Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Data Transfer

Synchronous and Asynchronous data transfer are two methods of sending data over a phone line.

In synchronous data transmission, data is sent via a bit-stream, which sends a group of characters in a single stream In order to do this, modems gather groups of characters into a buffer, where they are prepared to be sent as such a stream. In order for the stream to be sent, synchronous modems must be in perfect synchronization with each other. They accomplish this by sending special characters, called synchronization, or syn, characters. When the clocks of each modem are in synchronization, the data stream is sent. Hayes OPTIMA modems are capable of synchronous data transmission.

In asynchronous transmission, data is coded into a series of pulses, including a start bit and a stop bit. A start bit is sent by the sending modem to inform the receiving modem that a character is to be sent. The character is then sent, followed by a stop bit designating that the transfer of that bit is complete.