A lot of cable modems have begun to blur the line between modems and routers offering all in one devices that do the work of both the cable modem making the internet available to wired devices and a wireless router setting up a wifi network.
About cable modems.
A cable modem brings internet connectivity into your home while the best routers distribute that internet connection wirelessly so that all your devices laptops phones and smart home.
A cable modem router combo means that you only have to manage and configure a single device and there you won t have to worry about any potential compatibility issues.
When it comes to cable modems you have two choices.
A cable modem is a type of network bridge that provides bi directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a hybrid fibre coaxial hfc radio frequency over glass rfog and coaxial cable infrastructure.
There are also no moving parts inside modems most of.
Pay up each month to rent a beat up ancient model from your internet service provider or buy your own brand new device for a fraction of the.
Types of cable modem.
There are two main types of cable modem.
You never have to change any settings or customize anything at all.
The average internet speed in the us is around 100 mbps and the fastest cable tier most major isps offer.
A standalone modem and a router modem combo.
A standalone modem is the route we recommend for most people.
The right cable modem is the one with the right number of channels for your service tier.
Cable modems can be either internal or external to the computer.
In some cases the cable modem can be part of a set top cable box requiring that only a keyboard and mouse be added for internet access.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these options which we ve outlined below.
Shop for cable modems at best buy to find the best cable modem option to meet your needs.