In the computer networking world, the three most ubiquitous pieces of equipment are modems, routers, and switches. These are used everywhere from the datacenter hosting Google to the internet ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs. If you’ve got a mesh Wi-Fi network set up in your home, you ...

When you use the internet, you’re likely using both a modem and a router. But what are they, and how do they work together? In short, the modem is the doorway to the internet, while the router directs ...

Emily Long is a freelance writer based in Salt Lake City. After graduating from Duke University, she spent several years reporting on the federal workforce for Government Executive, a publication of ...

A modem and router work in tandem to deliver you an internet connection. Even if the modem and router are combined in the same hardware, they serve distinct functions. The modem communicates with the ...

Everyone needs internet to stay connected, but most people rely on technicians and their more tech-savvy friends and family to set things up. While there's no shame in that, having a basic ...

I use a simple unmanaged switch to expand my wired Ethernet access without complicating my home network.

This morning a really strange issue cropped up. All devices on my network that are connected to a switch (just your standard SOHO switch) cannot see the router anymore. My setup is Cable Modem -> ...

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When you sign a contract with an internet provider, they'll typically send you a modem and a router in the mail. But which is which? And how are they different? A modem and a router work in tandem ...