By: Danny

A cable modem router is a device that not only acts as an access point for cable Internet access, but also doubles as a network router. The network router built into the cable modem allows more than one computer to share Internet access by directing traffic to two or more computers in a single location, such as a home or office building. A router can be purchased separately from a cable modem and connected in tandem, but a cable modem router is handier, more efficient, and typically easier to configure.

cable modem wireless router

There are two basic types of cable modem router, wired and wireless. A wired model will require all computers that need Internet access to be physically connected to the device via Ethernet cabling. A wired cable modem router offers the best speeds and the most security, but it has the drawback of being limiting, and in some cases impractical.

A less expensive and far easier solution is to get a wireless cable modem router. When purchasing cable Internet access from a provider, most companies offer the customer an option to lease a cable modem that has been pre-configured to work with the service. A pre-configured cable modem router can be a good option because there is little to do upon receiving the modem but plug it in and set up the network

Cable Modem – What Is It?

Broadband services from cable companies or Multiple Service Operator’s (MSO’s) are normally provided via cable modems and 90% of the cable modems are using DOCSIS (Data over Cable Service Interface Specification). DOCSIS defines interface requirements for cable modems involved in high-speed data distribution over cable television system networks (definition from cablelabs.com). Most MSO’s will allow you to use just about any cable modem that is DOCSIS certified. Now for the CMTS & Node

cable modem with router

Cable modems communicate with a device called a cable modem termination system (CMTS). Cable modes are typically grouped into regional nodes. The size of the node and number of modem customers in that node can make some difference in the speeds of you modem. With cable modems the node is you local access point and the more users the less bandwidth available for all.

Let’s now look at the signal level needed to keep your cable modem online and surfing. Most cable modems have a signal range that they need to communicate to the CMTS. The signal levels can differ from vendor to vendor but as a rule of thumb most modems work well from RX -10dbv to +10dbv and TX 40dbv to 56dbv. The diagnostic page’s IP is different from modem to modem but if you lookup your vendors modem specifications you will be able to see if you modem has this diagnostic page available.

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