Modems and Routers
Anyone with a broadband internet connection, whether it is ADSL, cable or wireless will need a modem. A modem is a device which converts the digital signals created by a computer into an analogue signal or frequency which can then be transmitted over a telephone line or cable, and information received is converted from analogue into digital so the computer is able to download the data. In the case of DSL modems, conversion is necessary because telephone lines were originally designed to handle the analogue nature of the human voice, not data. Voice calls are transmitted down a telephone line using a narrow frequency band meaning there is a broad frequency band, or ‘broadband’, just sitting unused. DSL broadband modems take advantage of this band when transmitting or receiving data, and since voice calls & DSL modems use the different frequency bands they can both be used at the same time, but in order to split the outgoing signals from each other you need to use a micro-filter, or ‘splitter’. The splitter is plugged into your telephone wall socket, and into this you fit your telephone cable and your DSL broadband modem. The splitter will then separate the signals without you having to do anything.
If you want to connect to the Internet and email but don’t want to deal with a tangled mess of cables (and who does?), try a wireless modem. Employing the same technology as that used in Wi-Fi hotspots, a wireless router simply creates a wireless network in your home or place of work, communicating with wireless enabled devices without the need for a physical connection. Although the modem is wireless from the point of the modem to the device it is communicating with, such as your laptop, it still has to be wired to your broadband connection and to a power source, therefore not completely wireless. Things to consider when looking for a suitable wireless modem are; How far do you need your wireless connection to reach? How many devices (laptops, PC’s, printers etc) do you want to connect wirelessly? Do you need extra security software to protect your wireless network from potential hackers?