However, they do vastly different things, though there are a few similarities. Unless you’re technically savvy, a modem and a router most likely sound the same. However, it allows for multiple wired and wireless Internet connections at the same time.
Wireless routers also connect to your modem. It usually connects to just one device at a time. The most common types of routers are wired routers and wireless routers.Ī wired router directly connects your modem to your computer or other Internet-enabled devices. Enables local file and data sharing (i.e., you need a router to print a document with a wireless printer).Decides which devices get “priority” over the others.Offers a layer of protection from potential security threats.It also acts as a bridge to allow the devices to communicate with each other via local networks. Routers determine the fastest “path” between devices on a network and then send data using those routes.Ī router allows you to connect multiple devices (i.e., laptop, desktop, smart TV, printer, etc.) to your home or office Internet. They are used to forward Internet protocol (IP) data packages from an ISP network to your home network. What is a Router and How Does it Work?īoth wired and wireless routers work similarly. However, certain Internet service providers require you to use the modems or modem router combos they provide. Most modern modems are capable of connecting to DSL or cable networks, which makes them broadband-enabled.
It works by converting signals from a cable wire or telephone wire into information that your computer can understand and vice versa. Officially known as a “Modulator-Demodulator,” a modem is an essential piece of hardware that allows Internet-enabled devices like your computer and router to connect with the Internet.
#Modem vs router deal Pc
You can take the modem's Ethernet cable that usually goes to your router and plug it into a PC instead.Should you get a modem, a router or a modem router combo? The first step is to know what they are and how they relate.
In fact, there's nothing stopping you from plugging your computer directly into the modem. But wait what's stopping you from directly attaching a computer to the modem? If it's a digital signal, surely your computer can understand it without the need for a router? When You Don't Need a RouterĪs we covered above, modems convert a signal into digital format, then pass it onto a router. This would be installed in your home and decodes the light signals for you. However, if you're lucky enough to have a fiber-optic connection directly to your home (known as 'Fiber-to-the-Home', or FTTH), you should have a little box called an Optical Network Unit (ONU) somewhere. As such, you need a modem to translate the data coming down the cable. If your fiber optic connection goes to a nearby utility box (Fiber-to-the-Curb, FTTC) or a neighborhood hub (Fiber-to-the-Node, FTTN), either copper or phone cables will cover the remaining distance to your home.
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