DTE is acronym for Data Terminal Equipment. Examples of DTE is computers, printers & terminals. DCE is acronym for Data Communication Equipment. Examples of DCE is modems. 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. ...