Modems and routers are necessary devices to connect to the Internet. Many people will mistake the two because they have flashing lights in front and Ethernet ports in the back. However, the functions of modem and router are very different. The following is all you need to know about the difference between modem and router, the function of each device, and whether you really need modem and router.

Modem and router: What's the difference?

The modem connects you to a wide area network (WAN) or the internet. On the other hand, the router connects your devices to a local area network (LAN) or WiFi network and lets your devices communicate wirelessly with each other.

Basically, the modem is your gateway to the Internet, and the router is the central hub of your device.

What is a modem and what can it do?

A modem is a device that receives analog signals from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and converts them into digital signals that your device can understand, and vice versa. This allows your device to send and receive data over the Internet.

The term modem comes from "modulation" and "demodulation". When the Internet was first created, modems were used to modulate (or convert) analog signals used by telephone lines into digital signals that computers and other devices could understand. Then the modem will demodulate the signal on your device back to the analog signal, which can be sent out through the telephone line. Although more advanced technology is used now, the term modem has always existed.

Most modems have only three ports, one connected to the Internet, one connected to the router, and one connected to the power supply. The old modems are connected to the Internet through telephone lines, while the new modems are connected by cable or optical fiber. The modem will also have at least one Ethernet port connected to the router or computer.

When you sign up with an ISP, they usually provide you with a modem. However, your Internet provider usually charges a monthly fee. It usually takes about six months to buy your own modem to save money.

What is a router? What can it do?

A router is a network device that distributes (or routes) network connections from a modem to other devices in the network. This allows you to connect to the Internet from your computer, mobile phone, smart TV and other wired or wireless devices.

The main function of the router is to allocate your Internet traffic to the correct devices in the network. It does this by assigning an IP address to all your devices, so when you try to open a website on your computer, it will not be sent to your smartphone.

The router creates your local network and lets you manage its settings. With the router, you can enable security settings, prioritize the traffic of specific devices, and so on. Routers can also allow your devices to communicate with each other through the network. For example, the router allows you to change the settings of smart home devices through the application on the smart phone.

There are many different types of routers, but the two most common are wired and wireless routers. Wired (or hardwired) routers need to connect to your computer and other devices through wired Ethernet. WiFi routers use built-in antennas to wirelessly transmit network signals.

Most routers have several Ethernet ports that allow you to connect to your device through an Ethernet cable. They also have an Ethernet port that needs to be connected to a modem so that it can send and receive information from the Internet.

Do you need a modem or a router?

If you want to use WiFi or connect multiple devices, you will need a modem and router. Because most modems have only one LAN Ethernet port, they can only connect to one computer at a time, but they cannot provide the same security as routers.

If you have multiple devices that need to connect to the Internet, a router is essential. However, routers alone cannot access the Internet. The router needs to be connected to the modem so that it can distribute the Internet connection to your device.

That said, when you set up a home Internet connection, there is no need to use a separate modem and router. Today, some devices have both modem and router functions.