Cable broadband connections are provided by ISPs who will install a separate cable through which phone, television, and broadband services can be provided. Not all homes and businesses will be eligible for receiving cable, as opposed to fixed line telephony which is more widely available. Cable broadband ISPs provide users with a USB/Ethernet cable modem set-top box with their service, which allows a single network device to access the Internet as well as any other cable services that form part of the package. If the user wishes to connect more than one device to the Internet simultaneously through the cable broadband connection, they will require a cable broadband router. A broadband router is a device that connects two or more networks together. In this case the router is used to connect the home or office network to the largest network in the world - the Internet. The home or office network is referred to as a Local-Area Network (LAN) while the Internet, or any other outside network, is referred to as a Wide-Area Network (WAN). Therefore, a broadband router allows for the connection of multiple devices within a LAN to a single Internet connection. Furthermore, a broadband wireless router can further enhance the LAN by allowing for the devices to be connected together without the use of wires and cables running between the devices. The wireless devices connect to the local network using radio waves broadband wireless routers have access points built into them, as well as a switch and a router. The switch function connects allows for the connection of the devices in the network by way of wires. As previously stated, the access point connects wireless devices, and the router function connects the LAN to the Internet. Therefore a broadband wireless router allows for local networks that are either entirely wireless, entirely wired, or a mixture of both. Devices that connect to the router through wires will require network cards. Devices that utilise the wireless capabilities will require a wireless card in order to send and receive radio signals to the router via the access point. If a wireless broadband router is installed on a cable broadband connection, the set-top box is still required. |
