{"id":5103,"date":"2023-06-13T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T09:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/?p=5103"},"modified":"2023-06-13T20:39:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T20:39:45","slug":"adsl-modem-to-wi-fi-router","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/adsl-modem-to-wi-fi-router\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Connect ADSL Modem to Wi-Fi Router?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

A wireless router connected to a modem is a standard setup unless you\u2019re using a gateway. However, there are different modems, cable modems, fiber optic modems, and ADSL modems<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It all depends on our ISP (Internet Service Provider), and what kind of internet connection they provide. That\u2019s why we\u2019re going to discuss what ADSL is, the difference between a modem, router<\/a>, and a gateway, and how to connect an ADSL modem to a WiFi router.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is ADSL?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a type of technology that some ISPs use to provide internet access to subscribers. It\u2019s different from cable internet, and it\u2019s different from connecting to the internet via coaxial<\/a> or fiber optic cables.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ADSL Internet<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"adsl<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ADSL transmits data over copper phone lines. The telephone wires are used for calling but they\u2019re also used for transmitting internet access. So, every telephone wire <\/a>has the same amount of frequency we can use.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some of it, a tiny bit, is used to transmit the voice when we call people and vice versa, and the other part is used to transmit the signal. Now, this is a complicated process, but it\u2019s been improved so many times that we\u2019ve reached an amazing maximum speed <\/a>of 24 Mbps (Megabits per second) download speed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cable Internet<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cable is a little different because it doesn\u2019t use telephone lines, it uses the cables that bring cable TV to our home. These are known as coaxial cables, and they\u2019re called that way because the conductor and the shield share a geometric axis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

They serve the same function as the telephone lines with ADSL<\/a>, but they\u2019re different because the coaxial cable has more available bandwidth that\u2019s clean, meaning that we can have higher speeds there.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fiber Optic Internet<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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\"optic<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fiber optic internet has one key difference from the previous types we mentioned. It uses fiber optic cables to transmit the signal. Because these are made of glass and plastic, the analog signal is transmitted as light.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Light speed is the fastest known speed to man. Ergo, fiber optic internet is the fastest available internet out there. So, why do people still use ADSL? Well, it\u2019s cheaper than both the coaxial and fiber optic internet because it uses existing telephone lines, and you get a decent connection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Modem vs. Router vs. Gateway<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Now that we know what ADSL is, and the other mediums that get the internet to our home, we need to understand the differences between modems, routers, and gateways to connect an ADSL modem to a WiFi router.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Modem Functions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The modem works by modulating and demodulating the signal it receives from the wires inside and outside our home. Therefore, it\u2019s called a modem. It turns analog signals coming from a coax cable, fiber optic cable, or telephone line into digital signals and we get internet access<\/a> from these.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ADSL modem grabs analog signals from existing telephone lines and turns them into digital signals, i.e. internet. So, we need to connect a router to get wireless access, or if we want to connect over 4 devices to the internet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Router Functions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The router is usually combined with a modem to establish a network for other devices to use. Implied by its name, it routes connections with its NAT (Network Address Translation)<\/a> feature to different devices connected to the network.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So, it takes the digital signal the modem provides and transmits it to the entire network based on the final destination it\u2019s supposed to go to. If you type a web address into the browser, it will come to you. If your partner typed it, it will go to their device, etc.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gateway Functions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Now, gateways are convenient devices because they are a combination of a modem and a router. Instead of having two different devices<\/a> and cables going in and out of these devices to establish a functional network, we have one device that performs all the functions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It works as a modem (modulator\/demodulator) and a router at the same time. One advantage of having a gateway is that, with most of them, you can disable the routing feature, and just make it an internet connection access poin<\/a>t.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Connecting ADSL Modem to WiFi Router<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Remember that you don\u2019t need to follow the next step if you\u2019re not using an ADSL modem specifically. If you\u2019re a cable or fiber optic subscriber, then all you need to do is connect the router to the modem, unless you\u2019re using a gateway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When you\u2019re using a gateway, or you\u2019re a subscriber of cable or fiber optic internet, you need to follow steps specific to those situations, which we\u2019ll probably cover in a different article. So, here\u2019s how to connect an ADSL modem to a WiFi router:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n