Router or Modem?

Chronic Tech · 10-26-2006, 03:16 AM

I am interested to know if there is any difference between connection speeds if one uses a router rather than a modem. I have a modem at the moment, but I have noticed some say that using a router connected by Ethernet is better.

Anyone any ideas on this?

**Fr4665** · 10-26-2006, 05:16 AM

u need the modem before the router.
all the router does is give ip adresses to computer and send packages to the specific computers and also sometimes suplies a firewall (router = routing packets from internet to computers)

you need the modem to connect to your ISP. The router just provides some more protection. also there are some ADSL modems with built in routers but i dont recommend those cause if the modem breaks, the router is useless.

Chronic Tech · 10-26-2006, 06:18 AM

Goodness! That is new to me. Thanks. I thought that a router was doing the same job as a modem and acted as a firewall itself, and I thought I saw that router's were faster than modems. Oh, well...........you learn something new every day.....

**Fr4665** · 10-26-2006, 06:39 AM

look at a router as if it was a protective gateway behind the modem

Chronic Tech · 10-26-2006, 11:06 AM

Thanks for that, I thought that they were just two ways of connecting. I had no idea that you have to have a modem. I appreciate your responses, thank you.

**johnwill** · 10-26-2006, 12:47 PM

A router and a modem don't do anything close to the same thing.

Router: A device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect.

Routers use headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two hosts.

Modem: Short for modulator/demodulator. A communications device that converts one form of a signal to another that is suitable for transmission over communication circuits, typically from digital to analog and then from analog to digital.

Chronic Tech · 10-27-2006, 06:40 AM

Johnwill,

OK, so there would be no difference in your opinion if I were using a router instead of this modem on the desk in front of me? It is just that I saw someone somewhere say that a modem might slow down the connection speed, and that a router would be better.

**johnwill** · 10-27-2006, 08:50 AM

Like I said, when you need a modem, you REALLY need a modem. The same goes for a router. They are NOT interchangable.

If you have a modem being used for a connection, you can't simply substitute a router. There are combination products that have a router and modem in one package, they function the same as combining the two separate boxes.

What you need to do is tell us what your issue is, and what equipment by make/model you currently have, and we'll try to help you. Your current query makes no sense, and clearly isn't addressing whatever issue you have.

**merlin** · 10-27-2006, 09:31 AM

Maybe they were thinking of all-in-one device, (modem+router) as one ? Such as 2wire ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronic Tech

I am interested to know if there is any difference between connection speeds if one uses a router rather than a modem. I have a modem at the moment, but I have noticed some say that using a router connected by Ethernet is better.

Anyone any ideas on this?

**johnwill** · 10-27-2006, 04:32 PM

I'm not sure what they were thinking of, which is why I asked what problem we're trying to solve.

Chronic Tech · 10-28-2006, 02:57 AM

Johnwill, I don't really have an 'issue' as such. I am only looking to get the best internet speed. I have managed to get my service updated to 2mbps at last, though it is giving trouble. A modem was given to me by my ISP and it works. However my question was really around the issue of which was best. If my ISP uses modems then maybe that is what their service uses, end of story.

Thanks for your input.

Justin

**johnwill** · 10-28-2006, 01:35 PM

What do you get going to local Internet speed diagnostic sites? Where are you located?

**merlin** · 10-28-2006, 08:09 PM

Who is your ISP ?

Chronic Tech · 10-29-2006, 03:06 AM

Hello, sorry for not getting back a bit quicker. I live in rural Somerset, (England, if you are not in the UK). My ISP is Toucan. I am having all sorts of problems with my new 2mb signal cutting out a the moment with constant calls to Toucan to get on to BT and get it restored. They say that the line can only support 1.5Mb due the length of copper between here and the exchange. Hence my desire to improve my speed any way I can, and my question about routers v. modems.

I have tested my speed using various online speed tests. I get readings, depending on the time of day, from 180kbps to 1.9Mb download, and up to 225kbps upload.

Yours, (quietly going demented), Justin

**johnwill** · 10-29-2006, 02:29 PM

If you're some distance from the CO, you have no control over the speed. You can't fix that issue by changing local networking equipment.

Chronic Tech · 10-30-2006, 01:09 AM

OK, thanks.

10-26-2006, 03:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Router or Modem? I am interested to know if there is any difference between connection speeds if one uses a router rather than a modem. I have a modem at the moment, but I have noticed some say that using a router connected by Ethernet is better. Anyone any ideas on this?

10-26-2006, 05:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fr4665 aka mr.fraggs Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA or Germany Posts: 2,965 OS: Win XP,Vista,Android My System	u need the modem before the router. all the router does is give ip adresses to computer and send packages to the specific computers and also sometimes suplies a firewall (router = routing packets from internet to computers) you need the modem to connect to your ISP. The router just provides some more protection. also there are some ADSL modems with built in routers but i dont recommend those cause if the modem breaks, the router is useless. __________________ I don't subscribe to threads please PM me if i miss a reply. ------- Everest SensorView Pro DriverCleaner how to fix your game

10-26-2006, 06:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fr4665 aka mr.fraggs Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA or Germany Posts: 2,965 OS: Win XP,Vista,Android My System	look at a router as if it was a protective gateway behind the modem __________________ I don't subscribe to threads please PM me if i miss a reply. ------- Everest SensorView Pro DriverCleaner how to fix your game

10-26-2006, 12:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,899 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	A router and a modem don't do anything close to the same thing. Router: A device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP’s network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect. Routers use headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two hosts. Modem: Short for modulator/demodulator. A communications device that converts one form of a signal to another that is suitable for transmission over communication circuits, typically from digital to analog and then from analog to digital. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-27-2006, 08:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,899 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Like I said, when you need a modem, you REALLY need a modem. The same goes for a router. They are NOT interchangable. If you have a modem being used for a connection, you can't simply substitute a router. There are combination products that have a router and modem in one package, they function the same as combining the two separate boxes. What you need to do is tell us what your issue is, and what equipment by make/model you currently have, and we'll try to help you. Your current query makes no sense, and clearly isn't addressing whatever issue you have. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-26-2006, 06:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Goodness! That is new to me. Thanks. I thought that a router was doing the same job as a modem and acted as a firewall itself, and I thought I saw that router's were faster than modems. Oh, well...........you learn something new every day.....

10-26-2006, 11:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Thanks for that, I thought that they were just two ways of connecting. I had no idea that you have to have a modem. I appreciate your responses, thank you.

10-27-2006, 06:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Johnwill, OK, so there would be no difference in your opinion if I were using a router instead of this modem on the desk in front of me? It is just that I saw someone somewhere say that a modem might slow down the connection speed, and that a router would be better.

10-27-2006, 04:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,899 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I'm not sure what they were thinking of, which is why I asked what problem we're trying to solve. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-28-2006, 02:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Johnwill, I don't really have an 'issue' as such. I am only looking to get the best internet speed. I have managed to get my service updated to 2mbps at last, though it is giving trouble. A modem was given to me by my ISP and it works. However my question was really around the issue of which was best. If my ISP uses modems then maybe that is what their service uses, end of story. Thanks for your input. Justin

10-28-2006, 01:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,899 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	What do you get going to local Internet speed diagnostic sites? Where are you located? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-28-2006, 08:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
merlin I helped the forums. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,612 OS: 3.11	Who is your ISP ?

10-29-2006, 03:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	Hello, sorry for not getting back a bit quicker. I live in rural Somerset, (England, if you are not in the UK). My ISP is Toucan. I am having all sorts of problems with my new 2mb signal cutting out a the moment with constant calls to Toucan to get on to BT and get it restored. They say that the line can only support 1.5Mb due the length of copper between here and the exchange. Hence my desire to improve my speed any way I can, and my question about routers v. modems. I have tested my speed using various online speed tests. I get readings, depending on the time of day, from 180kbps to 1.9Mb download, and up to 225kbps upload. Yours, (quietly going demented), Justin

10-29-2006, 02:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,899 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	If you're some distance from the CO, you have no control over the speed. You can't fix that issue by changing local networking equipment. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-30-2006, 01:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
Chronic Tech Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97 OS: xp	OK, thanks.