Guide to Buy Hardware for Internet Services

The present day world revolves around internet-enabled devices; however, for your internet dependent appliances to work smoothly, you need to buy some hardware too for creating a smooth connection between your internet source and your digital devices.

It’s important that you don’t compromise on quality when buying hardware components. This ensures optimal network communication without slow or unstable internet connectivity. While your internet service provider (ISP) takes care of the installation of hardware, here’s a guide to buying some of the hardware needed:

Modem

This is a networking device that is crucial for facilitating your internet connection into your home or business space. It’s through this device that you connect your laptops and computers for accessing the internet. Modems are usually inbuilt into routers and not bought separately. They work by encoding and decoding digital data simultaneously into a format that your computer can ‘read’.

Router

Just like the modem, routers send and receive data over the network and are used to connect two or more networks. Routers function in two ways; it (1) manage traffic between the networks and (2) transmit data packets (files, mails, web communication, etc.) to the IP addresses of the connected devices. When buying a router, ensure it has a sufficient number of ports to connect your various devices. It should also have WPA or WPA2 for password protection and security. Many come with firewall software (scanning for malware) and Media Control Access (secure filtering) to keep your home network safe.

Ethernet Cables

These are physical network cables that connect computers, routers, switches, etc., within a network. They plug into the Ethernet ports at the back of the modem or combination modem-router.

Switches

A switch helps in sending and receiving data packets to their destination devices. Switches can be used to connect multiple devices together, such as computers, printers or servers across a network. Just as switches connect a number of devices, routers connect a number of switches and their networks.

High-speed Fiber Optic Cables

These high-speed cables are made up of thin hair-like strands of glass or plastic. They transmit data signals in the form of light and at higher speeds and longer distances than other technologies. Comparatively more expensive, your ISP usually supplies these cables.