Internal and External Modem – The use of the internet is very much these days. Internet access is also easier with the existence of portable devices and also with wireless technology which further adds to the ease of accessing the internet. Internet devices are also increasingly developing, and one of them is a modem which is a very important network device for distributing internet signals.
Modem was indeed known a long time ago before there was home internet, of course a modem is something that many people must have to access the internet in their homes. As technology develops, modems can be divided into two, namely Internal and External Modems. Actually what’s the difference?
Table of Contents
Computer hardware
Before discussing modems, it’s good to first clearly understand what computer equipment is. Computer Devices are components that exist on a PC where these components are often seen on a daily basis by computer users.
The function of this computer device itself is to control the system of a PC system where the components of the PC device itself are divided into 2 types, namely hardware and software.
Definition of Computer Networks
Computer devices can be broken down again and one of them is a computer network. A computer network is a computer device that can carry out activities such as sending and receiving data from computers or other devices in the form of data, files, etc.
A computer network is a group of computers connected to each other that allows computers to communicate with other computers and share their resources, data and applications.
A computer network can be categorized based on its size. A computer network is mainly of four types:
- LAN(Local Area Network)
- PAN(Personal Area Network)
- MAN(Metropolitan Area Network)
- WAN(Wide Area Network)
Computer Network Devices
Currently, there are lots of computer network devices that are always being developed to get maximum performance and with various additional features that will very likely help in existing processes on computer networks.
The following are various main computer network devices that you need to know:
servers
The first computer network device is a server. Server is a computer system that provides resources for centralized data storage and specialized services.
NIC (Network Interface Card)
Next is the NIC or Network Interface Card. NIC is an electronic circuit board designed to connect computers or other internet-enabled devices to a computer network. Additionally, NICs are also commonly referred to as network interface controllers, LAN adapters, or network adapters.
Network Cable
Connecting one another to computer network devices requires a network cable. The cable will later be connected through the available hole on the network card / NIC on the PC or laptop.
Hubs and Switches
These two computer network devices are sometimes very difficult to distinguish. This is because hubs and switches have almost the same function.
Hubs and switches are often integrated into a network device simultaneously. This network device has almost the same main function: to forward internet network traffic through a connector port connection.
Routers
A router is a device that provides wi-fi and is usually connected to a modem. It transmits information from the internet to personal devices such as computers, cell phones and tablets.
Bridge
Bridge devices work at the data link layer of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model, connecting two different networks together and providing communication between them. Bridges are similar to repeaters and hubs in that they broadcast data to each node.
Modem
The modem modulates the digital signals coming out of the computer or other digital devices into Analog signals for conventional copper twisted pair telephone lines and demodulates the incoming analog signals and converts them into digital signals for digital devices.
Repeaters
The last one is repeaters. A repeater is a network device operating at the physical layer of the OSI model that amplifies or regenerates the incoming signal before retransmitting it. They are joined in a network to expand their coverage area. They are also known as signal boosters.
If you are interested in looking for products such as routers, modems and several other network devices, you can directly contact us via this link or via our contact form here.
Definition of Modems
Now come to the understanding of the modem itself. Indeed, if you look at it with the naked eye, you might think that this modem is no different from a router. However, of course, these two computer network hardware have different functions and definitions.
Modems modulate and demodulate electrical signals sent over telephone lines, coaxial cables, or other types of cables; in other words, it converts the digital information from your computer into analog signals that can be transmitted over the cable, and can translate the incoming analog signals back into digital data that your computer can understand.
Most standalone modems only have two ports: one that connects to the outside world, and an Ethernet jack that connects to your computer or router.
Modems Function
Modems are used to transmit digital information over analog systems. The word “modem” comes from the term “modulator-demodulator”. The essential function of a modem is to modulate an analog carrier signal to carry digital information; and to demodulate the same signal to decode digital information from an analog carrier signal.
Signal Modulation
The important function of a modem is to create easily transmitted and decoded signals that allow digital data to be sent from one place to another without loss of information.
Data Compression
To reduce the amount of time it takes to transmit data and to reduce the number of errors in the signal, modems need to use data compression.
Error Correction
When information is transmitted between modems, it can sometimes be corrupted — meaning that parts of the data are changed or lost. To get around this, the modem uses error correction. Information is grouped into batches, which are called frames.
Flow Control
Each modem sends information at a different speed. The faster modem needs to be slowed down to allow the slower modem to catch up, otherwise the slower modem will receive more data than it can process.
Advantages of Using Modems
A modem is a device that translates computer signals from one form to another, usually so they can be sent and received from the internet. There are different types of modems for different networks, from dial-up modems that use traditional telephone lines to modems for the newer cable, satellite, cellular, and fiber-optic networks.
The main benefit of a modem is that it allows you and your devices to access the internet and communicate with the outside world.
Disadvantages of Using a Modem
However, behind that there is a shortage of modems that need to be known. Because it can indeed access the internet and communicate with the outside world, modems are very capable of carrying various kinds of viruses that can infect computers that can enter the network.
Difference between Internal Modem and External Modem
Modem can be divided into two, namely internal and external modem. Both types have different uses.
The following are the differences between Internal and External Modems:
Internal Modems
Internal modems can be dial-up or wireless (Wi-Fi). Dial-up uses the telephone network to send and receive signals. They require authentication to connect. Dial-up is much slower than any other type of modem connection at the time of publication, the fastest listed speed for a dial-up modem being 56.6 Kbps.
External Modems
An external modem is a discrete unit housed in a separate case. Typically, an external modem will be connected to the telephone and computer lines via cables. An internal modem is a circuit board that plugs into the computer’s motherboard.
