Modem vs Router: What Are the Differences?

Surely you have heard many times the term modem and router but it is possible that you use them interchangeably and that you do not know what is or what are the functions that each of them has. They are two different devices, with different objectives and that today we review what are the differences between modem and router or which one is better for you to have, for example. Everything you need to know about them and which one to choose or buy.

Although certainly have at home a router, you might not know the difference between modem and router, which of the two devices is each of them or what the roles for the signal finally reaches your computer or your mobile phone are and You can connect to the Internet.

What is a modem?

A modem, as its name indicates, modulates and demodulates the Internet signal. It is a kind of “translator” of signals: the ISP sends signals of all kinds and computers or devices use exclusively digital signals so the modem is responsible for translating or converting those signals to arrive correctly. What it does is connect to your Internet company and convert the analog signal into a digital signal to take to the different devices to which it is connected. Through an RJ11 cable, interpret the signal that reaches it and send it via the telephone line to the computer or to the peripheral where you need the connection.

They are those classic devices that you had in your home years ago and you may remember that you could not talk on the phone while you were using the Internet because they were connected to the telephone line and used the same frequency as the telephone. Without a modem, your smartphone or your computer cannot receive the data to connect to the Internet and there are different types of modem depending on the type of Internet connection but they all fulfill the same function of translating the signals and sending them.

Modem router

What is a router?

The modem is only able to translate the signal and send it to a device. But not more. Therefore, the router is necessary for everyone to reach. That is, the modem is responsible for translating the signal and the router is responsible for broadcasting and arriving. The router has no connection to the telephone line nor interprets the Internet signal but instead expands it and sends it to all the devices you have at home. You need a modem that interprets, a router that makes the signal arrive and the rest of the usual devices (tablets, phones, computers, televisions …) that receive it.

If you only wanted to connect a device to the Internet you would not need a router. But we usually have all kinds of devices at home that use Wi-Fi or that you want to connect through an Ethernet cable. In that case, what the router does is that it assigns local IP addresses to each of those devices to send the data to each other and organize the signal that the modem has already translated. That’s how it reaches everyone.

router-2

How do I know which is which?

It’s easy, if you have two devices and you want to know which is the modem or which is the router, check which one is connected to the telephone line and which is not. In addition, the modem does not usually have antennas and the router does have it to distribute the Wi-Fi signal everywhere.

A modem router

It is possible that, at this point, you think that a modem is something old and that you have only one router in your house and we call it common. Yes, because usually the most modern models of routers (most operators already bet on this type) already have the modem built into it and thus can connect to the telephone line and at the same time are able to transmit the signal to all there are devices, either by Wi-Fi or cable connection.

The most common is that the combined models are the ones we have at home. The operation is identical to the previous ones: the modem receives the signal and the router transfers it. But with the difference that there is no device connected to the phone and another device connected to the first one but that they are in the same device. Currently, when talking about “router” we mean (in most cases) a router with a built-in modem and that usually covers the basic needs in any home and is usually enough unless you have a large number of devices connected simultaneously and you need something more powerful.

Firmwares alternativos para routers

Wi-Fi repeaters and network extenders

Although there is a modem or router (or a device with both functions) at home, there may also be other nodes or repeaters that make the signal reach everywhere. A router allows Wi-Fi to be sent to many different devices, but the signal is not always excellent for accessing any point, especially in larger homes or with a complex distribution full of obstacles. In that case, there are other devices that have the ability to carry the signal: Wi-Fi repeaters and network or PLC extenders.

In the case of the former, they are devices that connect to a plug and to the main router wirelessly and allow the Wi-Fi network to reach areas where coverage does not reach or where it is usually very weak. It is a device very similar to a router, with antennas and that is placed in a house socket. In addition, the advantage is that they are usually very easy to configure and use repeaters.

módem y router  y Repetidores Wi-Fi Orbi

Another option are the extensors Wi-Fi, which perform the same function but with a different procedure: connect to the router through wiring or installing home and carry the signal through outlets rooms. They create a Wi-Fi network that you can connect to as long as the plugs are in the same electrical panel. It is a recommended option if you have rooms or points where you cannot use network cable and the signal does not arrive.

FRITZ

The third of the options has to do with a more modern type of router and a fashionable installation in recent times, focused on houses or buildings in which coverage does not reach anywhere: mesh or Wi-Fi networks Mesh You will need a specific router for this type of technology or a router that is compatible with it. The difference with the repeaters is that they are nodes that we connect throughout the house and that communicate with each other to give better coverage in any corner and have a good signal everywhere. A kind of mesh is formed from the router to its satellites and so we can connect from anywhere and at any time.

módem y router WiFi Mesh

What to buy?

Now that we know the difference between modem and router, we can know that it is not the same and that both are necessary. Of course, it is common and frequent that we only have a device that works as both, although it is convenient to know the differences if you are going to buy a new one or if you want to understand why there are two devices. It is difficult to find a normal, classic modem in stores, since it is very rare that we only need a cable connection and in any house (or office or even store) we have all kinds of devices connected to the network. Therefore, if your question is: what to buy, modem or router, the logical thing is that you bet on the second model and make sure (in most cases it is like this) that it also has a modem built-in and that it will be enough to connect it to the network phone to send enough Wi-Fi signal for the whole house or for several devices through the cable.

If we do not have coverage in any area and a conventional router is not enough, we should study any of the three options to improve the signal: create a mesh or Wi-Fi Mesh network, bet on conventional Wi-Fi repeaters that multiply speed and coverage or use network extenders that allow us Wi-Fi connection in rooms where there are no other alternatives.