Modems have been around almost as long as the computer itself. They were created as a way to communicate two computers together to exchange data or information.  Modem stands for Modulate -Demodulate.  Generally speaking its job is to bridge the gap between digital and analog signals.  Long ago this was achieved using standard telephones lines, this was know as dialup and was often at very, very slow speeds. Over time and with the creation of the internet more bandwidth was needed and it didn’t take long before the creation of faster internets required the modems either disappear or adapt to new faster tech.

These days there are several devices called modems. Each one is different, and is used for different methods of connecting networks or devices.  Modems come in different shapes and sizes and they can be very inexpensive to, very expensive. Most ISPs today do not require the purchase of a modem, but instead will lease it to you for a small fee each month. This can have its advantages, because if there is any fault, which can constantly be a concern for some he equipment will generally be replaced free of charge.

The two most used modems are cable modems and DSL modems. DSL Modems (Or digital subscriber line) are used to connect home computers and networks to the telephone companies networks over standard phone lines. This differs from dialup because the connection is high-speed, digital and doesn’t tie up the voice functionality of the lines. Cable modems use the incoming coaxial cable to your home, the same cable that provides you with television.  These useful things allow us to browse our favorite websites like http://www.direct.tv and many more. Cable modems use bonded channels to achieve high signal strength levels and subsequently high speed connections.  Cable modems also have the capability of offering VoIP service which is a feature currently being sold by several cable companies.