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Telecommunications Dictionary (C) Copyright 1989 R. Scott Perry Version 0.99 Last Update: 11/11/89 Will remain v0.99 until final alphabetical entry NOTE 1: This is NOT the final version. Even though there are well over 150 words defined here, the final version including over 300 words is not ready at this time. NOTE 2: This IS a copyrighted work, but I am allowing free distribution in its original format WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. If you have any suggestions for modifications, comments, etc., you can write to me at: R. Scott Perry Box 2189 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06430 Notes about the entries ----- ----- --- ------- * (Also called <entry>) means that there are more than one word for a certain concept. Do not bother looking at <entry>, it will just refer you back to the original entry * See also [entry] at the end of a definition refers you to more information or an entry that may help you understand the original entry better. Also, opposites of words will often refer to one another. * See <entry> appearing directly after the term indicates that the definition is the same as <entry>, and you should look there. * BBS is used generically to denote any service that you can call up with your computer, whether it is a bulletin board or a pay service. * Note that many words have more than one definition- some that pertain to telecommunications and some that don't. Definitions that do not relate to telecommunications will not be listed. ---Numbers--- 8N1 - the most common modem set-up. [see also format] 0004-0000-00345-4 - the stock number for "How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems," as listed in almost all manuals for hardware. If you want a copy, write to: US Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. 103 - officially, `Bell 103' which is the standard controlling transmission at 300 baud. It was created by AT&T. [see also 212A] 202 - the mode used by the Applecat modem and CATFUR. 212A - officially, `Bell 212A' which is the standard controlling transmission at 1200 baud. It was created by AT&T. [see also 103] 300 baud (bps) - a transmission speed that is quickly becoming outdated (though most modems will allow communication at the speed) that is roughly equal to 30 characters per second. 1200 baud (bps) - In the mid 1980's this was the most common transmission speed, until 2400 baud became popular/cheaper. It is roughly equal to 120 characters per second. 2400 baud (bps) - A fairly high-speed transmission speed that towards the end of the 1980's has been gaining popularity. It is roughly equal to 240 characters per second. 9600 baud (bps) - At this time, the fastest transmission speed available for commercial modems. ---A--- abort - [1] The command word used with editors that allows you to exit, destroying your message. [2] The character used to stop characters from a block of text appearing on your screen. Usual- ly the spacebar or CTRL-X are used to abort a message. access - [1] (verb) When someone is using a BBS with their com- puter. "My boss was accessing a BBS bulletin board when he was interrupted by the doorbell." [2] (noun) Refers to an intangible amount (usually represented by a security level or flags) that indicate to what extent you are allowed to use a BBS. When used in a term such as `you will be granted access', it means the amount of access that new users will generally receive. account - A term that refers to information that a BBS has about you. It is usually referred to by an ID number or your name. The information it contains can include any information that you have at some point given the BBS, usually including your name and phone number. [see also ID number] account number - See ID number. ACK A character (CTRL-F) that acknowledges something, usually that a certain amount of data has been received correctly. [see also NAK] alias - A name that users can use on a bulletin board that is not their own. Aliases are usually used by young BBS users and those who pirate software or do other illegal activities. Some exam- ples of aliases are `Cracker Kid', `Starbuck', and `Midnight Killer'. (Also called handle) ampersand - A character (&) that usually means `and'. analog - As far as electronic signals are concerned, analog refers to signals that can represent an infinite range of num- bers, as opposed to digital which can only be distinct whole numbers. Analog data often comes from measurements. The sound a modem makes over the phone is analog since it can be any number of different frequencies. [see also digital] anonymous - Refers to an author of a message that is unknown. On some BBS's you are allowed to post anonymous messages so that others won't know who you are. The SysOp usually can find out who the author is, however. answer mode - The condition in which a modem is ready to answer the phone when it rings and prepare to connect with another modem. All BBS's are in answer mode. [see also originate mode] apostrophe - The character '. It is usually used in contractions of words, such as "don't". append - To add to. Some BBS's allow you to add text from anoth- er message to the message you are posting. ASCII - An acronym for American Standard Code of Information Interchange. It uses 7 bits to represent all uppercase and lowercase characters, as well as numbers and many characters and punctuation marks. ASCII often uses 8 bits in the form of bytes and ignores the first bit. [see also EBCDIC] asterisk - The character *. asynchronous communication - This is when the beginning and end of each byte that is sent over the phone lines is marked somehow. This way, if there is line noise, the modem can find out right away where the next byte should start. at sign - The character @. Often read as 'at'. AT&T - American Telegraph and Telephone, the inventors of the first modem. attended mode - audio monitor - A speaker that is part of the modem and allows you to listen to whatever sound is on the phone line. This is often used to hear busy signals or make sure that the other modem picks up the carrier. auto-answer - When a modem has the ability to automatically pick up the phone when the phone rings and attempt to connect with another computer. auto-dial - When a modem is capable of dialing a phone number, so that you don't have to dial manually. auto-kill - A feature on some BBS's that will delete a message on a board if a certain threshold limit is reached. For example, a BBS might delete the second message on a board if there are already 100 messages and someone posts another message. auto-page - auto-redial - A feature that allows a modem or a term program to dial a number again after it finds out that the number is busy. This is very handy when trying to get through to popular bulletin boards that are often busy. auto-reply - To send a message (either public or private) immedi- ately after reading a message on a BBS. Usually, this is used to respond to the author of the message. auto-save - The ability of a terminal program to save information that it receives from BBS on disk that it was originally storing in memory. This way, if there is more information than will fit in the buffer, it will not be lost. auto-syncing driver - ---B--- backdoor - A way of getting into a BBS and getting full access, without using a regular account. Usually the author of the BBS program built the backdoor into the program so that he could get access to any BBS running his software. backslash - The character \. backspace - The character (CTRL-H) that causes the cursor on your screen to move back one space. [see also destructive backspace and non-destructive backspace] baud - A term referring to the speed at which computers communi- cate. Officially, it is the number of changes in an electronic signal per second. Since the number of changes usually is the same as the number of bits sent or received per second, bps and baud are often used interchangeably. However, there is a slight difference, so if you are writing a technical manual make sure you understand the difference. BBS - An acronym for Bulletin Board System. Usually it is a home computer that has a modem attached and is waiting for calls from your computer. It can, however, also refer to commercial serv- ices (such as CompuServe and the Source) and any other computers that you can call via telephone lines. BBS's almost always allow you to leave messages for other users. Many BBS's have programs that you can download and use on your computer. BBS can also be expanded simply to `bulletin board'. bisync - Refers to a modem that synchronizes with an electronic signal over the telephone lines that marks the beginning of words. Don't worry if you don't understand this term. bit - A Binary digIT. It is a number in base 2, which means that it can only be a 0 or a 1. It is used in the expression `bits per second'. [see also byte, word] block - A group of characters. For example, when downloading a program, blocks of 128 characters are often sent. board - [1] See BBS. [2] A group of messages on a BBS that are related. For example, a BBS might have a board for general messages and another board for messages dealing with computers. bps - Bits Per Second. The transmission speed of most modems is measured in baud or bps. Bps is literally the number of bits sent by the modem every second. [see also baud] braces - The characters { and }. break character - browse - To go through the list of titles of bulletins and note which ones you want to read. buffer - [1] (verb) To save all incoming data in memory. [2] (verb) to temporarily save data until the computer has a chance to use it (using interrupts). [3] (noun) The place in memory where the saved information is stored, as in "I have a 32K buff- er." bulk mailing - Used on a BBS when you send the same message to more than one person. This saves you from rewriting the message. bulletin - A special message posted on a BBS, usually written by the SysOp. In most cases all users are expected to read any new bulletins that may have been posted since their last call. bulletin board - [1] see BBS [2] see board (definition #2) bulletin board system - see BBS busy - When a bulletin board is being used by a user, or when the telephone line is being used. busy signal - The sound that you hear on a phone when the phone number you are trying to reach is being used. It usually con- sists of 60 cycles per second. [see audio monitor] byte - A group of 8 bits. [see ASCII] ---C--- call back unit - A device that, after you connect with a BBS and tell it who you are, will then call your phone number. This is used to make a very secure system to prevent hackers from invading a system. It then becomes very difficult, if not impossible, for a hacker to get into the computer system. caller - Anyone who connects with a BBS. It is usually used in a phrase such as "You are caller #4328." caller log - A list of callers who have called a BBS within a given time period. The list may also keep information such as the baud rate of the caller. This is used so that the SysOp can keep track of users, as well as the occasional hacker. call waiting - A service that the phone company offers most customers that allows the customer to hear a special sound on the phone if there is an incoming call while the customer is talking with someone else. The customer can then talk with either call- er. This is a nice service unless you have a modem and call BBS's. If you are connected with a BBS and someone else calls you, you will be disconnected. In most areas there is a special 2 or 3 digit number that you can dial before a phone call that will temporarily disconnect call waiting. capture buffer - The area in a computer's memory where a terminal program stores incoming data that is to be saved. (Also called capture memory). [see also buffer] capture memory - see capture buffer card (peripheral) - caret - The character ^. carriage return - see return carrier - The tone that the modem sends over the phone lines before any data is sent on it. It has a fixed frequency and a fixed amplitude. carrier detect - The wire in an RS-232C cable that holds the information as to whether the modem senses a carrier. (Also called CD) CB simulator - A computer service where there are multiple phone lines (usually at least 5). The CB simulator allows all the users to send messages to one another while they are on-line. It usually allows both public messages that everyone who is on can see and private messages that only one user can see. CD - see carrier detect center - Some editors on BBS's allow you to center a line of text so that it appears in the middle of the screen. character - Any letter, numeral, or symbol. characteristic - chat - A mode that allows two or more people (almost always a SysOp and a user on a BBS) to communicate with each other using the modem. Usually, each person can see what the other is typing at all times and can interrupt them (a beeping sound with a CTRL-G is useful to interrupt with). checksum - A number that represents a larger group of numbers in order to check for errors in date transmission. It is commonly used when downloading a program. The checksum is the result of a mathematical equation, such as adding all the numbers in a group together. Christensen protocol - see Xmodem columns - The width of your screen as measured by the number of characters your screen can fit across it. BBS's often ask for your screen width. Most current computers have a screen width of 80 columns. command buffer - the place in your modem's memory where it stores the commands that you give it. [see also buffer] command set - A list of all the possible commands that you can give something, such as a modem, a BASIC program, or a BBS. commands - Instructions that you can give to a modem, a BBS, or another similar device. communication - The idea of transferring one's thoughts or ideas to another person. communications program - A program similar to a terminal program but somewhat better. Often used interchangeably with terminal program. compatible - When one object can work as another. Though the term is usually used with computers, it is often used with mo- dems. Many lesser known modems are compatible with more popular modems. configure - To set something to your liking. To configure a BBS, you may have to tell it your screen width, whether you need line feeds and other such information. configuration - All of the information that you used to configure something. Configuration is often used to describe what equipment you have for your computer (your computer configura- tion). connect - [1] To be at a point where you can start communicating with a BBS, as in "I have connected with the BBS." [2] Any point after you have established contact with a BBS, as in "I am still connected with the BBS" or "I have been connected with the bulletin board for just over an hour." connect speed - connection - The actual contact with a BBS. It is used most often in expressions such as "I have a bad connection," meaning that there is line noise. console - continue - To pick up where you left off, usually after pausing in the middle of a message. CTRL-Q and the spacebar are used most commonly to let the BBS know that you want to continue. control character - On of 32 ASCII characters that does not print on your screen or printer. These characters are usually used to control your computer. [see also CTRL] copyright - A term meaning that a program or text file is pro- tected by the government so that it may not legally be copied, except to make backup copies. You should not upload a copyright- ed program to a BBS, unless it is shareware or freeware. [see shareware, freeware] Co-SysOp - A term similar to a vice president. The Co-SysOp of a BBS has more access to the BBS than any other user except the SysOp. The Co-SysOp might check messages to make sure that they are suitable for the BBS (not containing illegal messages), and he may be able to validate users. Sometimes a Co-SysOp is just a title given to someone who helped the BBS a lot by doing things such as posting messages. Also, there can be more than one Co- SysOp. [see also SysOp] <CR> - Carriage Return. See return. CRC - Stands for Cyclic Redundancy Check. CRC is a system to make sure that data (usually a downloaded program) is as free as possible from error. crash - When a BBS is harmed in such a way that it is temporarily inoperable. The usual cause is that some files are destroyed, either by accident or by a hacker. Some people try to crash BBS's, a fact that most users (and especially SysOps) think is sad. CTRL- The abbreviation for ConTRoL. This abbreviation is followed by a dash and then a character, such as CTRL-C, meaning the control character C. [see also control character] CTRL-G - The control character G, which usually causes the computer to produce a beeping sound. cursor - The marker that points out where text will next appear on your screen. It can be one of many things, usually a plain white or flashing square, or an underline. cyclic redundancy check - see CRC ---D--- dash - the character -. data - a group of characters that represents meaningful information. It can be in the form of anything ranging from bank account numbers to all the words in a book. database - [1] A program that keeps track of data, such as the information contained on mailing labels. [2] A large group of data. The sum of the information that you can receive on exten- sive pay services such as CompuServe can be considered a data- base. database hack - A way that hackers attempt to gain access to someone's account. They create a list of common passwords (such as SECRET and MINE) and try every one on an account to see if it is the right password. Knowing about this method, an intelligent BBS user should realize that they should not use easy-to-guess passwords. data bits - The number of bits that the modem uses to represent one byte. This is usually 8, though it can be 7 since ASCII needs only 7 of the 8 bits. data mode - data terminal ready - see DTR decoy program - default - A setting or an answer that is automatically assumed. If 80 columns is a default, then you only have to change it if you want something other than 80 columns. define - delete - To destroy information. Often you only delete one character at a time, such as when you are typing a message. To do that you usually use the DELETE key. destination - destructive backspace - A term that indicates that your terminal program deletes the character the cursor is on when it receives the backspace character. [see also non-destructive backspace] dial - To send out either tones or pulses that the phone company needs to understand what number you are calling. Most modems will dial automatically. dial tone - The sound that is on the phone line when the phone is picked up if it is ready to have an outgoing call made. Your modem, if it can dial, should understand this tone. digital - A system using discrete numbers to represent data. In computer systems, these are the numbers 0 and 1 (for binary). [see also analog] DIP switch - DIP stands for Dual In-line Package. DIP switches are a group of small switches placed together, usually on elec- tronic equipment. Many modems have these. The switches can be changed to alter various settings. For example, one DIP switch on a modem may change the status of the DTR. disconnect - To hang up the phone and cause the connection be- tween you modem and another computer to be stopped. Most BBS programs have a way of disconnecting a user who has called the bulletin board. down - A word meaning that a bulletin board that is not working, so that you can not connect with it. This can mean that there was a crash, or it could simply mean that the SysOp is playing a game on his computer. Often a SysOp will leave a phone connected to his BBS line off the hook so that you will get a busy signal. door - A gateway that will allow a bulletin board to run a pro- gram while a user is using the BBS. The user can use most pro- grams that the computer can normally run. These programs can range from games to business programs. download - To receive a computer file from a bulletin board. It is usually a computer program, but can also be text. [see also upload] driver - A program that will connect a program to a peripheral device (usually a modem or a printer). The driver will allow characters to be sent to or received from the device. Also, it will allow control of certain functions (such as letting a pro- gram hang up the phone with the modem) DTR - Stands for Data Terminal Ready. DTR is a flag that, when set, indicates that the modem will be using its built-in terminal program. When running a BBS, this flag should be turned off (either with a DIP switch or a command sent to the modem). dumb modem - A modem that only sends and receives characters to or from the phone line. [see also smart modem] dumb terminal - A keyboard and monitor that receive and send information either to or from another computer or a phone line. It is up to the other computer to do anything else, such as word wrap. duplex - The capability of both sides of a connection to send information. Full duplex is the same as duplex. When you are talking on the telephone to someone you are using duplex (you can both talk at the same time). [see also simplex, half duplex] ---E--- EBCDIC - Stands for Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code. It is a ways of coding characters. It is similar to ASCII, but it uses 8 bits instead of 7. [see also ASCII] echo - [1] A character that is sent back from a BBS instead of the one that is sent. For example, if you enter your password on a BBS it will often say `dots will echo', meaning that it will send a period for every character in your password (it is a safety feature). [2] When a bulletin board or your terminal program sends back the characters that you type. If the bulletin board does not send back the characters, your terminal program should print them to your screen as you type them. edit - To change a message that you have created. editor - The part of the BBS that allows you to enter a message and edit it. electronic mail - see E-mail E-mail - (electronic mail) - Messages that are sent to individual people. You choose who to send the message to and only that person receives the message. (Some BBS programs allow you to send bulk E-mail, which goes to more than one person, but the concept is still the same.) emulate - when a communications program imitates a certain brand of terminal. encryption - Coding data so that people who are not supposed to see the data will not. entry - EOF - Stands for End Of File. It is the character CTRL-Z, which marks the end of a text file. error - When there is line noise and one or more characters are changed. This is especially noticeable when downloading or up- loading a program. In this case the error must be detected. [see also line noise] error free - When referring to data transmission, error free refers to data that is transmitted perfectly. This is actually an impossible situation, but it is possible to have data that is very, very close to error-free. ESC - see escape key escape key - even parity - When the last bit of every byte transmitted makes it so that all the bits in that byte add up to be even. For example, if you have the byte 0111101, the next digit would be 1, creating 01111011, so that there are 6 ones (an even number). [see also parity, odd parity, mark parity and space parity] executive mode - When a user is connected to a bulletin board, but the SysOp is controlling the bulletin board. The most common use of an executive mode is when the SysOp validates users with- out the user having to hang up. exit - see logoff external modem - A modem that is located outside of the computer. It is hooked up to the computer with a cable, most commonly an RS-232C cable. [see also internal modem] ---F--- FCC - Stands for Federal Communications Commission. This is the government agency that is responsible for making sure that phone lines are being used correctly and that radio interference is as close to nonexistent as possible. feedback - A message that is sent by a user to the SysOp of a bulletin board. While it is meant to be a way for the user to let the SysOp know of any complaints or compliments they may have, it is more often a convenient way of sending E-mail to the SysOp. file - Any data that is stored by a computer in a form that is accessible by disk. It can normally a program, text, or data for a program. filter - When a communications program or a BBS program take out certain characters or words and don't accept them. For example, a bulletin board program may filter out CTRL-G's so that the SysOp does not hear the beeping. Also, some BBS programs have the ability to take out obscene words from messages. flag - A piece of information that is either TRUE or FALSE. It is used in some bulletin board security systems to indicate whether the user has access to certain parts of the bulletin board. It is also used by modems for certain indicators such as DTR. flow control - format - Information such as `8N1' that describes the way that your computer and a bulletin board should be connected. The first digit is normally 7 or 8, the number of data bits. The second character is a letter describing the parity (N for None, M for Mark, S for Space, O for Odd, and E for Even). The last number is the number of stop bits. 8N1 is most often assumed. forward - When pertaining to E-mail, it means to send E-mail that you received to someone else. framing bits - Bits that are used to separate characters. The bits themselves are not used for information. freeware - Computer programs that are copyrighted, but they may be legally copied if there is no payment involved. They are almost the same as public domain programs, but public domain programs are not copyrighted and may be sold for payment. [see also public domain, shareware, copyright] full duplex - see duplex ---G--- general file - Any kind of text on a bulletin board that is not specifically E-mail, a bulletin of any sort or a message. Usual- ly they are long files for the user's information. Some examples of general files are: a file containing more information on the bulletin board program, a newspaper article about a controversial issue, and an article that explains how to make your own disk drive. global scan - When a bulletin board goes through all the messages on all boards to check for new messages that the user has not yet read. This is very useful as it prevent you from having to go through each board to check for new messages. goodbye - guest -When a user is just looking at a bulletin board and does not want to receive an account there. The user usually has the same privileges as a new user who has not yet been validated. Quite a few bulletin board programs allow guests. This is a good feature, since the SysOp does not have to validate users who will not be calling the board more than once or twice. ---H--- hacker - [1] A programmer who likes to experiment with computers (this is the type of person who will not read the documentation to software). [2] A person who attempts to abuse the privileges of computer BBS's and other services. His activities may range from getting and exploring an account he is not supposed to have on a mainframe computer to attempting to crash a bulletin board. These people are unwanted by most BBS's. half duplex - Same as simplex. It is a mode which allows only one computer at a time to transmit information. When one comput- er is finished, the other then can start to transmit. hand-shaking - The process of establishing an electronic link between two computers. Handshaking can let both computers know the speed they will be using, as well as other information. handle - see alias hang - When a bulletin board all of a sudden starts to do noth- ing. That is, it will not accept calls or let the SysOp type anything until the computer is turned on again. hang up - When someone closes a switch which stops a telephone connection. This either happens when someone puts a telephone receiver into its cradle or when the person instructs the comput- er to hang up. help file - Many BBS systems will include information of how to run the system in case you are having troubles. Often just pressing H at the main menu will show you the information, but with some well-designed (there's a hint of sarcasm there in case you didn't notice it) systems you have to find the help file somewhere, sometimes amidst the files to be downloaded. host - The computer that is being used to send and retrieve information from other computers. Every BBS is a host, and so are pay services. host program - A computer program that allows your computer to accept incoming calls. If you want to do anything more than that, such as record information or print it out, you usually have to do the programming yourself. hyphen - The character -. ---I--- ID number - The unique number that a computer bulletin board may assign you. If the BBS uses ID numbers, you need to remember this number and your password in order to access the bulletin board. Same as user number, account number. idle time - When a computer is not being used. This refers to either a computer running a BBS that is not busy, or a caller that is not typing anything or receiving anything. Some BBS's will hang up a user if there is a certain amount of idle time (such as a minute). incoming - Information that is being sent to the computer which is being referred to. Therefore, incoming data it the data that is being sent to your computer. information - information system - initialize - To set up either hardware or software to work correctly with your system. Many modems have to be initialized each time they are used so they `know' what to expect. When your software initializes your modem, it may tell the modem to expect 2400 baud and no parity, as well as the fact that you do not want any information to echo on your screen. internal modem - A modem that is `hidden' inside your computer. Outside of your computer you will only see the phone cord. An internal modem can either be on a peripheral card that is placed inside your computer, or it can be built into your computer. interrupt - An interrupt, as far as modems and computers are concerned, is an electronic signal that tells the computer that something important is happening. Most modems can be set up by software to send an interrupt every time a character is received by the computer. When operating at fast speeds, this makes sure that the computer doesn't miss characters as it is printing them on the screen or saving them to a disk. ---J--- jack - A small plastic box that your phone cord fits into on your wall. This box converts the three wires that are inside the phone cord into 3 separate wires that the phone company uses to make your phone calls. jump (to a different board) - ---K--- K - When K is placed after a number, it means 1024 times that number. If you computer has 128K that means that it has a little more than 128000 bytes of memory. Often telecommunications software will tell you that you have a certain amount of free memory to use as a buffer. Kermit protocol - keyboard macro - kill - when referring to a message on a bulletin board, it means deleting the message from the board. Usually you can only delete the messages that you write (unless you are a SysOp). This is the end of the file. If you have any comments, suggestions, praise (if you REALLY liked it A LOT, you can always send a dollar or two) or want to help define the rest of the list (I have the words already, just no definition), just write to me: R. Scott Perry Box 2189 Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06430 I hope you enjoy and have use for this dictionary.