The difference is that a modem takes whatever data you need and sends it to the internet, whereas a router allows the devices in your home to wirelessly connect to the internet from the modem.

In order to understand, and fix, your glitchy home WiFi, it's helpful to know what makes it work. So what's the difference between your modem and your router?

Here’s the Difference Between a Modem and a Router Modems and routers are important to home internet, but aren't the same thing.

Modem vs. router The essential difference between a modem and a router is that a modem connects you to the internet as a whole while the router manages and routes the internet to your devices.

Unlike a router which is capable of creating and routing between multiple networks, a switch is a device that’s designed only to facilitate communications for devices on the same network.

As described by How-to Geek, here is the short answer to their difference: A router creates a network within your home for your devices; the modem gives that network access to the Internet.

The router acts as a sort of middleman that's responsible for directing messages to and from two parties -- your laptop and the Internet. The Wi-Fi card is what enables your laptop to communicate ...

When you use your computer on your home or office network, there's a lot happening in the background. Here's the difference between a switch and a router and how they work together.

I'm thinking about plugging in my Asus router to see how the signal seems in that area, but overall in previous tests I found it wasn't as good as the WOW! gateway was, as it's AC1200 vs AC1600.