First Modems (was RE: cctech digest, Vol 1 #379 - 30 msgs was Re: FYI: 25th) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

21 Feb 2003

(Did a little Googling yesterday)

Bob Scarborough
(http://www.pipechat.org/archives/2001/April/digest1990.html) says 
<quote>
In the 1930s, the acronym "modem" came into use, a contraction of 
"modulator/demodulator".  This was used in FDM multiplexing, to denote an 
analog/analog function, where voiceband signals were modulated up into 
"channel group" spectra of 12 to 110 KHz along with 11 others by using 
carrier tones and selected sideband energy.  
</quote>

The timeline http://www.greatachievements.org/greatachievements/ga_9_3p.html
at has
<quote>
1955 Modem first described by Ken Krechmer, A. W. Morten, and H. E. Vaughn.

1958 AT&T introduces datasets (modems) for direct connection.
</quote>  

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Arnold [mailto:fm.arnold@gmx.net]
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 6:23 AM
To: cctech(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: cctech digest, Vol 1 #379 - 30 msgs

cctech-request(a)classiccmp.org schrieb am 20.02.2003:
...
 ----------<snip>-----------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 12:50:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: FYI: 25th Anniversary of Ward Christensen's BBS
From: "Eric Smith" &lt;eric(a)brouhaha.com&gt;
To: &lt;cctalk(a)classiccmp.org&gt;
Reply-To: cctech(a)classiccmp.org

Stan Sieler asks:
  but...does anyone know the first data of a binary
(not ASCII)
 file transmission via modem? 
I assume that was a typo, and you want the date, not the data?

  (I know of some done in 1975, from an IBM
 mainframe to a DG Nova.) 
At least as early as 1965 IBM sold equipment that could do this, so
I rather imagine people probably did binary transfers even in those days,
but I don't have any proof of it.
----------<snip>----------- 
Hi,

I found this:
http://www.smecc.org/sage_a_n_fsq-7.htm at photo 22 it claims:

22. Simplex.jpg. This console provided operation and maintenance of the Long
Range Inputs and Outputs. Simplex because there was no redundant hardware.
Each radar station fed digitized data to the DC over public telephone lines
(a
first - they had to invent the modem!). The DC also sent data to the
neighboring DCs and to the Command Center (the AN-FSQ-8 computer). 