Answer-Only Modem

What Does Answer-Only Modem Mean?

An answer-only modem is a network device that is capable of receiving messages, but cannot send messages. Answer-only modems were usually the most inexpensive modems available.

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Techopedia Explains Answer-Only Modem

Answer-only modems were first manufactured by Bell Systems around 1962. They used frequency-shift keying (an early frequency modulation scheme) and received messages at a rate of 2,025 Hz. AT&T later came out with both an originate-only modem, model 113D, and an answer-only modem, model 113B/C. In 1977, Vadic came out with the VA3467 triple modem, an answer-only modem; it was sold to computer center operators and had a 1,200-bps mode.

In 1981, Hayes introduced its Smartmodem and later produced an answer-only modem model, which operated on the server side but was much more expensive than the acoustically coupled models (picked up audio signals from a telephone handset) that operated on the client side. However, this answer-only modem was a low-cost, server-side modem that helped make the bulletin board systems (BBSs) flourish.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…