Differences between modems and routers (powercert animated videos)

Modem vs Router

This article is derived from the subtitles of the following video links ：
The difference between modem and router

modems ( Be commonly called “ cat ”)

If you want to use the Internet at home or in your business , You must have a modem , Modems can bring the Internet to homes or businesses , The modem establishes and maintains a dedicated link with your Internet service provider , To enable you to access the Internet .

Why modems must be used ： Two different types of signals are used on computers and the Internet ：

• The computer can only read digital signals
• The signals on the Internet are analog signals
  

When analog signals come in from the Internet , The modem demodulates the input analog signal into a digital signal , So that the computer can understand

The modem also modulates the output digital signal from the computer into an analog signal , Because they're going to go out to the Internet

• ” modems “ Short for modulator and demodulator , This is what modems do , It modulates the outgoing data from the computer , Demodulate incoming data from the Internet

There are different types of modems , The two most commonly used are Cable modem and DSL modems , Depending on the type of Internet you want to use , You need to use the correct type of modem .

• Cable modems use coaxial cables to connect to the home
• DSL The modem uses a typical telephone line connection
  

A modem / The router device should have a modem with a built-in router , In a device . That is, a wireless router is integrated into the modem

Router

There are different types of routers , There are larger routers for enterprises and large organizations , There are also smaller routers for homes and small businesses , But their functions are the same

Small office / Home office router

A router is a network interconnection device that routes or transmits Internet connections to all devices in a home or enterprise , It directs the Internet to the computer 、 Tablet, etc , So these devices can access the Internet . A typical small office / Home office routers are like this , There is a built-in multi port switch , You can connect multiple devices with Ethernet cables , And it can also act as a wireless access point , For wireless devices （ Like tablets and laptops ） Visit the Internet .

Technically speaking , You don't need a router . If you only want one device to access the Internet , Just plug the device's network cable directly into the modem , You can access the Internet . However , Like most families and businesses , You will have multiple devices that need access to the Internet , This requires the use of routers .

This example demonstrates how many different networks are connected to the Internet .

1. The network on the left uses a cable modem and a small office / Home office router , All computers and tablets in the network can access the Internet .
2. There is another network at the bottom , This network uses a DSL modems , It also uses a small office / Home office router , So all the computers in this network 、 Both laptops and tablets can access the Internet .
3. The network on the right is an enterprise network , It uses a cable modem , An enterprise router is also used , So we can connect the computers and servers in it .
4. Last , There is also a network at the top , Only one device in the network needs to access the Internet , So it doesn't need a router , Just connect this device directly to the modem , Because only one device needs access to the Internet .

• Most routers have a switch inside , therefore , If you already have a router with a built-in switch , You no longer need a separate switch .
  

• for instance , A router like this integrates a four port switch , So you can use four Ethernet cables to connect to your wired devices , Only in one case do you need to add a switch to the network , That is, you have more devices that need wired connections , So you just connect the switch to the router , Then connect more wired devices to the switch .

To make things clearer , This is the Internet interconnected by routers , When the Internet is routed to this private network , Get to the modem first , Then from the modem to the router integrated with the switch , Finally reach all the computers .