![]() ![]() Nevertheless, for a portable WiFi device for travel, it actually makes sense to combine these functions. In this light, modems and WiFi functionality are orthogonal – these are separate categories. Consumer-grade solutions also started to include both a router and a modem, further blurring the line between the two. By this time, the term “modem” became so firmly associated with Internet connection that it became eponymous. As the technology matured, ISPs switched to equipment that performed several functions. The confusion here stems from the liberal use of the term “modem.” In the early days of the Internet, each device served a specific function, like modulating the signal or sharing the connection. The short answer is “not necessarily,” although many modern devices come equipped with both modems and the WiFi routers. USB modems would probably be the most familiar example nowadays, although there were many earlier attempts to offer on the go Internet for laptops like the PCMCIA slots. The second category covers gadgets that can be connected to the device externally. Phones, tablets, and some laptops come equipped with internal radio modems. The former means that a modem is placed inside the device – either by being hard-wired into its motherboard or inserted into a slot within. The other three options are still very much in use, with each required for its delivery method.Īnother popular classification divides the modems into internal and external. The first two are basically legacy technology by now, and the last one is mainly used by ISPs. ![]() Depending on how modems work, they can be: Some have become the stuff of history, while others remain relevant today. Types of ModemsĪs one might expect, modems come in many shapes and forms. So the purpose of modem stayed the same – it just became less noticeable. Really, the only drawback is the lack of a distinctive sound to be nostalgic about once they are gone. They are much smaller and sometimes come embedded inside devices like phones, and work faster and more efficiently. These communicate with the network using radio signals, which offer a number of Internet benefits. Devices from this era, like an Internet modem with WiFi or a less common satellite modem, are still very much around. The second period started with the introduction of broadband – which, as the name suggests, improved connection speeds dramatically. By today’s standards, these modems were painfully slow – with a typical data plan at the time, you’d have to wait for several hours to watch an average Youtube video. Devices from the first era – things like dial-up and DSL modems – were bulky pieces of hardware remembered mostly as boxes with blinking lights that made strange noises. In broad strokes, the entire history of the technology can be divided into pre- and post-telephone periods. History of ModemsĪs mentioned earlier, modems play a major role in the development of the Internet as we know it, becoming something of a cultural trope in the process (more on that later). Modern USB WiFi modems use wireless communication, so they convert data to radio signals instead. So, first modems modulated the data into essentially a phone signal. They were not exactly a perfect fit for the job but allowed using an existing infrastructure, which was a huge boost for the ISP market pioneers. In the first consumer-level Internet, telephone lines were used for connectivity. In other words, the purpose of modem is to be a translator between two mediums. Unlike your trusty USB cable, which can transfer data pretty much directly, the majority of Internet relies on a vast communication infrastructure which uses its own transmission format. #Modem vs router define fullThis process is known as modulation, hence the full name of the device, “modulator-demodulator.” In the simplest terms, a modem converts digital data into signals that can be sent over the network, or converts them back to data once they arrive. So, understanding what modems are and what purpose they serve requires a bit of unpacking. The development of modems is as rich as the evolution of the Internet itself, which is perhaps one of the reasons the term is often misused. This article is an attempt to sort out the most common misconceptions and highlight the milestones in the evolution of the technology. While it reflects a purpose of modem, it may be confusing for those trying to choose a device for travel or remote work. This is the case with a modem – the word that is applied to literally any device related to Internet connection. Occasionally, technology gets so famous that its name becomes eponymous. Innovation inevitably shapes the way we perceive the world. ![]()
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