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DTE

Abbreviation for data terminal equipment. 1. An end instrument that converts user information into signals for transmission or reconverts the received signals into user information. 2. The functional unit of a data station that serves as a data source or a data sink and provides for the data communication control function to be performed in accordance with link protocol. Note 1: The data terminal equipment (DTE) may be a single piece of equipment or an interconnected subsystem of multiple pieces of equipment that perform all the required functions necessary to permit users to communicate. Note 2: A user interacts with the DTE, or the DTE may be the user. The DTE interacts with the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE).