To get internet access in your home, you need both a modem and a router. They aren’t interchangeable, and they serve two very different functions. If you think of your home as an island, the modem is the port where the big cargo ships come in from the world wide web, and the router is the warehouse sending out delivery trucks to the devices dotted around your island. But here’s where the confusion can set in: Sometimes they are combined into a single device. So, if you’re setting up a new network or planning to upgrade your home internet connection, knowing the basics of routers, modems, and gateways is crucial. If you’re in the process of upgrading your home internet, you may also be interested in How to Buy a Router, Mesh Versus Router, Best Mesh Systems, and Best Wi-Fi Routers. Table of Contents AccordionItemContainerButton What Is a Modem? The modem (or Modulator-Demodulator) acts as a translator between your home and your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It translates (or modulates) your outgoing traffic, whether that’s …