Modem vs. router vs. gateway vs. switch
The router has become one of the key networking devices in the market. Today, routers are more complex with multiple ports for a variety of connections. In this review, we tell you the differences between the modem, router, switch and gateway.
If you are new to the world of networking then it can be confusing knowing the differences between some of the devices in the market. The technology world keeps changing and we often see an increasing number of devices coming up as hybrids of others. What this means is that your modern day router will come with a modem, act as a network gateway and come with a considerable amount of Ethernet ports to enable it also function as a switch. This review, checks out some of these devices and we inform you on the functionality of each.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Modem vs. router vs. gateway vs. switch?
Modem |
Router |
Gateway |
Switch |
|
Operation |
Default |
Layer 3 |
Default |
Layer 2 |
Purpose |
Connects to ISP |
Establishes LAN |
Connects two networks together |
Sends data to MAC address |
Setup difficulty |
Easy to setup |
Requires software configurations |
Automatic connections |
Can be complicated for high capacity networks |
Hardware configuration |
Simple hardware settings |
Can be complicated depending on router type |
Simple hardware configurations |
Depending on networking needs can be very complicated |
Availability |
Modem vs. router vs. gateway vs. switch – How do they Compare?
Connection
The biggest question many homeowners will often ask is whether they need a router or modem. If you are connecting to only one device like a home computer than all you need is a modem. A router cannot operate without the presence of a modem because it is the modem that acts as a gateway between the device and the ISP. It decodes this signals and passes them to your computer. However, if you want to connect multiple devices to your network then you will need a router. The router will receive internet from the modem and distribute this to multiple devices within your network. You can even interconnect your printers and external hard disks and include them into your local network.
Most of the modern routers now come as a combination of the router and modem. Some will also come with a VOIP function. The downside of having a router-modem combo is that if one device fails the whole system becomes useless. One cannot work without the other.
Design and Functionality
To understand how all these devices work you have to first consider their functionalities. There is often some overlap in devices as you can have one having components of the other. For example, modern routers will come with modem, and switches. They will also act as network gateways. A network switch is a device that allows communication between devices that are connected to its Local area network (LAN). The Ethernet switches will have several ports integrated onto them depending on type. Mainstream Ethernet switches often come with 4 to 8 ports while the high performance ones will come with 32 to 128 ports. The speeds vary with the home Ethernet switches allowing speeds of up 1Gbps will the data center switches doing 10Gbps. Modern routers will come with Ethernet ports.
Modems have been around since the days of dial-up internet access. The key function is to allow connectivity of devices to the ISP. Routers connect devices in their LAN to the internet via the modem. The router is the one that will split the internet connection to its various devices. The router does not have the ability to decode the internet signals that come from the ISP. That is the work of the modem. Most of the routers in the market combine both the router and modem into one unit. There instances where your router will not adequately cover your house sufficiently and this leads to the creation of dead zones. This is often the case when you have many impenetrable walls. Most people will purchase network extenders but this come at a cost of reduced bandwidth. The other option is to use Wi-Fi mesh networks. These use nodes to extend coverage. You can set up as many nodes as you wish and extend your network coverage to over 5,000 square feet.
The network gateway – which is the most common – will connect two networks to each other. This allows one device to communicate with another on the other side of the network. Since they send data back and forth through the network they can take various forms as firewalls or proxy servers. Most of the time your router will act as your gateway if you are running a small home network. You can also connect two networks using different base protocols through a network protocol converter.
Modem vs. router vs. gateway vs. switch – A Comprehensive Overview
Modem – Overview
A modem acts a bridge between the internet and your local network. The term modem is derived from the word “modulator-demudulator”. If you used the internet in the late 90s, you will have noticed that signals were sent over telephone lines. The modem would encode the digital signals and then allow your devices to receive information over the internet. Modern modems will have one connection attached to fiber cables or satellite and another output Ethernet connection for your router or single device. Your internet service provider will determine the kind of modem that you use.
In some cases, you will find ISP providers renting out modems to their subscribers for a monthly fee. The modem comes with the downside that you cannot use it to set up local network or connect multiple devices to the internet.
Pros
- Connects one to the ISP
- Coverts signals from the ISP to an computer
Cons
- You cannot connect multiple devices to the internet
- Cannot be used to set up local internet network
Nighthawk AX12 12-Stream Wi-Fi Router/Modem
- Maximum Range : 3500 Sq Ft
- UNLEASH FASTER SPEED, EVEN MORE POWER: Optimal for devices built to support WiFi 6: Playstation 5, iPhone...
If you are looking for a hybrid of modem and router then the Nighthawk it your ultimate choice. It comes with a superfast processor that works well to eliminate any dead zones. It also uses some of the latest Wi-Fi standards and is optimized for speed. The Nighthawk allows you to connect your Smart TV, gaming consoles and security cameras to the internet without compromising on speed. Users get 12 simultaneous streams meaning all your devices can use the net at the same time.
Router – Overview
The router primary function is to connect devices through multiple networks. In this scenario, your router will be connected to the internet on one side then also be connected to your home network. In other words the router is the bridge in between your private local network and the internet. The devices in your network connect to the internet through this one device and can also connect to each other. You will have routers coming with USB and Ethernet ports for the connection of multiple devices.
While the router allows you to connect multiple devices to the internet, it is not the device that connects you directly to the internet. That is the work of the modem.
Most of the routers in the market come with a modem as a single unit. The device will have software to run both units. In this instance, you have the modem communicating with the ISP and you have the router that allows you to run your local network.
The router can be connected to a variety of devices including smart security systems and give users ability to stream like videos from Hulu or Netflix. You can also connect to smart speakers through Amazon Echo.
For most people with large houses, the router will need router extenders to extend coverage. This helps eliminate dead zones. Mesh networks will often boost your Wi-Fi coverage by up to 5,000 square feet. The mesh network will have a primary router, then have nodes that communicate with it. Wi-Fi mesh network are better that the extenders as you do not experience any loss of bandwidth. You are also not limited to the number of nodes you can include in your network. All your settings for your mesh network can be controlled through your smart phone that will come with apps for controlling the network.
Pros
- Helps one create LAN
- Splits internet connection among devices
- Runs firewalls and anti-virus
- Connects to VPN
- Can host multiple Ethernet ports
Cons
Doesn’t decode any of the ISP signals
D-Link DIR-878
- Stream, game, and more: Enjoy 4K/HD video and online gaming simultaneously with 3x3 data streams and 4...
- Dual Core Processor: The dual Core Processor gives you powerful wired and wireless network speeds
This is an excellent router for home use. It is affordable and comes with the latest router technologies like MU-MIMO. It has 4 external antennas, four Gigabit Ethernet ports and a WAN port. The router is capable of hitting speeds of up to 1,300Mbps on the 5Ghz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4Ghz band. The router is easy to setup and comes with some of the latest router features like QoS, DDNS and L2TP VPN.
Gateway – Overview
A network gateway works by connecting two networks together so that devices from one network can communicate with other devices on another network. The gateway may take the form of a server, firewall or router. The gateway acts as a node in that any flow of traffic will have to come in and through it. The gateway also has the capacity to discern what time of data is coming in and translate this data into a format that will be recognized by devices in the internal network.
Routers are types of gateways in that they do allow the devices in their network to receive and send data over the internet. If you want to filter any inbounding data from malicious sources then you use a firewall. Lastly, you have the proxy server. This allows one to filter traffic in between networks. With a proxy server you will need both hardware and software configurations.
Most home owners and small enterprises will use their router as their gateway. The router will connect your local network to the internet. If you are still using the old dial up method for internet access then your gateway will be located at ISP location. Gateway protocols help to connect two networks that use different base protocols.
Pros
- Greater flexibility when handling different systems
- Can be programmed to accept or deny various privileges
- Offers more security for devices
- Allows communication between computers with different protocols
Cons
Difficult to troubleshoot
Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 DOCSIS
- Compatible with Xfinity Cable & Voice Plans up to 600Mbps speed.
- Three-in-one DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + AC1900 WiFi Router+ Xfinity Voice and 2 USB ports
This device doubles up as a cable modem, VOIP device and router. It is capable of hitting speeds of up to 960Mbps for its modem and comes with dual bands – 2.4GHz and 5GHz. You have very high download speeds and this comes in handy when you are downloading 4K videos.
Switch – Overview
If you have multiple devices in your office like computers, printers and servers you may want to identify a way for you to interconnect all of them together. A network switch does this. It will connect all your devices to your private network. It is easy to confuse a switch and router because they often look the same. With a switch you can have all your devices in a building all communicating together.
There are various switches in use today with the network switch been the most common one. With a network switch you have multiple devices been connected to the one local area network (LAN). Today, most of the routers will come with their own Ethernet switches. However, in large establishments you will have high performance switches that handle multiple connections for their data servers and multiple devices. Sometimes these switches are called MAC bridges, switching hubs or bridging hubs.
When it comes to speeds it will vary depending on the device. Those that are used for data centers will come with speeds of up to 10Gpbs per link while those for home use will come Ethernet ports having speeds of 1Gps. The number of supported devices also varies. For the ones for home use you have 4 to 8 ports while for those for data centers you get 32 to 128 ports.
Switches will also be split between managed and unmanaged switches. Most of the consumer switches only need one to plug them to cables and they will automatically configure themselves. Things are a bit different for the unmanaged switches used in data centers. This need some professional to setup. They also come with a host of network features like QoS support, link aggregation and SNMP monitoring.
Another key difference you need to know about the workings of switches is that unlike hubs that will receive data packets and transmit the same to other ports, the switch will first determine the source of the data packets and destination addresses. It will them transmit the data to specific devices.
Pros
- Forwards and filters packets among networks
- Allows intercommunication among devices using MAC
- Manage traffic
- Keep electrical signal from been distorted
- Increase LAN bandwidth
Cons
High end switches maybe more complicated to setup
UniFi Switch
- Country of origin : China
- Model Number : US-8-150W
The UniFi switches are designed of high quality materials and come with the right software – UniFi controller – to manage them. You can purchase a UniFi switch with either 8, 24, or 48 RJ45 Ethernet ports. Most of the switches do not have fans hence they are not noisy.
Conclusion: So, which is better – Modem, router, gateway or switch?
If you are to choose among all four, a router is more able to carter to your unique home internet needs better. For one, most modern routers today, double up as modems, gateways, or switches. TheD-Link Smart router comes equipped with the latest MU-MIMO technology. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,300MHz on the 5Ghz band and 600MHz for the 2.4GHz. It is easy to setup and gives you better signal strength through the QoS feature.
FAQ
Can I connect to the internet with a router only?
The modem primarily function is to decode the ISP signals while the router will receive these signals and distribute among the devices. The router will allow you to create a LAN but it is the modem that directly connects to the internet. Most ISP provide the modem and router as one unit. If you purchased a router that does not have a modem then you will have to purchase one and operate them as separate devices.
How do I avoid dead zones when using my router?
If you live in a large house then your router Wi-Fi coverage maybe limited hence necessitating the need for additional Wi-Fi extenders or satellite nodes. These devices receive the internet signal from your router and transmit beyond areas it would not have reached. Some of these mesh devices and nodes give you an extended range of up to 4,000 to 5,000 square feet. You do not have a limit as to the number of nodes you can add to your network.
Do Hubs and switches pay similar roles?
Both are used as units of central connection for the transmission of frames (data types). One of the key differences between the two is how these data is transmitted. With the hub the frame is transmitted to all the ports without any distinguishing factor. For the switch the unit will keep a record of the MAC address of all the devices on its network. This means whenever it receives a frame it knows exactly which port to send the data to.
