PCM Technology

E&M Interface

Introduction to E&M

E&M is a universal trunk signaling technology used on

private branch exchanges (PBXs). It separates signaling
and audio signals.

Generally, a PBX is a trunk circuit and the E&M voice

access gateway is a signaling unit. The PBX transmits
signals on the M lead and receives signals from the E lead.
On the contrary, the E&M voice access gateway transmits
signals on the E lead and receives signals from the M lead.

Note: There are alternative explanations for the term "E&M". "E" can stand for "Ear" or "recEive" and "M" can
stand for "Mouth"or "transMit".

E&M Interface Description

Generally, an E&M interface consists of four parts.

E&M signaling E signal channel Signal ground (SG) channel

channels M signal channel Signal battery (SB) channel

Audio channels are used to transmit audio signals between the

signaling unit and trunk circuit.
2/4-wire audio 2-wire E&M: uses Tip (T) and Ring (R) leads to transmit and
channels receive audio signals in full-duplex mode.
4-wire E&M: uses two pairs of leads (T and R, T1 and R1) to
transmit and receive audio signals. It provides separated channels
for signal transmission.

Dial initiation The E&M interface does not support dial tones. Therefore, the dial
supervisory signaling initiation supervisory signaling is used to start dialing.

Address signaling Generally indicates the called number.

Note: Although the E&M interface's audio channel consists of a maximum of four wires, an interface may
have 6 to 8 physical wires including the signaling control buses.
Application Scenarios of E&M Interfaces

Point-to-point Control Signal Transmission

The E&M signaling channel is used to transmit on-off signals. It applies to scenarios where the on-off
signals are used for remote management.
For example, a control center remotely turns on or off a radar antenna and conducts air-ground
communication using a sub-rate interface, similar to using a walkie-talkie.
E&M interface E&M interface

Control center Controller

OSN device OSN device

PCM board SDH line board/PDH tributary board

2/4-Wire Audio Signal Transmission

The audio channel (2/4-wire) is used to transmit audio signals between audio terminals.

E&M interface E&M interface

Audio terminal Audio terminal

OSN device OSN device
PCM board SDH line board/PDH tributary board

2/4-Wire Audio Signal Transmission Using E&M Trunking

PBXs are connected to OSN devices via E&M interfaces. Signaling is transmitted over the E&M
signaling channel, and audio signals are transmitted over the audio channel (2/4-wire).
OptiX OSN devices function as trunk devices for the signaling and audio signals.

E&M interface E&M interface

PBX PBX
OSN device OSN device

PCM board SDH line board/PDH tributary board