Difference between modem router and router?

[L3BOT3]

Hi, I was just wondering if there is any difference between a modem router and a router?

[Ssoele]

Well, the difference is in the name. The one is only a router and the other is a modem and a router in 1.

A modem converts the ADSL (or any other signal) into the normal Interwebzâ„¢.

A router converts the Interwebzâ„¢ into the LAN (Local Area Network), your local network.

My ISP (Internet Service Provider) uses his own modem that is locked down and the user can't access and lets the user free to pick his own router (you can always buy one from them if you don't know anything about that).

There are different ISP's that let you use your own modem and in this situation could it be useful to have a unit that does everything in one device.

[Cyanotical]

being a bit more technical:

a modem, which is short for modulator/demodulator converts a digital signal into an analog signal on a carrier wave, it is used for all non pure digital connections, but mostly dsl, cable, dialup, and satellite

a router routes traffic between two separate layer 3 networks, most commonly the internet (WAN) and your network (LAN), however, home routers are often multiple devices included:

Router

NAT

Gateway

DHCP/DNS server

Firewall

4 port layer 2 switch

Wireless Access Point

so a router/modem combo, simply adds 'modem' to that list

[L3BOT3]

Cool, thanks.