Re: broadband clarification

["Christopher B. Zydel" <czydel () cv net>]

A cable modem is a modem.  All signalling between a cable modem and a CMTS
is done over an analog carrier using QAM and QPSK modulation schemes.

On Thu, Jul 05, 2001 at 02:34:52PM -0700, Larry Diffey wrote:
> Alright, for all of you who decided to lecture me on the definition of broadband and it's meaning in strict 
> engineering terms, allow me to clarify (especially for the snotty ones).
>
> First off, words can have more than one meaning and that meaning should be taken in context.  For example; I'm sure 
> that none of you really think that a cable modem is a modem since it doesn't do AD/DA conversion but we all 
> understand that it's simply a device used to connect a customer to a provider.  After all "cable modem" is nothing 
> more than a marketing term so that customers have a rough understanding of what the device does (not that they always 
> understand that either).
>
> When I chose to use the term broadband as a reference point for my survey, I mistakenly thought that your brains 
> would parse that out to mean "an minimum acceptable level of bandwidth for consumer internet traffic".  If you 
> consider that to be current DSL/Cable speeds fine.  If you take that to mean some future technology using quantum 
> mechanics fine.
>
> So, if you're going to lecture me on the definition of bandwidth then please stop using the term modem unless you're 
> talking about an actual modem device.
>
>
> The question then remains: What (in your opinion) constitutes broadband according to the services that have been 
> promised to consumers but not yet delivered?
>
> Yes, I understand that it's not just speed, but take everything else into account when  you consider the minimum 
> speed.
>
> Feel free to be immature enough to flame me for my lecture.
>
>
> Larry Diffey