Spectrum Router v.s Modem: Six Must-Know Facts
- Modems are less expensive than routers because they only provide a connection to the Internet, not additional devices.
- Modems offer speeds of up to 400 Mbps, while the routers offer a maximum speed of 2,000 Mbps
- Routers provide access to Spectrum’s GIG plan that’s perfect for households that use a lot of devices.
- Using a router allows you to connect additional devices, such as mobile phones and tablets.
- Modems provide a wired Internet connection using Ethernet only, while routers may also offer HDMI and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to Ethernet.
- You may rent a router from spectrum for a reasonable price, but not a modem.
A Spectrum router and modem might sound like the same thing, and although there are similarities, there are also key differences. A short answer to the differences is that a router can broadcast a Wi-Fi signal to multiple devices. If you want to learn more about these devices, including their pros and cons, read on to learn more.
Spectrum Router vs. Modem: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Router | Modem | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost: | $42.94+ | $109.99+ |
| Speed: | Up to 2,000 Mbps | Up to 400 Mbps |
| Max plan: | Internet GIG | Internet Ultra |
| Access for connected devices?: | Yes | No |
| Rent from Spectrum?: | Yes | Yes |
Routers: The Complete History
The foundations for what would later become a router date back to 1966-1967, under the influence of Donald Davies and Wesley Clark. At the time, these functions were performed by computers. The International Networking Working Group, founded in 1972, focused on network connections, part of which would later lay the foundations for Internet connection technology.
Today’s routers became popular when more Internet customers started using broadband Internet. Routers would allow other devices to access the same network as your computers, eliminating the need to establish separate connections for these devices.
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One of the biggest differences that arose between modem types was the presence of hard-wired versus wireless routers. The wireless routers rely on antennas built into the devices to transmit the signals. Wired routers require a hard connection between the router and the devices.
The Need For Extra Connectivity
With most households having any combination of cellphones, tablets, and gaming systems, there is a need for greater connectivity. These types of devices cannot use a modem without your having to sacrifice connectivity here and there. When there is no router, all the devices connect directly to the Internet, possibly affecting speeds.
Routers allow devices to take advantage of Spectrum’s best plans with the top gig speeds. Such speed is essential for gamers and streaming service users. With a router, the devices “talk” to each other on a local network instead of communicating over the Internet.
Buffering is one of the most common problems that heavy data users run into with lower speeds. When content buffers, this is an exasperating situation for users. Home workers also find decreased speed frustrating.
Weighing the pros and cons of a router from Spectrum reveals that a router reduces the chances of having to deal with buffering. Everything works a lot more smoothly with the right connected device.
Modem: An Older Solution Still in Use
Unlike the dial-up modems of previous times, modern modems work independently of phone lines. The earliest modems that cable providers used to date back to the early 2000s. Providers may use either coaxial or fiber-optic technology to provide an Internet connection.
Besides the price, are there advantages to using a modem instead of a router? One of the advantages of a modem is that the technology updates much more slowly than that of a router. Users can expect to keep modems longer than routers.
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Spectrum Router vs. Modem: Which One is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Modems are still used in many households, especially when mobile devices connect through a cellular network instead of a home network. With modems dating back to when there were fewer connected devices, heavy-duty Internet users need something different. Modems have primarily been replaced by routers or router/modem combination devices.
If you’re a multi-device household, you won’t go wrong by paying a higher price for a router. However, if the similarities to a router, combined with less support for multiple devices, are something you can live with, a modem could meet your needs.
