Since most modems only have one LAN Ethernet port, you can only connect one computer at a time, and a modem won’t provide the same security that a router does.īuying your own modem can improve your internet connection and save you lots of money in the long run. You will need both a modem and a router if you want to use WiFi or connect multiple devices. According to the FCC’s latest numbers, only 40% of the country has access to a fiber optic provider. However, most users will only get speeds between 50-1,000 Mbps.įiber Optic internet service is more expensive than cable or DSL, and it has very limited availability. While most ISPs only provide fiber optic plans with speeds up to 1 Gbps, businesses can get plans that support speeds up to 10 Gbps. That means your connection won’t be impacted by how far away you are from your ISP or how many of your neighbors are using the internet at the same time. While DSL and cable both use electrical signals to transfer data, fiber optic uses light pulses. While cable is faster than DSL, it is also more expensive, and it is not as widely available in rural areas. Typically, DSL connections only reach speeds between 5-50 Mbps.Ĭable and DSL are the most common types of modems on the market today. However, these speeds are usually unachievable, and your connection will be impacted by how far you are physically located from your ISP’s nearest station. With DSL, you can get speeds up to 100 Mbps (megabits per second). DSLĭSL modems still use phone lines to transmit data, but they work on a different frequency, so you can make phone calls while you are using the internet. These two “dial-up” connections are rarely used today. With ISDN, you can get speeds up to 128 Kbps. To improve on this, ISDN was developed to carry up to three data streams at the same time. Also, analog modems are very slow and can only reach speeds up to 56 Kbps (kilobits per second). Analog and ISDNĪnalog modems only allow one data stream at a time, which means you can’t talk on the phone and surf the web at the same time. While analog, ISDN, and DSL models all use telephone lines, cable modems use a coaxial cable, and fiber optic modems use glass or plastic strands that are about as thin as a human hair. There are several types of modems, including analog, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, and fiber optic. Analog vs DSL vs Cable vs Fiber Optic Modems

Earthnet modem