Modems, there’s a lot of them – which one are you looking for?
First of all, what kind of modem are you looking for? Is it a cable modem, broadband mobile modem, ADSL modem or modem router? Don’t get confused of these terms. These are friendly devices that give you permission to connect to the internet so you can browse the web faster, watch prime movies on your HDTV, download apps on your smartphone, and setup a video conference meeting with your friends on the other side of globe.
You’re reading this article now so you definitely have a modem. And if I’m getting it right, the last time you dirt off your modem device was about three months ago – when an unexpected power shutdown hits your neighborhood. If you’re planning to buy a new modem, whatever the kind is, continue reading below.
What is a cable modem?
If you’re a subscriber of cable internet or cable TV, you have this compact device under the brands of Arris, Cisco, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, SMCNetworks, Technicolor, Ubee, ZoomTelephonics, ZyXEL, Hitron, or Motorola. These are the only approved cable modems by DOCSIS, an international telecommunications standard developed by CableLabs together with partner cable operators and equipment manufacturers that permits the addition of high-bandwidth data transfer to an existing cable TV (CATV) system.
All cable modems (particularly in the U.S.) must be DOCSIS certified whether they are provided by your cable operator or purchased from a cable modem retailer. CableLabs is publishing a list of certified and qualified cable modem brands on its website. So if you have a plan to purchase a new unit, you can either check that list or ask the retailer if the unit is DOCSIS certified, CableLabs Certified or CableLabs Qualified.
What is a broadband mobile modem?
Every smartphone owner has this kind of modem on their device – otherwise, they can’t surf the web. It’s a built-in component in modern mobile devices that connects them to 3G or 4G network for internet access. Broadband mobile modems can also be in the form of a USB device which is mostly used on laptops, PC card for desktop computers, and cellular card or router which is typically the standalone portable Wi-Fi hotspot, also known as “Mi-Fi”.
USB modems, sometimes called “dongle”, are still popular these days. There is a SIM card slot inside of it and comes with a web-based console where you can configure settings for instant messaging, voice calling and internet connection. Popular brands are Huawei and Sierra Wireless. Mi-Fi hotpots are very popular these days as they are good companion for travelers and the always on-the-go workers. Other than a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, this device can also be used for GPS navigation, data storage and as a media player.
What is a broadband modem?
ADSL, DSL or broadband modem is no other than the modem sitting next to your Wi-Fi router. Or it could be the router unit itself as it can act both as a modem and as a router – a modem router.
Who sells this kind of modem? It could be your Internet Service Provider (ISP) as part of the lease-to-own contract, the modem OEM itself, or any brick-and-mortar or online store. There are hundreds of DSL modem brands out there the most popular models of which are Motorola Netopia 2210, ZyXEL Prestige 660M, Netgear DM111p and D-Link DSL-2320B.
Here’s a little bit of background. Before ADSL, early versions of modem use modulation-demodulation techniques called frequency-shift keying (FSK), phase-shift keying (PSK), and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) in sending and receiving digital information via the telephone line. Early ADSL modems provide 1Mbps upstream and 8Mbps downstream data transmission rate. Latest models already have 2Mbps upstream and 24Mbps downstream capability.
It’s easy to tell if it’s a broadband modem by checking if there is an available ADSL or DSL port. A cable modem, on the other hand, has a coaxial port. To distinguish if it’s a modem router, it’s not just the antennas and Ethernet ports but you have to check the full description or features from the device’s manual. Moreover, with these various designs, sizes and hybrid models appearing in the market every now and then, it’s a bit tricky now to identify by physical appearance alone if it’s a cable modem, a broadband modem, a router or a modem router. So the best thing to do is to closely inspect the unit as well as read the specs.
