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Terminal adapter
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<h2 id="isdn">ISDN</h2> <p>In <a href="/facts/ISDN/zcV99rUb">ISDN</a> terminology, the <i>terminal adapter</i> connects a <i>terminal</i> (computer) to the ISDN network. The TA therefore fulfills a similar function to the ones a <a href="/facts/Modem/9H0Xwtq0">modem</a> has on the <a href="/facts/Plain_old_telephone_service/7uEc2wFY">POTS</a> network, and is therefore sometimes called an ISDN modem. The latter term, however, is partially misleading as there is no <a href="/facts/Modulation/aAXPjINv">modulation</a> or <a href="/facts/Demodulation/GFLGoxFl">demodulation</a> performed. </p><p>There are devices on the market that combine the functions of an ISDN TA with those of a classical modem (with an ISDN line interface). These combined TA/modems permit connections from both ISDN and analog-line/modem counterparts. In addition, a TA may contain an interface and <a href="/facts/Codec/C7b7Am8t">codec</a> for one or more analog telephone lines (aka <i>a/b line</i>), allowing an existing POTS installation to be upgraded to ISDN without changing phones.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>Terminal adapters typically connect to a <a href="/facts/Basic_rate_interface/JAynT4Td">basic rate interface</a> (<a href="/facts/S_interface/YWWkuBpN">S0</a>, sometimes also <a href="/facts/U_interface/xdl8HjNT">U0</a>). On the <i>terminal</i> side, the most popular interfaces are <a href="/facts/RS-232/NCpvGuyq">RS-232</a> serial and <a href="/facts/USB/XcIKWLyg">USB</a>; others like V.35 or <a href="/facts/RS-449/EWN90vFn">RS-449</a> are only of historical interest. </p><p>Devices connecting ISDN to a network (e.g. <a href="/facts/Ethernet/nMfhU8tU">Ethernet</a>) commonly include <a href="/facts/Router_(computing)/Nh5cIyVf">routing</a> functionality; while they technically include a TA function, they are referred to as (ISDN) <a href="/facts/Router_(computing)/Nh5cIyVf">routers</a>. </p> <h2 id="mobile-networks">Mobile networks</h2> <p>In <a href="/facts/Mobile_network/8zA0jQJ9">mobile networks</a>, the <i>terminal adapter</i> is used by the <a href="/facts/Terminal_equipment/P59yoPMk">terminal equipment</a> to access the mobile termination, using AT commands (see <a href="/facts/Hayes_command_set/jqgtsCtH">Hayes command set</a>). </p><p>In <a href="/facts/2G/4Xd52qkQ">2G</a> (such as <a href="/facts/GSM/Sw8QYaLE">GSM</a> or <a href="/facts/CDMA/o2RLKE4M">CDMA</a>), the terminal adapter is a theoretically optional while in <a href="/facts/3G/K1noBd8n">3G</a> (such as <a href="/facts/W-CDMA/lhy2RrMw">W-CDMA</a>), the terminal adapter is mandatory and is part of the mobile termination.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="automation-industry">Automation industry</h2> <p>In the <a href="/facts/Automation/3YlF2K5q">automation</a> industry, a <i>terminal adapter</i> is a <i>passive</i> device that converts a connector like the <a href="/facts/8P8C/M3BYRSFV">8P8C</a> (RJ-45) <a href="/facts/Modular_connector/M3BYRSFV">modular connector</a> or <a href="/facts/DE-9_connector/ygqtB3CQ">9 pin D-Sub</a> into a <a href="/facts/Terminal_block/C0MnmsDL">terminal block</a> to facilitate wiring. It is often used when <a href="/facts/Daisy_chain_(electrical_engineering)/x1FsIB1E">daisy chain</a> wiring is necessary on a multi-node serial communication network like <a href="/facts/RS-485/YEABejzm">RS-485</a> or <a href="/facts/RS-422/le2rYC8T">RS-422</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Federal_Standard_1037C/CA4jqghV">Federal Standard 1037C</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Rouse, Margaret (September 28, 2011). "Terminal Adapter". Techopedia. Retrieved October 22, 2024. <a href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta" target="_blank">https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Rouse, Margaret (September 28, 2011). "Terminal Adapter". Techopedia. Retrieved October 22, 2024. <a href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta" target="_blank">https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Rouse, Margaret (September 28, 2011). "Terminal Adapter". Techopedia. Retrieved October 22, 2024. <a href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta" target="_blank">https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Rouse, Margaret (September 28, 2011). "Terminal Adapter". Techopedia. Retrieved October 22, 2024. <a href="https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta" target="_blank">https://www.techopedia.com/definition/3015/terminal-adapter-ta</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>