Re: History of Hayes Modem

Jan 14, 2006 0 Replies


>>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: My question would be, _who_ was the


>>>> inventor of the MO(dulate)DEM(modulate) in that case?

I'd suggest investigating the history of:


"voice frequency telegraph" (a-k-a "voice frequency carrier telegraph")


technology which is officially defined in various standard glosaries as 'A method of multiplexing one or more dc telegraph channels onto a nominal 4-kHz voice frequency channel.' Sounds like a modem to me :-)


In fact, I would contend that the earliest practical 'modems' were to be found in the context of the "harmonic telegraph" ... see this brief interesting article [for example]


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dating back to early 1880s. The previous work of Elisha Gray and his 'electro-harmonic' (or 'electro acoustic multiplex telegraph') is referenced there. Also, it appears that Gray's competitor Alexander Graham Bell did some seminal work in this area too based upon


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