from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Data Terminal Equipment
DTE
<communications, hardware> (DTE) A device which acts as the
source and/or destination of data and which controls the
communication channel. DTE includes terminals, computers,
{protocol converters}, and {multiplexors}.
DTE is usually connected via an {EIA-232} {serial line} to
{Data Communication Equipment} (DCE), typically a {modem}. 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. DTE should have a male connector and should
transmit on pin three and receive on pin two. It is a curious
fact that many {modems} are actually "DTE" according to the
original standard.
(1995-02-28)