Telecommunications for Beginners

To communicate with another computer, you need a device called a MODEM. There are 2 types of these devices. One is called a DIRECT CONNECT modem, and the other is called an ACCOUSTICAL modem. The direct connect modem plugs directly into the phone line. The accoustical modem is the type you saw on the movie, War Games. With it, you plug the telephone handset into 2 holes. The Direct connect modems are actually better for accuracy in transferring data (the accoustacal modems sometimes give you many errors in a noisy environment or where there is lots of interference (near a tv set for example). There is a main advantage accoustical modems have over direct connect modems, and that is price. Many people I know also buy an accoustical modem so they can use their computer (if they travel) with a pay phone.