Modem Communications
You can use the modem to connect to other computers with a modem, or to
log into networks that allow modem access. Your modem can be set to
emulate a terminal for logging into remote systems. It can also be used
with login protocols to connect to certain providers and online services.
Your modem can be set to allow your computer to function as its own
mini-BBS (bulletin board system), enabling callers to login to your com-
puter and exchange information.
The speed of your modem (e.g. 56K) represents the speed at which the
modem is capable of transmitting information. The FCC restricts the actual
transmission to slightly slower speeds. Your modem may be capable of
faster speeds of transmission from modem to computer. This does not
affect the rate of communication between modems, but, if both modems
are capable of such compression, a connection can have a higher effective
speed if the sending system compresses the data as it is sent from the send-
ing computer to the sending modem and if the receiving system decom-
presses the data as it is sent from the receiving modem to the receiving
computer. Thus, it is possible to “connect” at higher speeds. You should
always try to connect at the highest rate of connection available to you.
The modems will negotiate the connection and establish the actual rate of
transmission of information (the key is the compatibility of the
modems–the standards in this industry are fairly well-established and thus
compatibility is pretty much the norm).
To connect to anything with your modem, you will usually need to sign
on with a provider (unless you have log-in rights with some network
already–e.g. at work) or dial-in to another computer already set to receive
such connections. Online service providers will allow you to connect to an
extensive computer environment. You can use such providers to send and
receive e-mail (electronic mail), chat with other computer users, look up
information in their databases, participate in electronic discussions with
multiple parties, and even download software. The major service providers
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Chapter 3: Basic Computing
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Summary of Contents for N4
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