56k Modem
A 56K modem is either an internal or external piece of computer hardware that allows you to connect to the Internet through a PSTN telephone line. The modem works as a converter. The digital signals that leaves the computer to go out on to the Internet first needs to converted into analouge signals so it can travel on the PSTN line. When analouge signals are then sent to the computer the modem then converts it to digital signals so the computer can understand the information. The modem can only handle the incoming and outgoing data at 56K a second but once the data is on the telephone line there can be a drop in speeds as the quality of the phone line and the distance the inforamtion has to travel can effect the speed. Modem actualy stands for modulate demodulate.
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