Glossary(19)
Terms used as applied to Data (and some Voice) Transmission over Copper Wire
  B

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

B Channel
Backbone
Bandwidth
Baud
BELLCORE
BER
Bit
BORSHT functions
Bps
BRI
Broadband
Byte
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B Channel-As related to ISDN, a 64Kbps, full duplex channel See: D Channel, PRI, BRI

Backbone Usually refers to a telephone company's main inter-network. A high-speed line or series of connections that forms a major pathway within a network. The term is relative as a backbone in a small network will likely be much smaller than many non-backbone lines in a large network.

Bandwidth -- How much 'stuff' you can send through a connection. Usually, but not necessarily measured in Bps (bits-per-second). A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast dial-up modem can move about 33,000 bits in one second. Full-motion full-screen video would require roughly 2.5Mbps, depending on compression methods. When measuring Throughput, do not confuse BPS with CPS (Characters-per-second) See: Bit , T1

Baud -- Usually confused with BPS (Bits Per Second). In common usage, the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Technically however, baud is the number of times per second that the carrier signal shifts value - each shift represents an amount of data. Different technologies, improve the number of bits per baud (shifts) - for example a 1200 bit-per-second modem actually runs at 300 baud, but it moves 4 bits per baud (4 x 300 = 1200 bits per second). See: Bit, Bps , Modem

BELLCORE -- See Telcordia Technologies

BER (Bit Error Rate) -- The rate at which modems product errors. To be correctly stated, BER's must be associated with amount of noise and other impairments on the lines which the modem is being tested. The test must be associated with Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)

Bit (Binary digIT) -- A single digit number in base-2, in other words, either a 1(one) or a 0(zero). The smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second.

BORSHT functions -- Acronym for: "Battery feed, Overvoltage protection, Ringing, Supervision, Hybrid, and Test." These features are basic elements for proper telephone equipment operation that is provided by the Central Office. Devices such as DLC's must also provide BORSHT functions.

Bps (Bits-Per-Second) -- A measurement of how fast data is moved from one place to another. A 28.8Kbps modem can move 28,800 bits per second, 56K moves 56,000 bits per second, etc.

BRI (Basic Rate Interface) -- Refers to the two 'B' (2B) channels of 64Kbps each, totaling 128Kbps when using 'bonding' or 'ML-PPP' (Multi-Link Point to Point Protocol), used in ISDN See: PRI

Broadband - In regard to 'last mile' data communications, refers to data speeds greater than 'dial-up' modems. Usually refers to Mega-bit speeds. Examples are; ADSL, Cable, and newer wireless technologies. ISDN with speeds of 64kbps and 128kbps are normally not considered broadband technology.

Byte -- A set of consecutive data its that represent a single character. Usually there are 8 Bits in a Byte. Asynchronous transmission frames each byte with a Start and a Stop bit, making asynchronous data typically 10 bits per byte. The Internet runs on Asynchronous data. It is less efficient than Synchronous Data.

 

Copyright © 1997-2008 Floyd Kling 
- All Rights Reserved -