DSL

How is DSL digital if it carries packets over a phone line?
Doesn't it use existing copper wires that could otherwise be used for voice?

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Comments

RussS

Why does using existing lines mean it can not be digital?

Have a look http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl1.htm to understand better.

w^rl0rd

Thanks. In the article it says

Modern equipment that sends digital rather than analog data can safely use much more of the telephone line's capacity. DSL does just that

I knew DSL was digital, but for some reason I didn't think it used the same wires that were used by analog. Thanks for clearing this up.

RussS

I always find that a little research tends to clear things up better than someone just giving you the answer. I guess you tend to see a few different ways of putting the same answer and one of them sticks

goldorak

1 - DSL is broadband
2 - Broadband is analog
3 - You have a modem that converts digital signals to analog signals
4 - over

w^rl0rd

goldorak wrote:

1 - DSL is broadband
2 - Broadband is analog
3 - You have a modem that converts digital signals to analog signals
4 - over

I don't think so. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line.
This is why I asked the question. I know that it uses a phone line.
Also, cable users use cable modems, but DSL users use DSL routers.

janmike

Bottom line, digital is digital.

For an intro, go to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl1.htm

w^rl0rd

Ouch janmike.

Lets go back to why I posted the question originally.
First of all, I KNOW WHAT DIGITAL MEANS!
I know the difference between digital and analog.
I know that DSL is digital.
I know what a modem does.

I merely wanted to know how the technology was implemented; how digital and analog share the same medium. Is it the same kind of copper wire used in twisted pair?

Thanks for all of the help anyway.

janmike

OOPS! Please excuse my overlook. String is long and forgot the previous content! I apolgize. Wasn't trying to be condescending.

So yours was a media question? Yes, twisted pair--same stuff.

mwgood

Hi,

How DSL signal shares the same wires as the Analog signal is that the Analog is generally transmitted in a frequency range of below 4 KHz. The digital signal comes in at higher frequencies - so that a filter blocks out the DSL signal above 4 KHz.

-Mike

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl4.htm