What Is a Computer Modem?
Computer modems were used to connect teletype machines over long distances as early as the 1920s. While teletype machines are rarely, if ever, used today, the function of the modem is essentially the same when used with computers: the transfer of information. The difference is that today, modems are much faster and can perform much more complex data transfers.
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Dial-up
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The first commonly used modems used a dial-up connection, meaning they used the phone line to transfer data to and from different sources.
Broadband
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A high-speed Internet connection requires a modem that is connected to a high speed data transfer source, such as a cable modem or DSL modem.
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Mobile
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Many modems utilize mobile phone lines and communicate in the same manner as a cellular telephone.
Internal
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Internal modems are built into the computer utilizing them and can be in a laptop or a desktop computer.
External
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An external modem is a separate entity from the computer utilizing it. External modems have their own connection to the communications method, power source, and the computer.
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