Telecom Dictionary Navigation

Telecom Dictionary - L

LAN - see Local Area Network.

LAN Intrinsic - This term describes software applications written for local networks.

Land Line - A circuit for a telephone that travels over physical wire, fiber, or microwave circuits.

Landscape - The term describing screens that are wider than they are tall.

Laplink - A program that transfers files between a laptop and desktop computer.

Laser - This acronym means Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and it is a device that produces concentrated light of a single frequency.

LATA - see Local Access and Transport Area.

Launch - (1) Starting one program within another, and (2) the actual process of sending a satellite or craft into orbit by way of the launch vehicle.

Launch Vehicle - The means of transportation for the craft or satellite. It is typically a space shuttle or rocket that will bring the craft or satellite into its orbit.

L-Band - The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allotted for satellite transmission in the 0.5 to 1.5 GHz frequency range.

LCD - see Liquid Crystal Display.

Leader - The usually non-magnetic piece at the beginning of a roll of magnetic tape.

Leased Line - This circuit that is supplied by the telephone company and dedicated to one permanent use (like connecting two computers).

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) - This a display using a liquid crystal sealed between two glass plates.

LED - see Light Emitting Diode.

Left Brace - This is the character "{".

Left Bracket - This is the character "[".

Letter - Any of the characters A-Z (uppercase or lowercase).

Letterboxing - When a 16:9 aspect ratio movie is shown on a regular television set, there are black bars on the top and bottom of the screen. This preserves the original shots of the movie.

Level - (1) The power of a signal, or (2) a hierarchical security or management position.

Light - The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.

Light Emitting Diode (LED) - This is a semiconductor diode that emits light when a current passes though it. LEDs require little power to light up.

Light Year - This is the distance light travels in space (technically in a pure vacuum) in one year's time.

Limiter - A circuit that regulates signal flow by conforming it to predetermined tolerances.

Line - An electrical path (2 wires) between a subscriber and a phone company central office.

Line Feed - Moving a cursor or the head or a printer down one line.

Line Noise - Interference in a line, introduced by static, etc..

Link - This is (1) a communications channel, or (2) an HTML element that points to a specific document or location (on the World Wide Web).

Load - Any device that requires electricity plugged into an AC outlet. The device completes the circuit, requiring power, thus becoming the load.

Local - In the telecom sense, this term describes a device within a subject device's switching domain.

Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) - These are telephone company service areas (there are 196 geographical areas in the US).

Local Area Network (LAN) - This is a geographically localized network.

Local Echo - A modem feature that allows it to send out copies of commands.

Local Phone - This is a phone attached to your computer.

Local Printer - A printer hooked directly up to your computer.

Local Call - A telephone call within a local service area.

Logic - This is the application of mathematics and reasoning to propositions (which can be true or false).

Logic Bomb - Simply, this is a program meant to destroy data.

Logical Drive - A disk drive that the operating system (OS) recognizes.

Login - Identifying oneself to gain access to a computer system.

Logoff - To leave an online session.

Logon - To start an online session.

Logout - To exit a computer or network.

Long Distance - A telephone call outside a local service area, usually accompanied by higher rates.

Loop - (1) A complete circuit, or (2) a repeating series of instructions (within software code).

Looping - This is a negative occurrence and is when packets return to a node that was previously visited.

Low Pass Filter - A filter that allows lower frequencies than a certain predetermined frequency level to pass.

Lowercase - Non-capital letters.

Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) - This antenna is the preamplifier for the segment between the earth station receiver and the antenna. It usually attaches to the antenna receiver and is designed to add very little thermal noise to the signal.

Low Noise Block-downconverter (LNB) - This single device is attached to the feed and is a combination of both the low noise amplifier and the downconverter.

Low Noise Block-downconverter Feedhorn (LNBF) - This device is an LNB and a feedhorn combined.

LNA - see Low Noise Amplifier.

LNB - see Low Noise Block-downconverter.

LNBF - see Low Noise Block-downconverter Feedhorn.

Lurker - Someone who hangs around forums or bulletin boards who reads messages but rarely, if ever, posts.