Analog Modem Adapter

What is an Analog Modem Adapter?

An analog modem adapter (AMA) is a device that enables a physical voice-band dial-up modem, that would normally connect to a telephone line, to instead connect directly to an IP network. An AMA locally demodulates the modem audio and extracts the data stream. This data stream is sent over a secure TCP/IP connection where it can either be remodulated to communicate with another modem endpoint or it can be directly consumed by a backed data processing system.

VOCAL’s Analog Modem Adapters (AMA) is used at remote locations to facilitate a demodulation and re-modulation approach to modem over IP. AMAs communicate over an IP connection to a SIP Analog Modem Server (SAMS) or a Remote Analog Modem Server (RAMS) server and the server delivers the data to an application residing on a host computer. The AMA can use a number of protocols for this data delivery, including but not limited to VOCAL’s RASoIP protocol over TCP, or ITU V.150.1 over UDP. The AMA also functions as a standard Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) to support voice calling over the public telephone network to deliver and manage alarm indications by voice and DTMF tones. These connection scenarios are useful when there is a requirement to remove physical analog lines, the physical modems cannot be replaced, and there is a need to retain basic voice operations.

How is Wireless connectivity used?

Analog Modem Adapter (AMA) with Wireless Connectivity allows the transport of modem data over LTE and Wi-Fi networks.

VOCAL’s AMA bridges the gap between legacy analog modems and modern Wi-Fi/LTE communications. An Analog Modem Adapter (AMA) enables the elimination of expensive analog PSTN connections by providing a solution that allows for reliable modem operation over IP and LTE networks. The AMA connects legacy POTS, telemetry devices/modems, fax and other analog devices to IP networks including mobile, radio, and satellite (Iridium, etc.) networks.

Wi-Fi and LTE allows the AMA to be installed in remote locations where ethernet connectivity is not available. Traditionally, these locations were only serviced by analog POTS lines that could not be removed because there were no other viable options. VOCAL’s AMA Wireless technology has provided a path for migration. By locally terminating the modem communications and extracting the underlying data stream, the AMA is able to complete the modem call more reliably and using less wireless data compared to a Voice Band Data call.

What kinds of applications can be supported by AMA?

An AMA, similar to an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA), provides a modular phone jack (FXS port) and an Ethernet port. An analog device can be connected to the modular jack to transmit its data over IP networks eliminating the need for telephone landline connections. An AMA supports telephony features such as dial tone, device power, ringing and standard telephone signaling to communicate with the local modem.

Initially the ATA was developed to connect analog telephones to digital networks, but AMAs have since evolved to support POS, telemetry, fax and many other dial-up applications. Depending on the transport mechanism, the AMA can be used to communicate over an IP network with a modem server, VoIP server or directly with another AMA endpoint.

Large numbers of legacy analog modem devices are still used in retail, industrial and other applications to transmit information to dial-up remote server gateways over traditional telephone land lines. Contact us to discuss your modem application requirements.

• Telemetry/Utility Meters

  • Utility meters can often be installed in remote locations where ethernet connectivity is not typically available such as substations, pipelines, or remote outposts. VOCAL’s AMA provides a solution for continuity of service when removing analog POTS lines. The AMA allows both polling from the central office and dial backs from the meters and PLCs. The AMA also segments the metering connections away from the public telephone network, increasing security by eliminating adversarial dials into the devices.
• Alarm Over IP (Optional)
  • Alarm panels use multiple communications methods including DTMF, tonal and low speed modems (some use V.32/V.34 modems while most simply use FSK Bell 102 for V.21). VOCAL’s AMA may be optionally configured to support alarm panel operations with AT command set support for precise tone generators and detectors and automation for SIA transactions.
• Point-of-Sale Over IP (Optional)
  • The AMA supports for Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals which use typically V.22 modems with a quick connect process (used by Veriphone) to send ASYNC or HDLC framed data. VOCAL’s AMA and SAMS both support common non-standard methods for POS applications including byte timing.
• Secure Telephone Communications using V.150 (Optional)
  • The V.150 AMA uses a standards-based approach to bridge the gap between legacy STE phones and modern VoIP networks. It implements the ITU-T V.150.1 protocol to locally terminate the modulation that caries the secure encrypted voice data. This data is then sent over the SPRT protocol to another V.150 appliance where it can be remodulated and sent to another STE phone. The V.150 AMA can be paired with VOCAL’s V.150.1 Gateway for a complete end-to-end solution that is directly compatible with remote secure phones with no changes required on the far end. While secure phones are one of the most common uses for V.150, the V.150 AMA can be used for many other V.150 applications as well.