Anyone with a broadband internet connection, whether it’s cable, ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line), wireless or Fibre Optic, uses a modem. Basically, a typical modem used over takes an analog signal to encode digital information. As the use of the internet has evolved, so to has the technology that has been put into modems, making them faster, more secure and more adaptable. Where internet used to be only available in 56k speeds (56 kilobits per second) speeds now reach 1 GB (Gigabyte) speed!
Here’s how the different general types of modems work.
ADSL Modem – converts the ‘1s and 0s’ generated by a PC into sounds to be transmitted over a POTS (plain o ...
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Anyone with a broadband internet connection, whether it’s cable, ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line), wireless or Fibre Optic, uses a modem. Basically, a typical modem used over takes an analog signal to encode digital information. As the use of the internet has evolved, so to has the technology that has been put into modems, making them faster, more secure and more adaptable. Where internet used to be only available in 56k speeds (56 kilobits per second) speeds now reach 1 GB (Gigabyte) speed!
Here’s how the different general types of modems work.
ADSL Modem – converts the ‘1s and 0s’ generated by a PC into sounds to be transmitted over a POTS (plain old telephone system) and then re-converts the sounds to digital (1s and 0s) on the other side.
Cable modem – Use frequencies that were aimed at carrying television RF signals. Unlike ADSL modems, multiple cable modems can be attached to the same line to allow them to work together.
Fibre Optic modem – Fibre Optic broadband is transmitted over optical lines (made of glass or plastic to guide light signals over its length), thus requiring a modem that can handle this signal. This signal can be carried over greater distances with higher data transfer rate.
Wireless modem – It is also known as a radio modem or cellular modem. With the advent of Wi-Fi hotspots, satellite internet and mobile phone usage, the radio or cellular modem has become the preferred method of transmission. The PSTN (publicly switched telephone network) is the preferred method of microwave frequency delivery.
Depending on your internet connection then, will determine what kind of modem you require. For instance, if you have multiple computers in your home (like a mix of PCs and laptops) you may want to have a wireless modem that transmits signals to multiple devices with wireless NIC cards employed. Wireless modems minimize the need to have devices hard-wired with CAT-5 cable.
ADSL modems will typically convert signals from the phone company up to 1 Mbps (million bits per second) upstream and 8 Mbps (8 million bits downstream). Wireless modems take symmetrical microwave feeds anywhere from 1 Mbps upstream/downstream to 100 Mbps up/down. Cable modems also help to transmit symmetrical data feeds.
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