Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Can anyone speculate why the FCC has banned foreign-made routers?
No one is banning routers. They are refusing to certify radios. If there isn't wifi on the router it is totally ok.
Reason - most foreign made routers are unupdatable locked down crap full of zero days. And probably backdoors here and there. So are most US made (if such beasts exist). Anyway I expect to have wifi-less router and 3 usb dongles sold as a kit.
Also - tp-link and the likes can't die soon enough.
US usage seems to be inconsistent.
Newegg: Wireless → "router", no wireless → "modem"
Random Internet provider: Wireless → "gateway (modem + router)", no wireless → "modem"
The technical distinction lies in whether or not the device can operate a DHCP server and provide local IP addresses to multiple clients.
If it can only provide a single public/non-local IP address to a single connected device from whatever media the ISP uses (coax, DSL, fiber, etc), it's a modem (or ONU/ONT for fiber because the fiber people get REALLY mad if you refer to an ONU as a modem 🙄 since they technically don't modulate or demodulate but they otherwise perform the exact same functions as a modem, converting <ISP media> into ethernet 🙄🙄🙄).
If it can provide DHCP local addresses to more than one client device, it's a router. Regardless of whether it broadcasts wifi or not.
If it does both things, it's a combo modem/router, typically called a "gateway" in industry.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link