Data Communications Equipment (DCE)
Data Communications Equipment (DCE) can be classified as equipment that transmits or receives analogue or digital signals through a network. DCE works at the physical layer of the OSI model taking data generated by Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and converting it into a signal that can then be transmitted over a communications link. A common DCE example is a modem which works as a translator of digital and analogue signals.
DCE may also be responsible for providing timing over a serial link. In a complex network which uses directly connected routers to provide serial links, one serial interface of each connection must be configured with a clock rate to provide synchronisation.
Other common DCE examples include:
- ISDN adapters
- Satellites (including base stations)
- Microwave stations
- NIC (network interface cards)
DCE is sometimes said to stand for Data Circuit-terminating Equipment.
Click on this link to review the wikipedia resource on DCE.