Telebit
|
|
Telebit, a modem manufacturer, is most notable for the "Trailblazer" variety modems. The Trailblazer is known for its PEP (Packet Ensemble Protocol) flag, used in the Fidonet nodelist. Telebit's products were marketed in Australia by Netcomm. Their devices were one of the earliest 9600 baud modems to reach the market. They were acquired by Cisco Systems in 1994 for $200M.
The Discrete Multitone or Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing technology used in DSL modems has some of its roots in the Packet Ensemble Protocol used by Telebit modems. This protocol used many carriers modulated into narrow frequency bands. It kept track of the performance of each of the sub-bands and altered its operating characteristics to maximize the throughput.
Internet Pioneer Paul Baran was heavily involved in the creation of Telebit's modem technology. Telebit was immediately across the street from another of Paul's companies, StrataCom's predecessor Packet Technologies on Bubb Avenue in Cupertino, California. Packet Technologies was a Beta customer of Telebit's in late 1985.
General Johnson was the CEO in the early days of Telebit. Mike Ballard was a CEO of Telebit later in their existence. He was an employee of Packet Technologies during the Telebit Beta trial, before Packet Technologies failed. After working for Telebit, he purchased the Savannah Chanelle winery in Saratoga, California.