data communications equipment

1 definition found

data communications equipment - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Data Communication Equipment
  Data Communications Equipment
  
     <communications, hardware> (DCE) The devices and connections
     of a communications network that connect the communication
     circuit between the data source and destination (the Data Terminal Equipment
      or DTE).  A modem is the most common
     kind of DCE.
  
     Before data can be transmited over a modem, the DTR (Data
     Terminal Ready) signal must be active.  DTR tells the DCE that
     the DTE is ready to transmit and receive data.
  
     DCE and DTE are usually connected by an EIA-232 serial line
     .  It is necessary to distinguish these two types of
     device because their connectors must be wired differently if a
     "straight-through" cable (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2 etc.)
     is to be used.  DCE should have a female connector and should
     transmit on pin two and receive on pin three.  It is a curious
     fact that many modems are "DTE" according to the original
     standard.
  
     (1995-02-28)