BMCM wrote:
What's the difference between broad band and dual band?
The terms aren't really related to each other. Broadband is a telecom term that describes transmissions beyond the old, low-speed telco frequencies. So by definition, all routers are broadband.
Most new routers are also dual-band, meaning they operate at both the 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz frequencies. The 2.4 Ghz frequency band is a bit crowded and on paper provides lower bandwidth. WiFi standards also allow for transmission at 5 Ghz which is theoretically faster but also does not penetrate obstructions or reflect as well as 2.4 Ghz. I shut off the 5 Ghz option on my dual band routers because I've found it more frustrating than anything else. 5 Ghz-capable devices will continue to try to connect and drop off. By disabling 5 Ghz at the router, dual-band capable devices will connect at 2.4 Ghz which in my experience is more reliable in my application.
jcpainter wrote:BMCM wrote:
Signal is coming in via optic fiber.
Someone at the company said any modem would be fine.. (probably related to the RV salesman that says 'your 1/2 ton will haul it fine!)
She will need a router/modem that meets the specs of the company providing the fibre optic service. It will have to have a proper input port to accept the fibre optic cable.
If she has had service with them for a while and her current device is old and cannot produce the speeds she's paying for, she might contact the company and ask if they will provide a new one. Many companies will upgrade old devices for free. It's worth a phone call.
Let's not confuse a modem (which is an outdated term) with a router. The ISP typically provides the "modem" which in this case translates pulses of light to electricity. There will be a standard Ethernet port on it into which you can plug any *router*. There are standards. They will not leave it up to you to provide a modem.
It's true that in some cases your ISP-installed hardware can be out of date, but they will not (cannot) sell you service unless you have an Ethernet port to plug into. In my case my fiber optic terminal (ONT) was outdated and Verizon wanted to charge me $200 to upgrade it once my contract was up. Bye bye Verizon. I switched to the cable company who provides a modem and also a WiFi router. Funny thing is that I am now a "new" customer to Verizon and they will upgrade that ONT for free.
In this situation any router will work. The question now is whether hard-wired ports are required. Most WiFi routers have 4 hard wired ports in addition to the WiFi. Others, like Google's WiFi only have one LAN port which means you need to add a switch for hard-wired stuff. Since most devices nowadays are wireless, I would think that there wouldn't be a need for hardwired ports.
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
She needs to check with her internet provider first to see if they have a list of approved WiFi modems.
Yes and no. The ISP will provide the modem, which in the past has been a box with an ethernet port on it so that she can then connect her own router (be it wireless or not). But a lot of ISPs now have combination modem/wireless routers. She may not even need a separate WiFi router. So yes, I would ask the ISP what she needs - if anything at all. I switched from Verizon to the cable company last year and they tossed in a wireless router with the service (which is collecting dust in my basement because I like mine better).
