Data Communications and

Networks

MODEMS
Objectives?
 Describe the function of a modem
 Identify considerations when choosing a
modem
 Identify different types of modems
 Describe how a modem works
 List the steps to install/replace a modem
 Identify testing and troubleshooting
techniques for a modem
What is a Modem?
 A modem is a device that lets computers
exchange information through telephone
lines
 Modem stands for MOdulator/DEModulator
 A device that modulates one or more
carrier wave signals to encode digital
information for transmission and
demodulates signals to decode the
transmitted information.
Choosing a Modem
 When choosing a modem the following
features should be explored before buying:
1. Fax and Voice Capabilities - Most modem
have the capability to send and receive
faxes. You can create a document on your
computer and fax it to another computer.
2. Speed – The speed will indicate the amount
of information the modem can send and
receive.

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Choosing a Modem
3. Communications Program – A
communications program is a software that
manages the transmission of information
between two modems.
4. Upgrade – Look at the upgrade capabilities
of your modem. You may be able to upgrade
your current modem, such as faster speed.
The upgrade may be a program you install
or a chip you add to the modem.

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 Categories of Modems
 Landline Modems
 Wireless Modems
 LAN Modems

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 Categories of Modems
 Landline Modems: Landline modems are
modems which connect to the public
switched telephone network (PSTN). To
connect to PSTN, these modems have a jack
known as RJ-11, or regular phone jack

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 Categories of Modems
 Wireless Modems: Wireless modems are
radio transmitters/receivers installed into
mobile computing devices (i.e. devices that
are used while you are moving such as
mobile phones, laptops etc.)

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 Categories of Modems
 LAN Modems: LAN modems allow shared
remote access to LAN (Local Area Network)
resources. LAN modem comes fully
preconfigured for single particular network
architecture such as Ethernet or Token Ring
and/or particular network software such as
IPX, NetBIOS, NetBEUI etc.

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Different types of Modems
 Most PCs have modems these days. They
can be internal or external.
 External modems have LEDs (Light
Emitting Diode) that can be useful in
seeing whether the modem is transmitting
and receiving data
 Internal modems don’t have this feature
but it is often simulated in software. It is an
expansion card that plugs into an
expansion slot inside a computer.
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Different types of Modems
 The cable modem is a device that lets
computers access the Internet using
television cable.

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Different types of Modems
 Cable Modems are not really modems
because they work with digital signals vs
analog signals
 DSL (digital subscriber line) and ISDN
(integrated services digital network)
modems send purely digital signals over
telephone lines. They offer extremely fast
Internet connections and we can expect
them to eventually replace conventional
modems.
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How a Modem Works
1 2
Communications software
sends a voltage along pin
20 of the serial port of
which the modem is
connected telling it that
the PC is turned on. At the
same time the PC detects
a voltage from the modem
on pin 6 telling it the
modem is ready to receive
data or instructions.
A command is sent to the
modem over line 2, the
Transmit Data line and it
tells your modem to go off
hook-to open a
connection with the
phone line. The modem
acknowledges the
command by replying to
the PC on line 3, the
Receive Data line.
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How a Modem Works

When the modem on the

other end of the phone
3 connection – the remote
modem- answers the call,
your local modem sends out
a hailing tone to let the
remote modem know that it’s
being called by another
modem. The remote
modem responds with a
higher-pitched tone,
When your communications
4 are established, your
modem sends your PC a
Carrier Detect (CD) on line
8. The signal tells the
communications software
that the modem is receiving
a carrier signal, which is a
steady tone of a certain
frequency that later will be
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modulated to transmit data.
How a Modem Works Cont.
5 The two modems
exchange information
about how they’ll send data
to each other, a process
called a handshake. If the
local and remote systems
do not use the same
settings during the
handshake, either they’ll
wind up sending
characters that make no
sense or they'll refuse to
communicate at all.
6 When the communication
software wants to send
data, it first sends data to
line 4 which will ask the
modem whether it is free to
receive data from your PC.
If your PC is busy doing
something else, it will send
a signal to the modem
telling it to stop sending
data until the PC finishes its
other work.
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How a Modem Works Cont.
At the other end of the
phone line, the remote
modem hears incoming data
as a series of tones with
7 different frequencies. It
demodulates these tones
back into digital signals and
sends them to the receiving
computer.
When you tell your
communications software to
end a communications
session, the software sends
8 a command to the modem
that causes it to break the
phone connection.
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Installing an Internal Modem
1. An internal modem is an expansion card
that plugs into an expansion slot inside the
computer.
2. Place the expansion card in the slot. Press
down firmly and evenly across the top of
the card until it is securely inserted in the
expansion slot.
3. Secure the expansion card to the
computer case using a small screw.

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Installing an Internal Modem
4. When you install an internal modem, your
computer thinks another serial port has
been added. Either adjust the jumpers on
the modem so it uses the serial port or
change the computer’s settings to disable
the existing serial port.

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Installing an Internal Modem
5. When you install an external or internal
modem the computer may automatically
detect and set up the modem, installing
the necessary driver for you. If the
computer does not automatically set up
the modem for you, you will need to install
the driver included with the modem.

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Test and Troubleshoot
 A modem can be tested to make sure it is
communicating properly with a computer.
Simply use a program which is included
with your operating system to test the
modem. Try to make a telephone call
using the program. You will hear the
modem making a dialing noise if it is
communicating properly with computer.

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Test and Troubleshoot
 If your modem is having problems making
a connection it may be features on your
telephone line such as call waiting or
voicemail that cause connection problems.
The voicemail features changes the tone
of the telephone line to indicate a
message is waiting and it may prevent the
modem from establishing a connection.

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Test and Troubleshoot
 The call waiting feature generate a beep
to that indicates an incoming call and the
beep may cause some modems to lose
the connection. You should disable these
features before using your modem.
 If the modem is operating slowly, the
problem may be with the quality of the
telephone line. Contact your local
telephone company.

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Review
 What is the definition of a modem?
 List the four features that should be explored
before buying a modem.
 List some different types of modems.
 Briefly explain how a modem works.
 How is a modem tested?
 List some troubleshooting techniques when a
modem is interrupted or disconnected by the
computer

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