A cable router connects a cable modem to home computers, allowing them to share information. Considerations when buying a router include built-in firewalls and whether to use network cables or a wireless network. Ask for recommendations from cable companies or computer stores.
If you have high-speed wired internet in your home, chances are you also have a wired router. A cable modem connects to the cable coming from the wall, which can also provide cable television. The cable router then connects to the cable modem and transfers the signal to your home computers.
A router is a device that serves as a connection between two different networks. In this case, the cable company has a network, which includes your internet connection. The other network is your home computer or computers. The cable router allows these two networks to connect with each other and share information.
The information sent between your home computer and your Internet cable provider, or ISP, can include many different types of data. The cable router, as the name suggests, routes this data where it needs to go. For example, if you have two computers on your home network and you use one of them to access shared image files on the second computer, the router receives the information request from the first computer and routes it to the second computer. If the second computer is trying to view a web page, the router accepts this request and routes it to your cable Internet service provider. When the ISP returns the web page information, the router sends it to the second computer.
When you decide to buy a cable router, there are several things to consider. Some come with built-in firewalls. These firewalls protect your home computers from hackers and help secure your network. If you have software firewalls on your home computers, you might not need a hardware firewall on your router, but the extra security might be worth the extra price.
Another consideration when buying a wired router is whether you want a wireless network or plan to use network cables. The most common type of network cable is CAT5 (pronounced cat five). A wired router is suitable when all computers are close together. Cables can lose signal if computers are too far away, and running long cables throughout your home or office can be messy. Keep in mind that you’ll want enough ports on your router to provide a connection to all of your computers.
A wireless cable router might be a good choice if there are multiple computers or if the computers are spread across different rooms or on different floors. Your router’s signal will still suffer over long range, but you won’t have to run cables across the floor or drill holes between rooms. When installing cable Internet service, you can ask your installer or cable company representative if they recommend any particular cable routers to go with your products. A knowledgeable sales associate at your local computer store will be able to help you find the right cable modem for your network and help you with any additional cables or other hardware you may need.
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