

It combines both functions into a single device. Internet Service Providers (ISP) like Comcast often lease an integrated modem and router to their customers. Routers examine data packets to determine their destination, and so can contain firewalls to screen out attacks on the network.
#Modem vs router cox Pc#
Most routers also have multiple ethernet ports that allow wired connections, which can be significantly faster than Wi-Fi in a home network wired connections are usually used for gaming consoles or TVs for better performance in video streaming.Ī modem can only connect to one device: either a home PC or a router.Ī router can connect to multiple devices in a network, either through Ethernet cables or through WiFi.Ī modem does not screen the data it encodes or decodes, and so it passes on any potential threat to connected computers. Routers for the home and small office market are wireless-enabled wireless routers allow devices to connect to them via Wi-Fi. The router is intelligent enough to selectively deliver packets of data to multiple destinations. The router is physically connected to the modem so all devices connected to the router can connect to the Internet via the modem-and also connect to each other. They can't all connect directly to the modem an intermediary device is required-a router.Ī router creates a network and allows multiple devices to connect to this network. And it is much more common for there to be dozens of devices in a home or office that need to connect to the Internet. Modems have an ethernet port a computer can attach directly to a modem's ethernet port via an ethernet cable, and get connected to the Internet.īut not all computers have an ethernet port. If you only have one computer connecting to the Internet, you may not need a router. Most Internet connections these days are broadband and delivered via cable but DSL connections also work the same way-both cable and DSL Internet connections require a modem. How a modem and router connect to each other, the Internet and devices on the network.Īs shown in the picture above, a modem transmits and receives data through telephone or cable lines, and is used to connect a single computer or an entire home computer network to the Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as Comcast or Verizon FiOS. Routers can share information between computers, but cannot connect to the internet without a modem. A modem can work without a router, delivering information (such as Internet access) to a single PC.

Provides security measures to protect network No, but provides additional security and allows for multiple connections. Next one to connect with router(For large networks)Ĭan connect to one PC using Ethernet portĬan connect to multiple PCs or networking devices via Ethernet or WiFi Passes data between home computers, and between computers and the modem.Ģ.One for connection to ISP. Differences - Similarities - Modem versus Router comparison chartįacilitates a connection to the internet by transmitting and receiving data over telephone lines.ĭirects data in a network.
