Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)

Data Terminal Equipment is equipment which acts as source or destinations in digital

communication and which is capable of converting information to signals and also
reconverting received signals.
Pieces of data terminal equipment usually do not communicate between each other,
which is usually done by data communications equipment. Common examples of data
terminal equipment: printers, routers, application servers etc.
Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) :
It includes any unit that functions either as a source of or as a destination for binary
digital data. At physical layer, it can be a terminal, microcomputer, computer, printer,
fax, machine or any other device that generates or consumes digital data. DTEs do not
often communicate information but need an intermediary to be able to communicate.

Features of Data Terminal Equipment:

 With the help of link protocol, provides the data communication control function to
the digital data communication.
 It can be single piece equipment or multiple pieces interconnected to perform the
required functions.
 In most communications, data terminal equipment is the terminal.
 One of the key differences between data terminal equipment and data
communications equipment is in the manner the connectors are wired.
 The universal asynchronous receiver transmitter in data terminal equipment
performs error detection and clocking. Error detection helps in ensuring the data
sent is free of corruption. Clocking helps in ensuring the data is sent at the right
rate of receiving at the destination.
 In most cases, data terminal equipment is a device which uses serial
transmission to transmit data, which is done with help of the serial port in the
device. It usually implements a male connector.
 To connect a data terminal equipment to a communication link, data
communication equipment needs to be used.
Difference between DTE and DCE :
SR.NO DTE DCE

DTE stands for Data DCE stands for Data

Termination Communication

1 Equipment. Equipment.

It is a device that is

an information

source or an It is a device used as an

2 information sink. interface between a DTE.

DTE is concerned DCE is concerned with

with source or communications aspect of

3 destination of data. data.

4 It produces data and It converts signals to a

transfers them to a format appropriate to

DCE, with essential transmission medium and

control characters. introduces it onto network

 SR.NO DTE DCE

line.

It is connected DCE network acts as a

through help of a medium for two DTE

5 DCE network. networks.

Examples of DTE Examples of DCE include

include computers, modem, ISDN adaptors,

printers and routers, satellites and network

6 etc. interface cards, etc.

Data communication Equipment (DCE)

Data Communications Equipment, or DCE, is any device that supports data
transmission over a serial telecommunications link. Typically, data communications
equipment (DCE) refers to modems, Channel Service Unit/Data Service Units
(CSU/DSUs), multiplexers, and similar devices. The purpose of a DCE is to provide
termination for the telecommunications link and an interface for connecting data
terminal equipment (DTE) to the link.

Data Communications Equipment (DCE)