When you establish a high speed broadband Internet connection in your home, to ensure a reliable connection it is essential to have the necessary knowledge of the right type of equipment to establish an appropriate connection that suits your Internet connection requirements. A typical high speed Internet connection requires the use of a broadband modem and a wireless router if you wish to establish access from multiple wireless-enabled devices in your household.
The quality of your broadband connection will depend in part on the equipment you use to configure the connection in addition to other factors that may affect the connection speed. In this article we will cover the purpose and importance of broadband modems and wireless routers and the role they play in high speed Internet connectivity.
The Role of a Broadband Modem
The broadband modem is responsible for receiving the signal from your Internet Service Provider and enables you to establish Internet connectivity in your home. The quality of the broadband modem that you use for the network configuration plays an important role in the establishment of a reliable Internet connection.
Depending upon the Internet Service Provider you are using, some ISPs supply you with a modem where others may charge you an additional fee for the rental or purchase of a broadband modem. It is important to be aware that the modems which are supplied by your ISP may not be of the highest quality. Check with your ISP to determine what type of equipment they use and talk to some of the customers that use the equipment which is provided by the ISP you are thinking of using.
If you find that equipment quality is in question, you can always choose to purchase your own broadband modem. There is a variety of different broadband modems available at your local electronics retail store or you can choose to shop for a broadband modem online using comparison shopping sites and product review websites.
The Role of a Wireless Router
Once the broadband modem is installed the wireless router is responsible for broadcasting the Internet access signal in your household. When you use a wireless router with a broadband modem, the modem captures the signal from your Internet Service Provider and then the router distributes the signal throughout your household. You can then access the Internet from any wireless-enabled device such as a laptop, Wii, HDTV, or any other device that is capable of connecting to the Internet through a wireless signal.
Similar to a broadband modem the type of wireless router you choose will determine the quality of your Internet connection. Although you are receiving a high speed broadband signal from the broadband modem there are several factors to consider before you purchase a wireless router to complete the Internet connection so you do not sacrifice data transfer speed.
- Home Environment: It is necessary to consider your home environment in terms of where you want to access the Internet. The structure of your home will play a big role in the speed of your Internet connection. For example, if you want to access the Internet in your living room for Internet TV or use your Xbox360 and there are a lot of walls that contain sheetrock, excessive carpeting, metal or plastic objects, you may require a router that is capable of stronger output than a standard wireless router. These factors can play a role in both reflecting the radio waves from the router and absorbing them simultaneously. This can result in a weaker signal strength which will cause applications that require high speed connectivity to function improperly.
- Wireless Standards: If you have determined that your home environment requires a specific type of signal to guarantee a speedy Internet connection, the wireless standard will play a role in determining signal strength as well as speed. For example, the common wireless standard is 802.11 however the letter that follows this standard is significant in determining the connection. A standard with 802.11b may not provide you with as fast an Internet connection speed as 802.11n which is the most recent standard. Hence you would require a wireless router that can handle the 802.11n standard to get the most out of the applications you are using which rely on a high speed Internet connection to function properly.
- Number of Users: Depending upon the number of users in your household that require Internet access, it may be necessary to install multiple wireless routers since additional bandwidth will be necessary from the wireless router. Additionally, you must consider the number of wireless devices that need Internet access and in this case you should install a wireless router that offers the 802.11n standard.
Finally, the equipment you use to establish a wireless network in your home should be capable of being compatible with one another to ensure effective communication between the broadband modem and the wireless router. Once your network is up and running properly secure it by activating the router firewall and inserting password protection through the web interface provided by your ISP and equipment provider.