Defintion: DTE & DCE
DTE
DTE is acronym for Data Terminal Equipment.
Examples of DTE is computers, printers
& terminals.
DCE
DCE is acronym for Data Communication
Equipment.
Examples of DCE is modems.
Wiring
Wiring a cable for DTE to DCE communication
is easy. All wires goes straight from pin x to pin x.
But wiring a
cable for DTE to DTE (nullmodem) or DCE to DCE requires
that some wires are crossed. A signal should be wired
from pin x to the opposite signal at the other end. With
opposite signals means for example Transmit & Receive.