While both a modem and a router help your devices connect to the internet, they have separate (and complementary) functions. A modem is a box that connects your home network to your internet ...

The modem receives information from the internet, sends it to the router, and the router sends it to the computer that asked for it. (That way, your phone doesn't receive the cat videos you asked ...

Whereas a modem simply establishes a connection between your home network and your ISP, a router helps facilitate communications between your home’s network and the ISP’s network.

The router forwards traffic to the modem that is destined for the Internet, while keeping internal traffic (computer to computer, computer to printer, etc.) inside the network.

Margie Miller keeps losing her Internet connection. Is it the router, the modem, her PC, or something else? You can isolate the problem by trying different configurations. Try these tests: 1) If ...