Tektronix 071-0590-00 Address, Analog-to-Digital Converter, Attenuation, Attenuator, Bandwidth

Glossary

Address

A number specifying a particular user device attachment point... The location of a terminal, a peripheral device, a node, or any other unit or component in a network...A set of numbers than uniquely identifies something - a location in computer memory, a packet of data traveling through a network.

Analog-to-Digital Converter

A device that converts an analog signal, that is, a signal in the form of a continuously variable voltage or current, to a digital signal, in the form of bits.

Attenuation

A decrease in magnitude of current, voltage, or power of a signal in transmission between points.

Attenuator

An electronic transducer, either fixed or adjustable, that reduces the amplitude of a wave without causing significant distortion.

Bandwidth

The difference between the limiting frequencies of a continuous frequency spectrum. The range of frequencies handled by a device or system.

BER

An acronym for Bit Error Ratio (or Rate). The principal measure of quality of a digital transmission system. BER is defined as:

BER = Number of Errors/Total Number of Bits

BER is usually expressed as negative exponent. For example, a BER of 10-7means that 1 bit out of 107 bits is in error.

BER Floor

A limiting of the bit-error-ratio (BER) in a digital fiber optic system as a function of received power due to the presence of signal degradation mechanisms or noise.

Binary

A numbering system that allows only two values, zero and one, (0 and 1). Binary is the way most computers store information., in combination of ones and zeros. Voltage on. Voltage off. See also: Bit.

Bit

A binary digit, the smallest element of information in binary system. A 1 or 0 of binary data.

Bit Error

An incorrect bit. Also known as a coding violation.

GB1400 User Manual glossary-1