can someone connect to your network internet if you only have a modem?

Question

just wondering whether someone with a wireless connection can connect to your internet network if you just have a modem not a router. is that possible?

i have been experiencing some disconnections lately and i have to restart my modem all the time to get the connection back. what is the problem?

i have at&t dsl

Answer 1

If you have a modem but not a router, no one can connect wirelessly but they can connect from the internet. You should get a router because it will protect your computer from the internet.

Basically, a router using something called NAT (network address translation) will block people from the internet trying to connect to your computer.

More information on NAT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation

Look at the benefits section and you will see:
"In addition to the convenience and low cost of NAT, the lack of full bidirectional connectivity can be regarded in some situations as a "feature", rather than a "limitation". To the extent that NAT depends on a machine on the local network to initiate any connection to hosts on the other side of the router, it prevents malicious activity initiated by outside hosts from reaching those local hosts."

To answer your question about disconnects, call your ISP and see if they can test the quality of your line. When this happened to me, my ISP tested the quality of my line and said it was bad. They said they had to perform maintenance in my area and it would take a week. However, after a week, things got much better.

The comment below says that att will expire your lease after 10 minutes. I doubt it and even if it expires after 10 minutes, it will auto renew after 5 minutes because DHCP will renew itself after half of the time has expired. This is how DHCP works.

Answer 2

No one else can use your connection, its wired directly to your PC. AT&T sometimes sets a default for IP address leases to expire after 10 minutes (really short) That might be why you're getting disconnects. When this happens do any of the modem lights go out?

By the way if, your DSL modem is a Speedstream 4100 or 5100, it's actually a hybrid that has some router features.

Answer 3

you like the two a router or a community change. yet, considering which you're utilising 2 laptops, i might propose which you get a WIFI able router. you will additionally want 2 CAT5 or Ethernet cables long adequate to realize from the router to each and each pc. The hook up is as follows. Incoming sign lead or twine is going to the modem basically love that's now. The modem will then hook up with the routers uplink or WLAN port. there will be 4 ports on the router to which you will connect as much as 4 desktops. it extremely is the place you will need the two extra cables. the easily community set up is somewhat no longer elementary to enplane considering which you probably did no longer say which working gadget you're utilising. XP, Vista, and Win7 each and each set the community somewhat distinctive. So once you get the hardware which you like, come back to this communicate board and we can walk you with the aid of it. or you may study the handbook that includes the router, this is going to clarify all of this intimately.