what is a router?

Question

Does it basically allow you to plug in more than one modem from just one phoneline socket?

I have something connected for my internet now and it has bt voyager 205 adsl router - looks like a modem to me though?

Answer 1

It is a layer 3 device (network) meaning it takes traffic from one network (IP in this case that is a layer 3 protocol) and routes it to another network ie. source and dest IP addresses. Depending upon the uper layer protocol riding abouve that, error correction, and delivery are checked. Best path is even a higher level protocol above that. The interfaces that attach are layer 1. How they attach like over the WAN could in fact be either layer 2 (link) or again layer 3, routed. The other ancillary things such as dhcp are features, not routing functions as is the other types of connectivity such as wireless (It does have the upper layer routing functionality provided by IP). Any network person worth his or her salt should know this. To shorten it - no it doesn't simply allow you to plugin more that one modem or phone line. It can allow you to plug in multiple distinct networks.

Answer 2

The router has nothing to do with your phone system. Routers are uses in data networks. (e.g. the Internet)

It is basically an electronic post office. It "reads" electronic signals and sends or "routes" them to the appropriate destination.

When data is sent across a network, it is broken up into small pieces called packets. A packet is like a letter. It consists of an envelope marked with a source address and destination address and of course inside the envelope there is the payload.

The router reads the source address and delivers the packet. If it can not be delivered, it sends a message back to the source address (like a return address on a letter).

If it can be delivered, it is and at the other end the application opens the envelope and reads the contents.

Answer 3

A router is a device that lets you connect two or more computers to the Internet at the same time. It will evenly distribute your Internet bandwidth between the attached devices (computers). From here you can also have a home network to share pictures, music, videos, and anything else from computer to computer.

If you get a wireless router, you can connect wireless devices to it, such as a wireless xbox360, wireless laptops, and even some cell phones!!

You can think of a router as a computer, it will take the "Internet" that you get from your modem and will spit it to the other computers that need it.

Answer 4

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.

Very little filtering of data is done through routers


In short a router is a device used to connect more than one computer to an internet connection or network. I dont believe it works on phone (dialup) connections however if you have DSL through the phone line then yes it will work

Answer 5

You could route multiple devices like DSL modems if you want to get technical. In reality, a router is literally like it's named. It routes traffic through a network. Most routers can also provide firewall protection, DHCP (assign an address to each attached device), DSN services, VPN, etc.

For most people, the simple "definition" is: a router allows multiple computers to connect to the internet through a DSL Modem or Cable Modem.

Answer 6

The job of a router is just to distribute the internet connection that it is receiving from its server to a group of computers connected to it.
It divides the bandwidth as well among the connected pcs.
When using it at home you can make your own LAN using a router.
With its help you can share information between different sytems.
With the help of this you may even connect it with wireless devices.e.g.- cellphones, wireless laptops, wireless xbox etc.
So, this is what a router is in brief.

Answer 7

no a router is used mainly in broadband applications.
I dont think you can hook a router upto a dialup connection unless it was to a DSL broadband modem.
It acts just like one of the splitters for cable. If you have more than one TV just split the connection and hook up the tv's right? The same thing EXCEPT the router gives you the ability to set who, how and when certain people can connect to the internet through the router. They all come with small, easy to read booklets that allow you to hook them up yourself.

Answer 8

No. A router lets you split your internet connection from one modem. It basically allows you to connect more than one computer to a modem. It would look like this:

Phone/Cable Jack --> Modem --> Router -->Coumputers

Answer 9

You can use one phone outlet for multiple users. For example, if you have DSL, you can connect your internet connection to one central location and either connect several computers with wires or transmit the signal wirelessly. Many people have wireless routers so they can connect their internet in one place and then connect to the router wirelessly throughout their home. For more information on routers see the source link

Answer 10

It's a device that provides multiple IP's from a single one. Kind of an internet splitter. A normal wireless router gives four cabled connection and many wireless ones through DHCP, an automatic assignment of IP's.