Get Better Performance from Your Router

Dual Band Wireless service router with control port, 2 WAN port 4 LAN ports and 2 USB ports. The router has 3 antennas. Black colour. Vector illustration.

There are three kinds of Internet users: 1) those who are up to speed on the networking technology that connects us to the Internet and the world; 2) those who let their spouse, friends or neighbors set up and fix their home networks for them at home; and 3) the rest of us who are in between.

We have a familiarity with the hardware and software that connects us to the Internet, but we’re not experts. So a little more knowledge can go a long way to help you get more from the technology you already have.

Let’s look at modems, routers, and switches individually, so you get a better understanding of each one.

But first…the OSI Reference Model

It’ll be much easier to understand how modems, routers, and switches work together if you understand the OSI Reference Model.

The O-what, now?

OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection. It’s a system that was developed in 1984 to standardize how information flows through a network. You see, modems, routers, and switches are network devices, and they all fit at different layers of a network or group of networks.

So why do we need a standardized model for networks?

Lots of companies make different network devices, and if we want them all to be able to work together, we need one model for them to work with. That way, you don’t have to get all of your network gear from the same manufacturer. And so we have the OSI Reference Model.

Here’s a table showing the seven layers of the OSI Reference Model and where modems, routers, and switches fit:

Layer	Layer Type	Device
1	Physical
2	Data-Link	Modem; Switch
3	Network	Router
4	Transport
5	Session
6	Presentation
7	Application

If the above table doesn’t help you make much sense of how modems, routers, and switches work, don’t worry. We’ll go through each in more detail.

What is a Modem?

A modem is a device that provides network access to the internet. Typically, your internet service provider (ISP) gives you a modem to place in your home so you can connect your computers and devices to the web. The connection goes through your ISP.

Think of a modem as the link between an internal network and the external internet. There are different types of modems. Older modems, the ones that made those horrible high-pitched noises, connected to telephone lines. Other modems connect to cable lines, fiber optic lines, satellites, or have other access methods.

What is a Router?

People often confuse modems and routers because they look similar and usually sit near each other in home network setups. In some cases, they are combined in the same device. They do not have the same function, however.

A modem simply establishes a connection between your home’s network and your ISP, so you can access the internet. A router, on the other hand, helps your home’s network communicate with the ISP’s network.

Routers create what is called a local area network (LAN). In other words, it lets you connect more than one device to the modem. If you have, say, a gaming console and a computer you would like to connect to the web, you need a router and a modem to do so. If you want Wi-Fi access in your home, you will also need a router.

Routers can transmit data through different networks, but a router alone cannot connect to the internet. For that, you need a modem and a router.

What is a Switch?

Routers are full of ports, which you can connect multiple devices to in order to access the internet. If you have an ethernet cable, for instance, you can plug one end into your computer and the other into your router, and just like that, you have a wired network.

Where does a switch come in? Switches provide additional ports so you can connect more devices to your router. They’re mostly for large computer networks that connect many computers to a single LAN.

A switch is sort of like a power strip. You can plug multiple things into a power strip to provide each one with electricity. A switch works the same way, but it doesn’t provide power; it provides network access.

Your router’s potential.

As you probably know, your router works with your modem and your computer’s networking system to connect you to the Internet. But did you know it can help you do more than that? Read on for a few ideas we hope you’ll find helpful.

You can create a network…for guests.

A lot of routers give you the option of setting up a network for guests in your home. In this sense, “guest” means someone who wouldn’t normally have access to your network and who wasn’t initially set up as a network user.

How would you tell the difference? Someone who is an authorized user has access to your network password (do you remember yours?). A visitor who is using the “guest network” doesn’t need a password, but some router companies let you set up a password.

Is your guest network up and running?

There’s a simple way you can check: Just look at your computer’s networking system to see the wireless networks that are available to you. Let’s say your home’s wireless network is named “Homer.” When you check available networks (from any Internet-enabled laptop, iPad/tablet, or smartphone), you should see the list and see that you’re connected to “Homer.” But you might also see a network named “Homer Guest.” That means the guest network is available.

Boost your router’s range.

Nothing is more frustrating than not getting your network signal, or having to wait for it. A lot of times it’s not your connection—it’s your router’s range. Many people don’t realize that walls and cabinets can block the signal. (It is, after all, a radio wave.) And a lot of times, simply repositioning the router in a different room or moving it to a central location in your home or office can help. But there’s another step you can take: You can buy a “repeater.”

A repeater, which you can buy for less than $100, is designed to work with your router and expand your signal’s range, helping it reach a greater area in your home or office. The repeater should be placed between your router and the areas that need better coverage. If you take steps to make sure there are no obstacles between the router and the repeater, as well as the repeater and the other rooms, you should get the performance you want (and decrease the amount of complaining from others in your house!). In fact, you’ll be a hero.

Print wirelessly.

This is one feature many people don’t take advantage of, simply because they’re familiar with plugging directly into a printer not far away. But, if you have a printer with wireless capabilities, life is about to get easier. When you’re about to print, first check your available wireless networks. If you see your printer’s “name/model” listed, click on that network.

None of these steps are too difficult to implement, so you should be able to use one or all of them to generate more productivity from your router.

Potential security risks for modems, routers, and switches

Modems, routers, and switches are network devices, so they help you connect to the internet, which is really just a large system of other computers and devices. As we all know, any time you access the internet, you take a cybersecurity risk. It may be a small risk and you may have plenty of safeguards in place, but you’ll always be in more danger of a cyber attack when connected to the internet than when you’re not.

It’s only natural, then, that modems, routers, and switches come with security concerns.

The first concern is with your modem. While technically, you could get online with just one computer and a modem, but it’s not advised. A modem shows the IP address on your computer, which makes it easier for hackers and bots to identify you.

Ideally, use a modem and router together. The router modifies your IP address before sending out data to the internet, making you just a little safer. Make no mistake, though, your router comes with plenty of other security concerns you should be aware of.

Router security issues and how to prevent them

Passwords: Routers often come with default usernames and passwords set by the ISP that are well known to hackers. That makes it simple for them to breach your home network. Change your router’s password as soon as you get it set up and then keep changing it every few months.
Default network name (SSID): Just as the router comes with a default password, it will also come with a default name. ISPs and router manufacturers use the same naming conventions, so change your network’s name to throw off hackers.
Wi-Fi encryption: If you haven’t already, go into your router’s settings and enable WPA2. It’s the strongest encryption method currently available for home networks. WPA3, as the name implies, is better, but WPA3 isn’t as widely available.
Universal Plug ’n Play: UPnP lets smart devices like a thermostat or television connect to your home network for automatic firmware updates. As most smart devices are not password protected, activating UPnP on routers is not advised.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS): WPS lets users enter an eight-digit PIN printed on the router rather than enter the network password to gain access. Anyone who comes into your house and sees this PIN can have access to your home network pretty much forever. If possible, disable WPS on your router.
Keep Your Home Network Devices Safe

Modems, routers, and switches make accessing the internet possible and more convenient. They’ve become staples of the modern home, so even if you weren’t sure what they were called before reading this, you’ve most likely seen or owned a modem and router before. By understanding how these devices work, you can take steps to keep them and your home network safe.