Get to know modems – Today, of course, many use the internet to support their various activities. Whether it’s just to seek entertainment, communicate, and also even to work. Therefore, a lot of internet hardware is growing day by day, one of which is a modem. Maybe you are already familiar with this one hardware and you have even used it.
Before reading further and Get to know modems, for those of you who want to know more about Netdata, you can contact us directly via the link below.
However, what exactly is the meaning of the modem itself? What does it do? And did you know that there are several different types of modems? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Definition of Modems
First, let’s first discuss the definition of the modem itself. Modem is an abbreviation of “Modulator-Demodulator”. It is a hardware component that allows a computer or other device, such as a router or switch, to connect to the Internet. It converts or “modulates” the analog signal from a telephone or cable cable to digital data (1s and 0s) that a computer can recognize.
Similarly, it converts digital data from a computer or other device into analog signals that can be sent over standard telephone lines.
Modem History
The first modems were “dial-up,” meaning they had to dial a telephone number to connect to an ISP. This modem operates over standard analog telephone lines and uses the same frequency as telephone calls, which limits its maximum data transfer rate to 56 Kbps, which is very slow compared to today. Dial-up modems also require full use of the local telephone line, meaning voice calls will interrupt the internet connection.
However, as time goes by, modems continue to grow, and until now the newest one is the DSL modem. Modern modems are usually DSL or cable modems, which are considered “broadband” devices. DSL modems operate over standard telephone lines, but use a wider range of frequencies. This allows for higher data transfer rates than dial-up modems and allows them not to interrupt phone calls.
Cable modems send and receive data over standard cable television lines, which are usually coaxial cables. Most modern cable modems support DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification), which provides an efficient way to transmit TV, cable Internet, and digital telephone signals over the same cable line.
Modems Function
What is the function of the modem itself? If seen from the understanding of the modem above, maybe you already know if the modem has several functions including:
Signal Modulation
The first function of the modem is to modulate the signal. What is the meaning of the modulation itself? Modulation is defined as the process of superimposing a low frequency signal on a high frequency carrier signal.
Or it could be that this modulation is defined as the process of varying the RF carrier wave according to the information in the low frequency signal.
Data Compression
The modem has a function as data compression or data compression. The fastest straight serial data that can be reliably transmitted over a telephone line is 600 bps. Data compression is a way to compress data into a tighter “space” so that transmission can be accelerated. This is done by grouping data together and sending multiple bits together in a more complex sound.
Data compression can greatly improve the performance of a dial-up connection, but it is only possible if a protocol is in place to deal with lost data effectively, because each piece becomes that much more important to the transmission as a whole.
Error Corrector
And the last function for the modem is for error correction. In short, Modem error correction protocol is a method for detecting and correcting data transmission errors. Both hardware-based and software-based protocols exist and are often used together. Individual modems typically use built-in hardware-based protocols to compensate for communication link interference.
Modem Types
The development of the modem, of course, gave birth to various types of modems that can be enjoyed until now. It is possible that you are still using the old type of modem because it is still suitable for your use.
What types of modems have there been since the early days of modems?
Cable Modems
The first is a cable modem. A cable modem is a piece of hardware that allows your computer to communicate with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) through your landline. It converts analog signals to digital signals for the purpose of providing access to broadband Internet. Cable modems work by connecting a coaxial cable and then a Cat 5 (Ethernet) cable from the modem to a computer or network router.
Compared to a dial-up modem, this type of modem has a faster speed.
Dial-up Modem
This is a type of modem that maybe when the internet enters your home, you have used it. This modem was very famous in its time because it was considered a new technology. Because you have a home phone, you can install a dial-up modem.
When connecting, the modem picks up the phone and dials the number connected to the other computer. Once the connection is established, the computer can check e-mail, browse the Internet, and share files. Unfortunately, this type of modem has a very limited speed, which is only up to 56 Kbps.
DSL modems
DSL is faster than dial-up but much slower than cable modem service. Download speeds have reached 10 Mbps and more, but the connection is out of sync. To prevent users with low-cost DSL access from hosting high-traffic web servers, upload speeds are generally much slower than download speeds.
Like cable internet providers, telephone companies may routinely change users’ IP addresses to prevent web hosting.
GSM and CDMA modems
This is a very popular type of modem in its time and it is possible that some people still use it today. This type of modem can be carried anywhere because it is usually shaped like a flash disk.
This modem will be inserted into the SIM card according to the type of modem, whether the modem uses GSM or CDMA.
The difference between modems and routers
And finally, before closing the discussion about modems, it is usually a mistake for many to call a modem the same as a router. whereas originally, these two devices have different meanings.
Indeed, these two devices can connect your device to the internet, but the way it works is clearly different.
The following are the basic differences between modems and routers:
Modems features:
- Has fewer Ethernet ports than a router
- Have a public IP address
- Using a Wide Area Network (WAN)
routers features:
- It has more Ethernet ports than a modem because it is used to connect multiple devices to the internet
- Have a private IP address
- Distribute on Local Area Network (LAN)
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