DSL

DSL describes a family of technologies that try to offer a high-capacity data rate over a standard copper telephone line.
When I was talking about modem standards, I mentioned that that the passband of the local loop is only about 3000Hz. This is generally caused by limitations of the equipment at the exchange, rather than any limitation of the copper wire itself. If this equipment is replaced, then data can be sent across a wider range of frequencies than those available to the standard telephone system (300Hz – 3400Hz). Although the signal will be more distorted when using frequencies higher than 3400Hz to transmit data, sophisticated equipment at the subscriber's end which acts an equaliser can compensate for this. This equipment is known as a DSL modem.

Click here for more details on specific types of DSL, namely ADSL, SDSL and VDSL.

Links

WhatIs guide to DSL
DSL Report
Everything DSL

ISDN] [ Cable modems

Introduction - Modems - ISDN - DSL - cable modems - Mobile comms - Conclusion - Glossary

The original text and layout of this page are copyright © Rajnish Bhaskar, 1997 – 2023. All images are copyrighted to their respective owners. All copyrights and trademarks are acknowledged on the copyrights page. Read the privacy policy at LordOfTheMoon.com

All views on this website or elsewhere on the web under the 'LordOfTheMoon' name are purely personal and reflect my own views and nothing else. If you have any comments or anything else to say, email me at and tell me.