Difference between Modem and Router?

A modem and a router are two separate devices with separate functions, but sometimes they are sold combined into one unit.

Cable Modem:

1. Has a coax outlet to hook up to your house's cable line.

2. Has a single ethernet jack.

3. Only capable of connecting 1 specific device, which is usually a router, but could be a single computer.

4. Does not have a firewall to prevent some from hacking your internet.

Wireless Router

1. Does not have a Coax outlet required to hook into the internet.

2. Has multiple ethernet jacks to hook up to several devices.

3. A "wireless" router will provide a wireless network.

4. Provides a firewall to your house and makes it more difficult to hack.

5. Connects to a cable modem for internet access with a ethernet cable.

The combo modem\router units are popular, but I like to purchase them separately which makes it easier\cheaper to replace if you need to individually upgrade the modem or the router.

Modem is the medium for running the Internet with different types of SIM. The router, on the other hand, is a means of connecting via mobile to the broadband internet line.

ISPs supply you with their own router and modem, whichever is needed for you to connect to the internet. Replacing the supplied modem or router may or may not work depending on what settings the ISP has set in their network. Most of the time, if the supplied modem or router goes bad, they will replace it for free.

A modem handles the analog part of the link (jiggling the electrical signals over the wire) plus a little bit of brains to log into your ISP and set up the connection.

A router handles the internet-level stuff, addressing and sending packets of data over that link to the internet, and usually in a "NAT" (Network Address Translation) configuration that represents your private network as one shared IP address visible to the public.

As a convenience for their customers ISPs usually provide one device that does it all now. As long as you know what you're doing and the equipment is compatible, the two (or an all-in-one) can be purchased separately, with limited support from the ISP.

You need a Modem Router for internet access.

A Router on it's own won't work for the internet setup.