The Internet makes it possible for your personal computer to communicate with practically any other computer on earth. An Internet service provider (ISP), such as Comcast, Century Link or WaveG, delivers the Internet to your doorstep. It’s then up to systems inside your home to distribute the Internet connection to all your laptops, desktops, Sonos audio systems, smartphones, smart TVs, VOIP phones, security systems, and other Internet-capable devices.
The signal from your ISP needs to be translated from the ISP’s cable–usually telephone, coaxial or fiberoptic–into a form that standard computer networks can use. The modem takes care of this translation. West Seattle Computers carries TP-Link modems for use with Comcast, WaveG or any DOCSIS 3.0 compliant ISP.
Signals translated by the modem need to be sent to specific devices; this is the job of the router. It routes Internet traffic and ensures that a webpage requested by your smartphone is sent to your smartphone instead of your Internet-connected thermostat.
Most routers have four physical ports, but you want to connect five or more devices, a switch (or “hub”) comes in handy. It connects to one of the ports on the router but usually provides 4, 8, 16, or more physical ports–similar to the way a power strip plugs into one wall outlet and offers six or more additional outlets.
A wireless access point (wi-fi) lets you cut the cord so that your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and other devices can connect to the router without a wire.
The Internet is like the wild west; it’s lawless and almost anything goes. A firewall is like a solid rock wall that keeps out unwanted or unknown visitors; it provides security. The firewall blocks most communications that are initiated outside your network and it prevents unsolicited contact with a device inside your network. The firewall does not block traffic inside your network, thus allowing your devices inside the network, like printers, NAS drives and computers, to communicate easily with each other.
At one time, all of these jobs were handled by separate devices. Nowadays, every router has a built-in firewall and most have a built-in wireless access point. West Seattle Computers has TP-Link wi-fi routers to serve practically any sized household.
These are the main types of networking devices, though there are others as well. If you have any questions about your home network, don’t hesitate to call or drop in for help planning or improving your home network. West Seattle Computers keeps a selection of all these home networking devices and more.
