Multi-Tech Systems MVP120 manual

Data Communications Equipment (DCE): Any device which serves as the portal of entry from the user equipment to a telecom- munications facility. A modem is a DCE for the phone network (PSTN) that is commonly on site at the user’s premises. Packet Switched Networks have another level of DCE which is most often located at a central office.

Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI): One of the six components of a frame relay frame. Its purpose is to distinguish separate virtual circuits across each access connection. Data coming into a frame relay node is thus allowed to be sent across the interface to the specified "address". The DLCI is confirmed and relayed to its destination, or if the specification is in error, the frame is discarded.

Dataphone Digital Service (DDS): A private line digital service that offers 2400, 4800, 9600 and 56K bps data rates on an inter- LATA basis by AT&T and on an intra-LATA basis by the BOCs.

Data Service Unit (DSU): A device that provides a digital data service interface directly to the data terminal equipment. The DSU provides loop equalization, remote and local testing capabilities, and a standard EIA/CCITT interface.

Dedicated Line: A communication line that is not switched. The term leased line is more common.

Default: This is a preset value or option in software packages, or in hardware configuration, that is used unless you specify otherwise.

Device driver: Software that controls how a computer communicates with a device, such as a printer or mouse.

Digital Cross-connect System (DCS): The CO device which splits and redistributes the T1 bandwidth. The DCS takes time slots from various T1 lines and alters them to provide the needed connectivity. DCS connections are made with software at an administrator's workstation.

Digital Data: Information represented by discrete values or conditions (contrast "Analog Data").

Digital Loopback: A technique used for testing the circuitry of a communications device. Can be initiated locally, or remotely (via a telecommunications device). The tested device decodes and encodes a received test message, then echoes the message back. The results are compared with the original message to determine if corruption occurred en route.

Digital PBX: A Private Branch Exchange that operates internally on digital signals. See also "Exchange".

Digital Service, level 0 (DS0): The world-wide standard speed (64K bps) for digital voice conversation using PCM (pulse coded modulation).

Digital Service, level 1 (DS1): The 1.544M bps voice standard (derived from an older Bell System standard) for digitized voice transmission in North America. The 1.544M bps consists of 24 digitally-encoded 64K bps voice channels (north America) and 2.048M bps (30 channels) elsewhere.

Digital Signal: A discrete or discontinuous signal (e.g., a sequence of voltage pulses). Digital devices, such as terminals and computers, transmit data as a series of electrical pulses which have discrete jumps rather than gradual changes.

Digital Signaling Rates (DSn): A hierarchical system for transmission rates, where "DS0" is 64K bps (equivalent to ISDN B channel), and DS1 is 1.5 Mbps (equivalent to ISDN PRI).

Digital Transmission: A method of electronic information transmission common between computers and other digital devices.

Analog signals are waveforms: a combination of many possible voltages. A computer's digital signal may be only "high" or "low"at any given time. Therefore, digital signals may be "cleaned up" (noise and distortion removed) and amplified during transmission.

Digitize: To convert an analog signal to a digital signal.

DIP switch (pronounced "dip switch"): A set of tiny toggle switches, built into a DIP (dual in-line package), used for setting configurable parameters on a PCB (printed circuit board).

Driver: A software module that interfaces between the Operating System and a specific hardware device (i.e. color monitors, printers, hard disks, etc.). Also known as a device driver.

Drop and Insert: The process where a portion of information carried in a transmission system is demodulated ("Dropped") at an intermediate point and different information is included ("Inserted") for subsequent transmission.

DTE (Data Terminating Equipment): A term used to include any device in a network which generates, stores or displays user information. DTE is a telecommunications term which usually refers to PCs, terminals, printers, etc.

DTMF (Dual-Tone MultiFrequency): A generic push-button concept made popular by AT&T TouchTone.

E

E1: The European equivalent of the North American 1.544M bps T-1, except that E-1 carries 2.048M bps. It is characterized by thirty 64 Kbps digital channels for voice or data calls, plus a 64 Kbps channel for signaling and a 64 Kbps channel for framing (synchronization) and maintenance.

E&M: A telephony trunking system used for either switch-to-switch, or switch-to-network, or computer/telephone system-to-switch connection.