Data Communication Equipment

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Data Communication Equipment
Data Communications Equipment

   <communications, hardware> (DCE) The devices and connections
   of a communications network that connect the communication
   circuit between the data source and destination (the {Data
   Terminal Equipment} or DTE).  A {modem} is the most common
   kind of DCE.

   Before data can be transmited over a modem, the DTR (Data
   Terminal Ready) signal must be active.  DTR tells the DCE that
   the DTE is ready to transmit and receive data.

   DCE and DTE are usually connected by an {EIA-232} {serial
   line}.  It is necessary to distinguish these two types of
   device because their connectors must be wired differently if a
   "straight-through" cable (pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2 etc.)
   is to be used.  DCE should have a female connector and should
   transmit on pin two and receive on pin three.  It is a curious
   fact that many {modems} are "DTE" according to the original
   standard.

   (1995-02-28)