Telecommunications Glossary

on 24 November 2024. Posted in Telecommunications Engineering

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Amplitude Modulation with Multiple Signals - Amplitude modulation with multiple signals is the process of transmitting multiple information signals over the same carrier frequency by using amplitude modulation (AM) techniques. In this context, each of the information signals modulates the amplitude of the carrier signal in different ways.
Analog vs. Digital Communications - Analog communication is the transmission of information using continuous signals that vary in amplitude, frequency, or phase to represent the information being conveyed. In contrast to digital communication, where information is transmitted in binary format (1s and 0s), analog communication involves signals that can take on any value within a certain range.
Analog Communication - The transmission of information using continuous signals that vary in amplitude, frequency, or phase to represent the information being conveyed. In contrast to digital communication, where information is transmitted in binary format (1s and 0s), analog communication involves signals that can take on any value within a certain range.
Antenna Power Gain - A measure of how effectively the antenna directs the radio frequency (RF) power it receives into a particular direction compared to a reference antenna, usually an isotropic antenna (one that radiates power uniformly in all directions).

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Bandwidth - The maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network or communication channel in a given amount of time.
Bluetooth - A short-range wireless connection standard. Its aim is to link a wide range of computers, electronics and telecoms devices. The technology uses a low-power, two-way radio link, which is built into a microchip. The Bluetooth standard is allowing for greater wireless internet capability in the office and for consumers.
Broadcast Communications - The distribution of audio and video content to a broad audience through various electronic communication networks. This form of communication is designed to send signals to multiple recipients simultaneously, making it distinct from other forms of communication like telephony or data communication, which often involve point-to-point communication.
Broadband - A descriptive term for evolving digital technologies that provide consumers a signal switched facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-demand services, and interactive delivery services.
Bundling - Triple-play’ and ‘quad-play’ are ways that telecom companies package (bundle) their services. While they used to only offer home telephone service, they now provide home phone, Internet connection, television and maybe even cell phone service.

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Cable Anchor Force - The mechanical load exerted on an anchoring point due to the tension in a cable.
Carrier - A company that is authorized by regulatory agencies to operate a telecommunications system.
Closed Captioning - A service for persons with hearing disabilities that translates television program dialog into written words on the television screen.
Cloud - Collection of technologies through which businesses or consumers pay to use software that lives in another company’s data center. The benefit is that server capacity can increase or decrease in response to customer demand, freeing companies from having to invest as much in hardware and ultimately saving them money. This relates to telecommunications because the information in the cloud is accessed through broadband connections.
Common Carrier - In the telecommunications arena, the term used to describe a telephone company.
Communication Protocols - these are standardized rules and procedures that govern the exchange of data between devices over a telecommunications network. They ensure proper data transmission, synchronization, error handling, and communication between devices.

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Data Communication Networks - A system that facilitates the exchange of data between computers, servers, and other devices through a transmission medium, such as cables, wireless signals, or fiber optics. This network enables various types of devices to communicate with each other to share resources, information, and data efficiently.
Data Storage Need - The requirements and capacity necessary to store digital information in various formats, such as documents, media files, databases, and system data.
Data Transfer Time - The amount of time it takes to move data from one location to another.
Dial Around - Long distance services that require consumers to dial a long-distance provider’s access code before dialing a long-distance number to bypass or "dial around" the consumer’s chosen long-distance carrier in order to get a better rate.
Digital Communication - The transmission of information using digital signals, as opposed to analog signals. In digital communication, data such as voice, video, or text is converted into a digital format, typically represented by binary code (a series of 0s and 1s), before being transmitted over various communication channels like optical fibers, wireless networks, or satellite systems.
Dongle - A portable mobile broadband adapter connected to a laptop or PC via a USB port.

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E-mail - Also called electronic mail, refers to messages sent over the Internet. E-mail can be sent and received via newer types of wireless phones, but you generally need to have a specific e-mail account.
Earth Curvature - Eyesight is the ability of a person to see objects over long distances and how the curvature of the Earth affects visibility.
End-to-end Delay - The total time it takes for a data packet to travel from the source to the destination across a network.
Ethernet - Ethernet is a standard for using various transmission media, such as coaxial cables, unshielded twisted pairs, and optical fibers.

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Femtocells - Enhance coverage and capacity inside buildings which means fewer dropped calls. This has potential to allow cell phone calls to travel over the internet.
Firewall - A part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of devices which is configured to permit or deny computer based application upon a set of rules and other criteria.
Frame - A rack to which telecommunications equipment is mounted. You will see these in central offices.
Frame Relay - The standard for high-speed data communications, offering users transmission speeds of 2.048 megabits per second and higher. It allows faster speeds than the X.25 packet switching standard because it does away with elaborate error-correction and routing information. Its main application is interconnecting local area networks.
Frequency Modulation (FM) - A signaling method that varies the carrier frequency in proportion to the amplitude of the modulating signal.

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Global Positioning System (GPS) - A US satellite system that lets those on the ground, on the water or in the air determine their position with extreme accuracy using GPS receivers.

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High Defination Television (HDTV) - An improved television system which provides approximately twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of existing television standards. It also provides audio quality approaching that of compact discs.

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Interactive Vidio Data Service (IVDS) - A communication system, operating over a short distance, that allows nearly instantaneous two-way responses by using a hand-held device at a fixed location. Viewer participation in game shows, distance learning and e-mail on computer networks are examples.
Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) - A service provided by one or more fixed microwave stations operated by an educational organization and used to transmit instructional information to fixed locations.

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Landline - Traditional wired phone service.
Land Mobile Service - A public or private radio service providing two-way communication, paging and radio signaling on land.
Length of Cable with Sag - The effective length of a suspended cable (such as a fiber-optic or copper wire) when it is strung between two supports, and due to its weight, it sags rather than forming a straight line.
Low Power FM Radio (LPFM) - A broadcast service that permits the licensing of 50-100 watt FM radio stations within a service radius of up to 3.5 miles and 1-10 watt FM radio stations within a service radius of 1 to 2 miles.
Low Power Television (LPTV) - A broadcast service that permits program origination, subscription service or both via low powered television translators. LPTV service includes the existing translator service and operates on a secondary basis to regular television stations. Transmitter output is limited to 1,000 watts for normal VHF stations and 100 watts when a VHF operation is on an allocated channel.

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Modulation and Demodulation - Converting data into a signal suitable for transmission and then back into its original form at the receiving end.
Modulation Index - A parameter that quantifies the extent to which a carrier wave is modified by the modulating signal in a communication system.

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Network - Any connection of two or more computers that enables them to communicate. Networks may include transmission devices, servers, cables, routers and satellites. The phone network is the total infrastructure for transmitting phone messages.
Networking - The interconnection of multiple devices and systems to enable communication, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the internet.
Nodal Delay - The time a data packet spends at a particular network node before moving on to the next hop in its path.

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Open Video System - An alternative method to provide cable-like video service to subscribers.
Operator Service Provider (OSP) - A common carrier that provides services from public phones, including payphones and those in hotels/motels.
Optical Communications - A method of transmitting information over long distances using light waves, typically through optical fibers. This technology is the backbone of modern high-speed internet, telephony, and television services due to its ability to carry large amounts of data with minimal loss and interference.

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Paging System - A one-way mobile radio service where a user carries a small, lightweight miniature radio receiver capable of responding to coded signals. These devices, called "pagers," emit an audible signal, vibrate or do both when activated by an incoming message.
Personal Communications Service (PCS) - Any of several types of wireless, voice and/or data communications systems, typically incorporating digital technology. PCS licenses are most often used to provide services similar to advanced cellular mobile or paging services. However, PCS can also be used to provide other wireless communications services, including services that allow people to place and receive communications while away from their home or office, as well as wireless communications to homes, office buildings and other fixed locations.
Propagation Delay - The time it takes for a signal (such as an electrical signal in a circuit or a data packet in a network) to travel from the source to the destination.
Proscribed Interxchange Charge (PICC) - The charge the local exchange company assesses the long distance company when a consumer picks it as his or her long distance carrier.
Protocols - Sets of rules that govern data transmission, ensuring that devices on a network can communicate effectively.

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Roaming - The use of a wireless phone outside of the "home" service area defined by a service provider.

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Satellite - A radio relay station that orbits the earth. A complete satellite communications system also includes earth stations that communicate with each other via the satellite. The satellite receives a signal transmitted by an originating earth station and retransmits that signal to the destination earth station(s).
Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV) - A satellite dish system used to deliver signals to multiple dwelling units (apartment buildings and trailer parks).
Scanner - A radio receiver that moves across a wide range of radio frequencies and allows audiences to listen to any of the frequencies.
Service Plan - The rate plan you select when choosing a wireless phone service. A service plan typically consists of a monthly base rate for access to the system and a fixed amount of minutes per month.
Service Provider - A telecommunications provider that owns circuit switching equipment.
Shannon-Hartley Theorem - The maximum data rate (or channel capacity) that can be achieved over a communication channel with a specified bandwidth in the presence of noise.
Smartphone - A mobile phone on steroids. It offers more advanced computing and connectivity than a contemporary basic feature phone. Smartphones can be thought of as handheld computers integrated within a mobile telephone.
Surge Impedance - The natural impedance of a transmission line that determines how power waves propagate through it.
Surge Impedance Loading - The maximum power that a transmission line can carry without experiencing reactive power losses.
Switching Systems - These systems direct data to its correct destination. In telephone networks, for example, switches route calls between users.

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Telephone - The word used to describe the science of transmitting voice over a telecommunications network.
Transmission Delay - The time it takes to push all the bits of a packet onto the network link from the sender to the receiver.
Transmission Media - The physical or wireless means by which the signal is sent, such as fiber-optic cables, copper wires, or radio frequencies.

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Unified Communications - A communication framework that integrates various forms of communication, such as voice, video, messaging, and data services, into a single cohesive system. This concept is often implemented through Unified Communications (UC) platforms, which allow businesses and individuals to communicate seamlessly across different devices and networks.

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Very High Frequency (VHF) - The part of the radio spectrum from 30 to 300 megahertz, which includes TV Channels 2-13, the FM broadcast band and some marine, aviation and land mobile services.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - A technology that allows voice communications and multimedia sessions (such as video calls) to be delivered over the internet or other IP-based networks, rather than through traditional phone lines.
Voltage Resolution - The smallest change in voltage that the ADC can detect or represent in its digital output.

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Wired Communications - The transmission of information over a physical medium, typically involving wires or cables, to provide communication services such as telephone, internet, and television. These services rely on electrical signals transmitted through copper wires, fiber optic cables, or coaxial cables.
Wireless Communications - The transmission of information over a distance without the use of wires or cables. This technology enables communication between devices using electromagnetic waves, such as radio frequencies (RF), microwaves, and infrared signals.

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