

If you decide to use your own modem with Time Warner, the modem you choose must be a modem that uses DOCSIS 3.0 or higher (for the higher speed services).ĭOCSIS is the standard used by cable modems to provide internet access. Perhaps the best thing about a device like this is that you know both devices are setup to handle the speeds provided by each other (ie, you won’t end up with one device slowing the other one down). This can save you space, makes setting up your network really easy, and can sometimes even save you money. Modem/Router ComboĪ modem/router combo is a device that includes both a modem and a router. While it is unlikely, if you don't check this you could end up with slower internet speeds than you are paying for.Īs well as this, your router will need to be powerful enough to share this connection to the many users on the network. When buying a router, you will need to make sure it can handle the speeds provided by your modem. This is usually done using Ethernet cables or wifi, although there are other options such as powerline cables or MOCA which use existing electrical or coax infrastructure around the home. Once your modem has changed the data into a format that your computers and devices can use, this signal is sent to a router whose job it is to send (or “route”) this data to all the different devices on your network.

This is why it is important to get the correct type of modem for how you get your internet.įor example, people with cable internet will require a cable modem, DSL internet will require a DSL compatible modem and if you still get your internet over a dial-up connection (unlikely) you will need an analog modem. What a modem does, is change this data into a format that can be used by the devices on your network. When data from the internet is being sent over cables, it is in a format that is unreadable by the devices on your network. ModemĪ modem is the first port of call for the internet as it enters your home. Let’s take a look at what each device does. Having said that, modem/router combos are fairly common so if you want to have both your modem and your router in the same device then that should not be much of a problem. Modems and routers are two different products and as such modems do not generally include routers. This means that while buying a modem will cost you more money in the short term, you will very likely save a lot of money over the longer term. When you use your own modem, the monthly rental fee is taken off your contract. However, over the course of a contract, this fee can quickly add up and will soon eclipse the cost of just buying a modem. In the short term, this fee is generally fairly cheap. While this is great in that it means you can be connected to the internet without any extra startup fees, there is a monthly fee you have to pay when you rent the modem. When you sign up to an internet service like Time Warner, you are usually provided with a modem by the company.
