Glossary
Bit rate
The speed at which bits are transmitted, usually expressed as bits per second (BPS).
Block
Group of characters treated as a unit for the purpose of data transmission.
BPS
An acronym for Bits Per Second. Transmission rate of binary numbers. Compare with Baud.
Break
A special,
Buffer
Temporary storage area used to compensate for a difference in the rate of data flow into and out of a device.
Bulletin Board
A generic term covering a wide variety of on line information services. Many bulletin boards are open to the public, run at no cost to users and provide the ability to download public domain software and exchange electronic mail.
Byte
A grouping of bits to specify a single character usually consisting of eight consecutive bits. See also Bit.
C
Carrier signal
An analog signal of known specifications, such as level and frequency, which is modulated by another signal containing information to be transmitted. This is the
Carrier Detect
An
Channel
An electronic communications path. A voice grade channel generally ranges from 300 to 4000 Hz.
Character
A letter, number or other symbol contained in a message or used in a control function. See Byte.
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