Do you have any idea of what a router actually does? Your instinct is to say “yea, of course I do. I use one all of the time.” Can you explain how it works, though?
That little box that brings you the internet is sort of a mystery, isn’t it? We’re going to take a look at how the best routers work, giving you an explanation that might change the way you look at your source of wireless internet.
Hopefully, an examination of routers gives you some insight the next time you need to shop for one. Let’s get started.
How Do The Best Routers Actually Work?
Let’s start by looking at what a router is.
A home’s devices form a network. The thing that organizes this network is the router. All of your televisions, iPads, phones, computers, smart thermostats, and other devices form a connection through the router.
The router also allows those devices access to the internet.
Routers serve as intermediaries between your devices and internet networks. Your devices need to send packets of information out into the digital world just as much as they need to receive information from other devices.
The internet isn’t just an amorphous set of information floating through the air, though, so there has to be a way for devices to access and send that information. The router does just that.
It “routes” information to and from your devices out through the internet. Think of the router as a mailbox.
The mailbox receives your mail before you come to grab it, and without it, you’d have to scramble to find your mail scattered all over your lawn. You can also put mail in the mailbox for the post office to pick up and send.
The router works in the same way, only orders of magnitude faster.
Understanding Bandwidth
To keep using our mailbox example, imagine bandwidth as the size of your home’s mailbox.
The more space in the box, the more mail it can hold. Similarly, the more bandwidth you have, the more data you can process at one time. Notice how your internet speed slows down when you have numerous devices working simultaneously on the same network.
The best wireless routers offer a great deal of bandwidth, allowing users to do whatever they please on the same network. You can find great options for high-speed bandwidth at Cradlepoint Routers.
Modems: The Router’s Partner in Crime
Routers hold down the fort within the house, but they can’t reach out to the world at large without a modem. The modem connects to your home’s internet provider and bridges the gap between the internet, your router, and your devices.
Without the modem, your devices could communicate with one another but they wouldn’t have access to the outside world.
Want The Best Wireless Internet?
Hopefully, our look at how the best routers work was useful to you. There’s a lot more to learn about how the internet works, though. The more you know, the better you can optimize your internet connection for high speeds.
We’re here to help. Explore our site for more insights into the telecommunications industry, types of internet connection, and a whole lot more.
