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Home > Dialup Internet > Dialup Modem

What Is A Dialup Modem?

A dial-up modem is a device that allows you to send and receive information over analog phone lines using your computer. The word, "modem", is actually an acronym that stands for "MOdulator/DEModulator". In the case of a dial-up modem, the device will take the data you wish to send over the Internet and "modulate" it into an analog format. Any information that is received by a dial-up modem is then "demodulated" from analog into a digital format which can be understood by your computer.

With dial up Internet technology, the information has to be converted into analog since it will be using standard analog phone lines (the same ones you use for normal phone calls). Dial up modems function a little differently then DSL or cable modems, which are cabable of sending and receiving information in a digital format. It is the use of analog phone lines which limits the speeds of dial up Internet connections, since analog lines are not able to transmit data at speeds above ~56 Kbps.

Dial up connections are established when the dial-up modem on your computer is used to place an analog phone call using your telephone provider. This call is made to your ISP (Internet Service Provider), which operates a large network of modems that allow you access to the Internet. One of the modems at your ISP will answer the call made by your computer's modem and these two devices work together to form the connection between your computer and the Internet.

Most dial up modems are internal, meaning they will be contained within your computer case, although there are many models that you can connect externally. A dial-up modem will range in price from around $10 to $20 on average. Many new computers will already have a dial-up modem built-in, though the technology is becoming somewhat out-dated.

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	Common Internet Connection Problems		What Is A Dialup Modem?
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Return to our main section on Dial Up Internet Service for further reading about dial up Internet access and whether or not it is a good choice for you.