Routers are a very important piece of technology that almost all of us have one in our home, but many of us don’t really understand how to use them. In fact, most people do not even know what a router is and how it differs from a modem.
In this article, we want to explain to you about the operation of the router so that you can get a better understanding of your network device. So stay with us for the rest of the article.
What is the work of a router?
In simple words, a router is a device that routes the data packets of the devices in the network to the right destination and connects them to the Internet. This data can be between multiple devices on the network or sent from a device to the Internet. The router gives an IP address to each network device so that it knows its destination or source address when receiving and sending data. By doing this, the router will be sure that the packets sent or received will always reach their correct destination and will not get lost on the network path.
Think of Internet packages as postal packages; Each packet needs an address to reach its correct recipient. Your computer’s local network is also like a side street in the heart of a city, knowing its name alone is not enough for the postman, and he cannot find you in such a big world just by the name of a street.
Therefore, if the information is incomplete, the package may be delivered to someone else’s house, so the router ensures that each address (device) has a unique number so that it can use them to send its packages to the route. Deliver correctly.
If you need to send the data back to the sender or send another packet yourself, your router will do it again. Although this work is done for each package separately, but its speed is so high that it is done in less than a few milliseconds, and even if several packages are sent from several different devices, there will be no delay.
What is the difference between a router and a modem?
Since today’s modems each have a built-in router, the distinction between a modem and a router has largely faded, but people who remember the early days of the Internet know that the two have different functions.
You need a modem to connect to the Internet through your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and you also need a router to communicate between your devices on the network (including modems). By doing this, the router allows your modem and devices to transfer data to different places. A modem is an intermediary that sends your data to the Internet and receives the response for you.
Since the language of computers is different from the language of the Internet, you need a modem. Computers and cell phones communicate with a digital signal, while the Internet operates on an analog signal.
The modem converts all these signals into the appropriate format. It may be interesting to know that the name of the modem is derived from this feature. In fact, the term “Modem” is derived from the combination of the two words “Modulator” meaning “combiner” and “Demodulator” meaning “separator”. Converting these signals to the appropriate signal is the main task of the modem.
What is the use of a router and when do we need a router?
In the past, when there was only one computer per home, you could connect to the Internet with just one modem. Technically this is still possible, but for security reasons it is better to use a router even for networks that only contain one device.
However, nowadays there is more than one computer or mobile phone in every home, which makes it necessary to have a router. For example, consider a street. If there is only one house on a street, you will no longer need to provide the house plate number to give an address, but when there is more than one house on that road, you will need a more precise and so-called local address.
You need a router not only to connect multiple devices to the Internet, but also to connect multiple devices to each other. Even if you don’t have internet, you can still use a router and create a local network with your computers and mobile phones. With this, you will be able to transfer your data within the network and share content such as printers, scanners or even gaming consoles.
Without a router, the data will not be able to find the destination device properly. For example, if you have requested to print a document, what is the benefit of this device reaching your mobile phone? This request must be sent to the printer.
To set up a smart home, using a router is essential because all your devices must be connected to each other. Without a router, your devices will not be able to communicate with each other. You may not even need internet, but you definitely need a router.
The difference between a wireless and wired router
The difference between a wireless and a wired router is the type of communication they support. A wired router only has a “LAN” port, while a wireless or Wi-Fi router is equipped with an antenna and wireless adapter to allow communication without the need for cables.
Most of today’s modems have both a LAN port and a Wi-Fi antenna at the same time. Before choosing the right modem, you should measure your needs and make a purchase based on that.
Result
Nowadays, most modems have both LAN port and Wi-Fi antenna together.
So it is suggested to measure your needs before choosing the right modem and make a purchase based on that.
