modem router?

Question

do all wireless routers ave a modem built into them aswell nowadays, if not how can i tell if its not

Answer 1

The easy answer is no, however check the links for more information. Checking the specifications on a specific device is the only way to be certain.

http://www.nextag.com/wireless-cable-modem-router/search-html

This link contains reviews of wireless router modems.

http://www.firewallguide.com/wireless.htm

Have a pleasant day.

Answer 2

No, not all routers have built in modems. Here is a way how you could double check that your router has a built in modem. You didn't specify which type of modem, so I've listed all the typical ones.

Cable Modem (for cable Internet): Ensure that your router has what's called an "F" connector, which is the kind of connector that's commonly associated with cable TV, on the back of the router.

DSL Modem (for DSL Internet): Ensure that your router has a phone connection on the back of the router AND ensure that your router box or instructions say that it is for DSL.

Dialup Modem (for Dial-Up Internet): I'm not sure why you'd want this, but they do make routers that help you share dial-up Internet access. This is very similar to DSL in that you'll be looking for a phone connection on the back of the router.

However, these should just be backup ways of determining that your router has a modem built into it. You should always check the box and the manual with the device to be sure that those connectors do mean that the device has a built in modem. For instance, the phone connector can be there as a backup Internet source, so if you have a dial-up Internet account in addition to your high-speed Internet account, your router could connect to your dial-up account upon failure of your high-speed account.

More Technical Info: Routers route the information between the computers on your network and the computers that you want to communicate with on the Internet, which are generally servers that house web sites that you want to access.

However, in a home type situation, modems are what sit between the Internet and your router or computer. They code and decode the signals you and your ISP are sending and receiving with a piece of software, that runs on the modem, called a protocol.

Think of a protocol as a language, like English, Spanish, etc. You can only have successful communication if you and the person you are talking to are both using the same language. In the same way, your modem and your ISP can only have successful communication if they are using the same protocol. That is why a cable Internet customer must use a cable modem, a DSL Internet customer must use a DSL modem and so on.

So, this is the function of your modem, to code and decode the information between you and your ISP so that your computer can send and receive the information it wants.