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#Wifi modem vs router install
#Wifi modem vs router update
If your router hasn’t received a firmware update in more than a year or two, it may be time to consider a replacement.
#Wifi modem vs router how to
Many recent routers will install firmware updates automatically, but others won’t, so consult your router’s manual for instructions on how to check for updates and install them.

Update the firmware: New firmware updates can improve your router’s performance, add new features, and (most important) fix security problems.Try not to stick them inside a desk, behind your computer monitor, or way back in a corner. Make sure to position it well: A stand-alone router should sit as close to the center of your home as possible and out in the open, but all routers and satellites should have as few obstructions around them as possible (especially metal ones).But these common troubleshooting and maintenance tips should help you keep your network running as smoothly and securely as possible. Routers are complicated pieces of technology, and we can’t tell you everything you’d need to know to fix every networking problem you might run into. Troubleshooting and maintaining your router If you want to know more about the way your router does its job, this summary of common networking terminology is a good place to start. You can add more satellites to the network later if you’re still unhappy with the coverage in certain parts of your home or if you move to a bigger place. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi extenders, which don't coordinate with your router, these mesh Wi-Fi systems were developed to work together they make sure that each of your devices is connected to the router or satellite that provides it the best, strongest signal. You can often save money on your monthly Internet bill if you buy your own modem and router instead of using the ones your ISP provides, though this is usually true only if you have cable Internet, not DSL or fiber, and the situation is more complicated if you get phone service from your ISP as well. Since modem technology changes slowly, you can usually use a modem for years, until it breaks, but you might need to replace a router because you want better coverage, because you’ve added more devices to your network and your old router isn’t keeping up, or because you want to take advantage of the latest improvements in Wi-Fi technology. We recommend using a separate modem and router, if you can. You need both, integrated or not, in order to provide an Internet connection for all the devices in your home. Often, your Internet service provider will give you one box that serves as both modem and router, but they’re still different technologies not all modems include routers and not all routers have modems.


A router is a box that lets all of your wired and wireless devices use that Internet connection at once and also allows them to talk to one another without having to do so over the Internet. Your modem is a box that connects your home network to the wider Internet.
