Data Stations - AT&T MERLIN LEGEND Release 3.1 System Planning Manual

About Data and Video Communications

Data Stations

A data station is a hardware configuration used to send and receive data
(and/or voice, depending on the equipment). The configuration must include
two main components: data terminal equipment (DTE) for input or output of
data, along with data communication equipment (DCE) to enable the
transmission of data over analog or digital lines/trunks. Depending on the
station configuration, it may or may not include a telephone, either analog or an
MLX telephone.
The DTE is usually a PC, but can be a host computer, a LAN workstation, a
printer, an optical scanner, or a video system or other equipment used for data
input and/or output.
The DCE, which is either a modem or an ISDN terminal adapter (such as the
ExpressRoute 1000 or 7500B data module), allows data from the DTE to be
transmitted over digital or analog telephone lines/trunks. The DCE, which has
capabilities similar to a telephone, also may make the data call, maintain the
connection, and terminate the data call.
NOTE:
The DCE and DTE may have hardware and/or software options that can be set
for transferring and receiving data, such as parity and bit rate. For more
information, refer to the DTE and DCE documentation for configuration
compatibility requirements, options, and guidelines for changing options.
There are two types of data stations:
Modem Data Station. This type of data station sends and receives
analog data. It includes a modem as its DCE and is connected to an
analog extension jack or T/R jack on the control unit.
ISDN Terminal Adapter Data Station. This type of data station sends
and receives digital data. It includes an ISDN terminal adapter as its DCE
and is connected to a digital extension jack (MLX port) on the control
unit.
Within each type, there are several configurations, depending on the station's
capabilities (for example, voice and data or data only) and, therefore, what
equipment is involved and what type of module they connect to on the control
unit.
This section describes each type of data station and the configurations
supported within each type. For more information, refer to the Equipment and
Operations Reference .
Data Communications
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