Want to sound instantly smarter? Learn the definition of these basic tech words for the equipment that helps us get online – and that some of us use without really understanding.
Most of us are familiar with the terms modem and router. We know we have one of each at home, and that we need them in order to use our home computer. For anything beyond that, well, we can call the Geek Squad or hope that our neighbor’s teenager will come over and lend some expertise (even if she thinks we’re sadly out of date). It doesn’t have to be that way.
Knowledge is power. Better yet, this is pretty basic stuff. So let’s dive into these four terms and how they relate to hopping on your home internet. (That teenager? She’s going to give you some newfound respect). Let’s talk about them in a way we can all understand.
Modem
The modem connects to a cable (or telephone wire in remote areas) in order to act as the interface between your computer and the world. It translates the digital signals from your computer into analog information to be carried out into the world. It’s a process called modulation and demodulation, names that are only important if you wonder why it’s called a “mo-dem.”
A modem usually has only one internet protocol (IP) address that identifies your location to the internet. Every device connected to the internet has a unique IP address. Just as a package can’t reach you without your home address, information from the internet can’t be accessed without an IP address.
Router
Your modem can only send out information to one device at a time. You need a router so that Fred can watch his favorite Netflix show on the smart TV while Wilma looks up brontosaurus recipes on her laptop and Pebbles checks Insta on her phone. Your router will connect all your different home devices to each other and the modem.
How Do I Know If My Router Has a Switch?Tech is always evolving, and many or most routers have a switch built into them nowadays. The tell? If your router has several ports, then a switch is built in. |
Your modem will give each device its own internal IP address. If your modem address is like a building number, the router addresses resemble different apartment numbers in that building. The router routes information from the modem and sends it to the device that requested it.
Wireless Access Point
Your wireless access point (WAP) is probably built into your home router. Standalone WAPs are more common for businesses, where they enable devices to connect wirelessly instead of with a tangled mess of wires.
However, if you have a big home with “dead” areas where the Wi-Fi doesn’t reach, you may want a mesh network kit that will let multiple units cover your home with Wi-Fi more effectively than range extenders. Mesh networks can act as WAPs when paired with a router, or they may even be able to take on the job of a router as well.
Switch
If your router runs out of Ethernet ports for all your devices, which can happen if you have a lot of smart home devices, add a switch for additional ports. It’s a bit like a power strip for your devices; just plug extra devices into the switch, plug the switch into your router, and you’re good to go.
So, to sum it up, just remember that:
The modem converts your provider signal to your home network.
The router connects networks within your home.
The WAP connects Wi-Fi access points wirelessly.
The switch connects multiple devices in the same network.
Sources:
Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
