What is a modem and how does it work
Some beginners will wonder how the internet comes to their home. We use the internet and watch videos, shop online, and even do online business with the use of the internet.
How many of you ever thought what this box is? Is this a modem or a router, and what is its role? With this small box, our internet gets slow, and we start getting irritated.
With this comprehensive guide, you will be able to understand the work of a modem and how it connects us to the internet.
The modem connects your internet signals to the tenda router through the WAN port. When internet signals enter the tenda router through the modem then the router divides the signals.
What is a modem and its purpose?
The word modem is a combination of two words DEModulator and Modulator. Both names represent their operation because the work of a modem is to modulate and demodulate signals. In other simple words, its work is to translate between two languages so that our computer and the internet can understand each other.
Whenever we open a website, our computer sends a digital request. A modem converts this request into Analog signals and then reaches our ISP. The ISP transfers this data to Google servers, and in return, a response comes in the form of analog signals.
Now the modem converts these analog signals into digital data through the modulation process and sends it to our computer or router. All this process is done within a few seconds. Meanwhile, a modem plays the role of a translator bridge between our ISP and home network.
Common Types of Mode
Dial-up Modem: A dial-up modem was used when the Internet was totally new. It was a time when the phone line was used to access the internet. A dial-up modem converts the signals into analog signals through the phone line.
However, its speed was very low. It took a few minutes to open the web page. Nowadays, in the modern world, it has almost finished. It was the first step that connected us with the entire digital world.
DSL Modem: This modem technology comes after the dial-up modem. It is also used in many areas till now. This uses a phone line, and it can transfer both voice and data. Its speed is faster than a dial-up modem.
With this, we can talk on the phone and use the internet. Its connection is connected to ISP’s DSLAM server. It transfers data from here. It is very cheap and easy to install.
Cable Modem: Cable modem is very common nowadays. It provides internet through Coaxial Cable. This modem speed is between 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. This speed makes it unique, and it is suitable for both houses and commercial internet users.
This modem is directly connected to the ISP’s cable network. The speed of data transfer is very fast. The big internet providers depend on this technology.
Fiber Modem: It is one of the latest and fastest modems. It transfers the data through light rays. The fiber modem is directly connected to the ISP’s Fiber Node. It provides a stable, fast, and low-latency connection. It is considered good for video streaming, online gaming, and remote work. It is increasing day by day in modern cities.
Cellular Modem: A cellular modem is the most modern era technology, which provides internet through a phone network. In our mobile phone, we use it to see through 4G or 5G internet. It provides the internet through a SIM.
This modem proves fruitful for those who need internet while travelling or who live in an area where fiber is not available. It is wireless and easy to install.
Difference Between Modem and Router and why it is important for your understanding
The shape of both modem and router seems to be the same, but their functions work differently. But in actuality, both work differently. If you understand this difference, then you will be able to stabilize your internet as well as know the reason where the fault lies inside it.
A modem simply works to bring the internet into our homes or offices. It is directly connected with our ISP. It converts the analog signals into digital signals so that our router can understand it.
While on the other hand, router main work is to divide the internet to other devices. Modem provides internet while routers share it. The router gets the internet from the modem and transfers it through Wi-Fi to other devices such as mobile, laptop or tablet.
The router works like digital traffic control and decides which device how much Bandwidth gets and blocks the unauthorized users. Features are also available in the router including password protection, firewall and WPS control.
Modem and router work together. Modem brings the internet signals from outside while the router divides the internet from inside our network. There are some devices which contain both modem and router which are called Modem-Router Combo.
This system is more reliable for domestic users. In this way two works are done by one device. If your internet is working slow, errors can be found in both of them. That’s why it is very important for your knowledge to understand your network. If you understand this it will help you to run your network in a better way.
