modem error-correcting protocols

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

WhatIs.com

Contributor(s): Stephen Quattlebaum

The protocols that modems agree on and use for checking and correcting transmission
errors have evolved toward accuracy, speed, and efficiency since 1978 when the
Xmodem protocol became a de facto standard. To briefly summarize: in all protocols
data is chunked into "blocks" of a certain byte size and sent to the destination
modem which checks each block for errors and, depending on the results and the
protocol, returns a positive (ACK) or negative (NAK) acknowledgement, the latter
usually resulting in a retransmission. The type of checking (checksum or cyclic
redundancy checking) and the frequency at which a response is sent vary by
protocol. Today, new modems use a V.42 protocol, but the earlier protocols are
still in use for older modems.

Protocol Block size Frequency of response Type of checking Other information

Xmodem 128 bytes Every block checksum Also called MODEM7
Xmodem CRC 128 bytes Every block cyclic redundancy checking Cyclic redundancy
checks detect errors that checksum won't
Xmodem-1K 1024 bytes Every block Cyclic redundancy check Better for large files
WXmodem 128 bytes Every block but doesn't hold up the sender before accepting
the next block Checksum More efficient than Xmodem
Ymodem 1024 bytes Every block Cyclic redundancy check Includes a batch mode
that allows multiple files to be sent with one command
Ymodem-g 1024 bytes Only when an error is detected to blocks sent as a stream
and all must arrive successfully Cyclic redundancy check Supports batch transfers
Zmodem 512 bytes When a block with an error is detected Cyclic redundancy
check A transmission can be interrrupted and resumed without retransmitting blocks
already sent.
Kermit Adjusts to the computer system When a block with an error is
detected Checksum Can resynchonrize transmissions after a line interruption
V.42 (LAPM) 128 bytes Up to 15 blocks (frames) can be sent before a response
Cyclic redundancy check This takes precedence over V.42 MNP4.
V.42 (MNP4) Varies When a packet (block) with an error is detected Cyclic
redundancy check Used when LAPM can't be used by both modems.
Xmodem is an error-correcting protocol for modem that was created in 1978 by Ward
Christensen and became a de facto standard. Modems that agree on using the Xmodem
protocol send data in 128-byte blocks.