What is modem vs. router?
It has been a long time that electronic communication has progressed to a stage where a connection is not anymore a requirement. Computer networks are possible without the clumsy cables and wires. We are currently in the wireless age of digital communications, connecting to a network.
With wireless systems, you can connect on a Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and the Internet without the physical connection of wires like UTP cables for instance.
Because of this new technology, new sorts of hardware emerged. It’s extremely common today to hear a “wifi” prefix in various hardware. “Wifi” meaning “wireless fidelity” basically means that the piece of equipment is compatible with the technology.
There are now wireless ready LAN cards and USB devices that receive and transmit radio waves and perhaps the most commonly known wireless devices are wifi modems and wifi routers.
A wireless modem is a device that’s able to connect to a wireless network as provided by an ISP. When you connect your computer now, you can have access to the internet when a signal from your ISP is present. You can have net connectivity anywhere a signal is present.
Since it is, in essence, a modem, it works like its wired counterpart. It modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. Modem stands for ìModulator/Demodulatorî and thatís the job of this device but only wireless.
Wifi routers are devices that perform the exact functions of a typical router only wirelessly. They forward data packets along networks, and they connect networks and act. Wifi routers can join two LANs or WANs, LAN and WAN, or LAN and the internet.
Routers are smart devices that determine the best path for forwarding the data packets. When information is sent from one network, this action is overseen by routers and direct the information packets to the correct location using the best route possible. With the wireless features, wifi routers can carry out its basic function through radio signals independently.
What is modem vs. router?
Modem:
Amоdеmіs а hаrdwаrеdеvісеthаtеnаbles a computer to send and receive data over a satellite or cable connection or a telephone line.
In the event of transmission over an analog phone line, which was the most popular way the modem converts data between analog and digital formats.
In the event of this modem popular now, the sign is a lot simpler and does not require the analog-to-digital conversion.
Router:
A router is a device or, sometimes, applications on a computer, which determines the best way to get a packet to be forwarded to its destination.
A router connects networks. Based since it decides which way to send each information packet, on its understanding of the state of the network a router acts as a dispatcher.
A router has a lot more capabilities like a hub or a switch that are only able to perform network capabilities.
Why they look alike?
They look alike, these two little pieces of hardware that are vinyl which sits on the desks of most homes. With a quick glance, you might even believe that they’re two of a kind. Here is why:
They’ve plugs and jacks on the back that look alike
They are about the same size and shape
They both have flashing lights to indicate they are doing their job
They both have something to do with going online
They both connect to a pc
Difference between the router and the modem:
Router and modem are usually separate entities, sometimes, router and the modem might be combined into one device. This type of hybrid device is offered by ISPs to simplify the installation procedure.
Some differences between the 2 are:
- Wifi modems play the role of modulating and demodulating wireless signals.
Wifi routers are devices that let you connect to a network, usually LAN, without any signal modulating and demodulating features
- Wifi routers can determine the best route to take and direct data packets.
Wifi modems, on the other hand, don’t care about routing purposes; they are just there to make signs readable.
- Wifi routers help your device to connect to an existing network that’s usually LAN.
Wifi modems enable your device (e.g., laptop) to take a radio signal that’s provided by your ISP to connect to the internet.