SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING ACOUSTIC MODEMS WITH SEMANTICALLY ENCODED WAVEFORMS

A system and method that produces an acoustic waveform representing a semantically encoded modem waveform, transmits the acoustic waveform over an operational telephone line to a destination location, and records the transmitted acoustic waveform at the destination location. Semantic bit errors are identified at the destination and segments of the recorded acoustic waveform that corresponds to the semantic bit errors are isolated. The isolated segments of the recorded acoustic waveform are compared to corresponding segments of an ideal acoustic waveform to identify waveform distortions. The waveform distortions are then characterized as circuit component effects of the operational telephone line.