Does a Router Replace a Modem?
A typical confusion that most people encounter, especially when establishing their home internet connection, is whether or not they require a modem if they have a wireless router. The short answer to this question is yes, although the functionality of a modem and router have merged in many modern devices, you still require both a modem and a router to have an internet connection in your home. Below is a brief of each of the devices and understanding why you cannot replace a modem with just a router.
What is a Modem?
A modem is a piece of equipment that links your home’s local area network to your ISP or internet service provider’s network. Its job is to demodulate the signal provided by your ISP into something that your devices at home can understand and use. The signal that comes to the house from your Internet Service Provider is analog or digital, the signals your computers, phones, tablets, etc use are in an IP (Internet Protocol) format.
So, in simple terms, a modem encodes and decodes the signal that is entering your home to translate it into an actual usable internet signal. Without a modem, your devices can’t interpret the raw signal that your ISP is sending, and thus you cannot access the internet.
What is a Router?
A router on the other hand has a distinct role in your home network. Its main role is to accept the single internet connection from the modem and then divide it or ”route” it to all the devices present at home for use. Routers are precisely devices that connect all your home electronics into a small network and can enable the devices to connect wirelessly via WiFi or physically by using cables through the Ethernet ports.
These include firewall settings to enhance security, the ability to offer IP addresses through DHCP services, setting up specific port forwarding for gaming or video streaming purposes, creating a guest network, and many others. Therefore, although one doesn’t necessarily need a router to access the Internet, it becomes much easier to share and divide the access.
Why Do You Still Need A Modem?
Thus, we have had the chance to see why it is impossible to replace a modem by having a router, knowing their differences in terms of functionality. The modem on the other hand cannot work and has no source internet connection to work on in the first place. It requires the modem to demodulate the signal from the ISP and to offer an internet connection.
There are modem-routers or gateway models that are advertised but what’s important is that these models still have the modem equipment and software elements inside them. Thus, even those integrated devices cannot function properly when they lack modem features.
Sometimes for fiber internet or Ethernet WAN connections what you get from the ISP is only a router but no external modem. But there will be built-in elements and sub-systems that will perform the demodulation or signal conversion function even if an external cable or DSL modem is not necessary.
Why Do You Still Need A Modem For Your Internet Connection Key Facts?
- Transforms mechanical stimuli from ISP lines to the digital network signal.
- Connect the internet connection with your home network
- It supplies the required WAN internet source that routers are required to perform
- Bundled modem routers are still equipped with modem hardware and features even if they are combined with routing capabilities.
- It is internally identified that Fiber/Ethernet routers will demodulate all the necessary signals.
Instead of trying to repair my router, can I just buy a better one?
Since routers just act as the distributors of the internet connection rather than creating the connection in the first place, simply buying a more fancy, highly powered router will not eliminate the need for the modem. Indeed, you are still going to require both devices to be operational to have a shot at getting on the internet.
Getting a better router may offer you a higher speed of WiFi or a broader at-home coverage after the signal penetrates your house for distribution to wireless devices. Still, that router performance is all for naught if the modem is not fulfilling its core job first.
Setting up your modem and router can be a complex process, but here are some general guidelines that will help you.
When connecting internet at home, follow these steps initial step: By your ISP’s guidelines, configure your modem and establish an internet connection through the modem directly to a computer using an Ethernet cable. When you have the modem connection established, connect your router to the modem through the ethernet port to distribute that live Internet source over to the routing features.
If possible, locate your modem close to where internet cables penetrate your residence, while sitting your router in an appropriate central location that enables it to emit WiFi signals to all the corners of your home. Plug in other computers or devices that require faster and consistent wired connection, into the router using other Ethernet cables. Manager WiFi network names and passwords from your router administration panel.
You will mostly acquire a modem on a rental basis from your internet service provider but buying a high-end router is beneficial for streaming, keeping up with smart devices, and accessing secure features. Of course, do not forget that both wired modem and wireless router are the pieces of equipment you need.
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