MODEM

A modem is a network device that modulates signals to encode digital information and demodulate signals to decode the transmitted information. This is used to produce a signal that can be easily transmitted and decoded easily to reproduce the original digital data. It can be used to transmit many analog signals, but is mainly referred to as a modem used in a computer network, where the digital data of a computer is turned into modulated electrical signal for transmission over telephone lines, as well as demodulating received digital data.

Most commonly used modems are combined with the router, to reduce space and cost, as well as making it more efficient.

 Modems are directly connected to the telephone lines, this means its generally at the start of a physical network. There are many different types of modems such as DSL, anolog, cable and ISDN. Modems are restricted by the fact they do not know of the destination of data, and although they can be used instead of a Hub or Switch, they are slower and less intelligent than both. A modem is mostly meant to be used as a interface between LAN and Internet.

The modem is always going to be needed as its the modulator and demodulator of data, without it computers wouldn’t understand the internet signals, so no matter what the modem will be around for a very long time, although you can expect it to be consistently upgraded to be faster and better.