The author is Xie Enming, an official account of Programmer Union (wechat id: CoderHub). Please indicate the source of reprint. Original: www.jianshu.com/p/4f2c3962a…
Content abstract
- A cat can’t tell a router from a cat
- What does a router do?
- What does a Modem do?
- Router and cat
- Buy your own cat
- conclusion
1. Cats and routers don’t know the difference
Router Router Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem Modem
It’s not Garfield, it’s not Cheese, it’s not Elvis, it’s not… (” That’s enough, author, don’t play tricks “).
This cat is a transliteration, which is a homonym of Modem.
Modem is a compound word. It is a combination of the words modulator and demodulator.
Many Internet Service providers (ISPs) provide a combination of modems and routers (described below), but they are different.
It’s important to know what a modem is so you can buy your own modem and stop paying your monthly rental fee to your Internet service provider.
China’s three basic operators: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom.
France’s Orange, Free, Bouygues and SFR are also Internet service providers.
Routers and modems are really two different devices. If you buy your own modem, you may need to buy a router as well.
This tutorial will cover some networking, see my completed free tutorial Web Exploration tour.
For a more in-depth and detailed knowledge of networking, see my moOCs column, “The Network Protocol Thing.”
2. What does a router do?
Routers are basically used to share network connections with multiple devices (this is a simple description, of course). Today’s routers are mostly Wi-Fi routers, which create a Wi-Fi network that multiple devices can connect to.
Often routers also have multiple Ethernet ports that can be used to connect multiple devices.
Routers are connected to the Internet via modems, and the router itself is assigned a globally unique public IP address on the Internet.
Servers on the Internet communicate with routers, which route the network signals. Router (a corresponding device on a local area network/private network (such as your home network, or a company’s network).
However, if you only have one router, you cannot connect to the Internet yet. A router needs to connect to the Internet over an Ethernet cable, and a modem takes care of that.
3. What is a Modem?
The modem communicates with your Internet service provider’s network. If it’s a Cable Modem, it’s connected to your ISP’s infrastructure via coaxial Cable.
If it is a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modem, it connects to your phone Line for communication.
One end of the modem connects to your Internet service provider’s infrastructure in a variety of ways, such as cable, phone line, satellite or fiber optic connections; The other end connects to any of your routers (or a computer) via an Ethernet cable, and then you can access the Internet. (If you connect to a router, the router typically shares wi-fi with each device or connects the device wired to the router’s Ethernet interface. If it’s a computer, it’s online).
4. Router and cat
A number of Internet service providers now offer a combination of modem and router boxes with appliances and software that can function as both.
For example, Orange’s Livebox is a modem-router. So is the BBox from Bouygues, etc.
On the one hand, these boxes act as modems for your Internet service provider (Livebox uses Orange’s network service; The BBox uses Bouygues’ service to communicate and acts as a router, creating a home Wi-Fi network.
5. Buy your own cat
Buying your own modem is an easy way to save money on Internet access. Check your monthly bill from your Internet service provider, and you may see an item called “equipment rental” or “Modem Rental fee,” which can cost quite a bit.
Instead of renting a modem from your Internet service provider, you can buy your own “cat” and hook it up.
You can then return the original modem to your Internet service provider and deduct the rental fee from your monthly bill.
Of course, if you have a modem, you usually need to buy a router.
But it’s not necessarily bad news: the router your Internet service provider gives you may not support the latest technologies, such as 802.11AC standards and 5GHz wireless networks, so you can buy your own router.
Check to see if you actually rent your ISP’s modem, how much it costs per month, and then buy the most suitable modem for your ISP.
Buying a modem is not too expensive, you just don’t save money for the first few months because you spend money on the modem, but after that it’s fine, you don’t have to pay modem rent every month.
6. Summary
You can use any wireless router, but the modem you buy must be a device that your Internet service provider has certified to work properly with their network.
In a sense, you can think of your router as part of your home network and your modem as part of your Internet service provider’s network.
The article is limited and some technical details are not explained in detail. Comments are welcome. Thank you very much!
My name is Xie Enming, the operator of the public account “Programmer Union” (wechat id: CoderHub), the moOCs elite lecturer Oscar, and a lifelong learner. Love life, like swimming, a little cooking. Life motto: “Run straight for the pole”