Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!udel!mmdf
From: C506634@umcvmb.missouri.edu (Eric Edwards)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: 9600 bps Modems
Message-ID: <19132@louie.udel.EDU>
Date: 6 Jul 89 21:23:04 GMT
Sender: mmdf@udel.EDU
Lines: 34

In Measage-ID <38027@hpdml93.hp.com> stephan@hpdml93.hp.com says:

>_baud_ refers to "symbols per second" in the transfer rate.  In older
>modems (ie. 1200bps, 300bps, etc), each symbol comprised one bit worth
>of data (one frequency was used to represent a ZERO and another was used
>to represent a ONE).  Thus, 1200 baud equals 1200 bps.  However, when
If memory serves (It often does not) 1200 bps is 600 baud.
>people began increase the transfer rate, it only worked when there was a
>direct connection.  However, when trying to use the telephone system,
>the maximum transfer rate is about 2400 baud.  This is due to the
[Technical discussion of how modems work deleted]
>Therefore, people began sending more bits per symbol.  People began
>So, when you buy a 9600 bps modem, it will really only transmit at 1200
>or 2400 baud (depending on the implementation).  Thus, it is a 9600
>_bps_ modem and NOT a 9600 _baud_ modem!
>
>Again, sorry to eat bandwidth, but I hope that everyone learned
>something.
>
As trivia maybe.  Sorry.   But this has been brought up lots of times and
always has the same result.  Nothing.  Fact is that "baud" as a synonym for bps
has entered the language and there's not much that can be done to stop it.
It's a consise, convient term that is much preferable to yet another three
letter acronym.  And unless you are designing modems you won't even encounter
the "old" definition.

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