (LAN). The most commonly installed
Ethernet networks are called 10Base-T. 10Base-T provides transmission speeds up to 10
megabits per second (Mbps), usually over twisted-pair wire. Fast Ethernet (100Base-T)
provides transmission speeds up to 100 Mbps.
Euro-DOCSIS
The European version of the DOCSIS standard.
expansion slot
An opening in a computer where a circuit board can be inserted to add new capabilities.
F-type
connector
A connector used to connect coaxial cable to equipment.
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is an identifier for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network.
Networks using TCP/IP route messages based on the destination IP address. Your cable
provider assigns your digital voice modem an IP address to provide a continuous Internet
connection.
MAC address
The Media Access Control Address uniquely identifies each device that can be connected to
an Ethernet network. It is permanently written to read-only memory (ROM) at the factory
and printed on the rear panel of your SURFboard Digital Voice Modem. You need to provide
the MAC address to your cable provider.
MHz
Mega Hertz. A measure of frequency - millions of cycles per second. One MHz means one
million cycles per second.
PBX
A private branch exchange is a private telephone network usually used within a business.
Users of the PBX share a certain number of outside lines for making telephone calls external
to the PBX.
PSTN
The public switched telephone network is the traditional circuit-switched, voice-oriented
telephone network originally invented by Alexander Graham Bell. It is sometimes referred to
as plain old telephone service (POTS).
RJ-11
The most common type of connector for household phones.
RJ-45
The most common type of connector for Ethernet networks.
RJ-31X
The most common type of connector for home alarm systems.
splitter
A splitter is a device that divides the signal power from an input cable equally between two
or more signals, each carrying a selected frequency range.
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is a set of standards and rules for
communication between networks.
upstream
In a network, upstream describes the direction of data sent from your computer to the
Internet.
