A modem that sends and receives data through a coaxial cable television network instead of telephone lines，as with a conventional modem．Cable modems，which have speeds of 500 kilobits per second (Kbps)，can generally transmit data faster than current conventional modems．However，cable modems do not operate at the same rate upstream(when sending information)and downstream(when receiving information)．Upstream rates vary from about 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps，downstream rates from about 10 Mbps to 36 Mbps．

有线调制解调器：通过同轴有线电视网而不是像带有普通调制解调器的电话线来发送和接收数据的一种调制解调器。有线调制解调器500Kbps传输数据的速度（每户—编者注）一般可比目前的普通调制解调器要快。但是，有线调制解调器不是在同样的上行速率(当发送信息时)和下行速率(当接收信息时)下工作。上行速率约在2Mbps～10Mbps之间变化，下行速率约在10Mbps～36Mbps之间变化。

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