Modem vs Router: What’s the difference for NBN?

A modem is a networking device that connects you to the internet, and a router is also a networking device, but it’s used to share that modem-powered internet connection inside your home. That’s the short answer for the question of modem vs router. For the longer version, read on.

Everything that’s needed to get you online that’s outside your home is handled by NBN or your NBN provider, so you don’t need to worry about that part. But when that internet connection gets to your home, that’s where you need either a modem and a router, or a modem-router to actually use the internet in your home.

Things get complicated when people start referring to a router as a modem, which is incredibly common these days. In fairness, it is at least partially understandable given the rise of modem-routers during ADSL2+ days, plus it’s not helped by the reality that routers are also sometimes called gateways. Too many different or shared names for a limited number of networking devices.

Basically, a modem is there to send and receive internet data and only has a single Ethernet port for sharing that internet connection. A router is dependent on an Ethernet connection to a modem to share the internet around the home. And a modem-router combines the job of both pieces of networking equipment.

Still confused? Think of it this way: a modem establishes a connection to the internet, while a router distributes that connection through your home, usually through a wireless signal. A modem-router serves double duty by both connecting you directly to the internet, and routing the signal to your devices.

Some NBN providers operate as bring-your-own providers when it comes to networking equipment (routers specifically), but others either include a modem-router, router or mesh WiFi system to help connect your home. If you are in the market for some new networking gear, thankfully, it’s easy to switch NBN providers.

Below is a daily updating list of cheap NBN 25 plans that either come with networking equipment or let you buy your own.

And below is a daily updating list of cheap NBN 50 plans that either let you buy your own networking equipment or it comes with the plan.

Finally, below is a daily updating list of cheap NBN 100 plans that either come with networking gear or let you pay for it.

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) has an NBN utility box outside the home that connects to an NBN modem inside the home. This NBN modem needs to be connected to a compatible router to share the internet connection around your home.

Like FTTC, Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) connects to the telephone wall socket for internet, but unlike FTTC, it uses a VDSL2-compatible modem-router to both send and receive internet data as well as share the internet around the home.

FTTB is the same as FTTB in terms of networking requirements, meaning you need a VDSL2-compatible modem-router to have internet connectivity in your home.

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connects to the NBN via NBN utility box on the outside of the home, which then connects to an NBN modem via coaxial wall outlet. This NBN modem then needs to be connected to a compatible router to share the internet in your home.

Regional and rural NBN connections are delivered via either Fixed Wireless or Sky Muster technology, and both use an NBN modem that needs to be connected to a compatible router for in-home internet.

There are a couple of other networking gadgets in the home that are designed to liaise with a modem, a router, or a modem-router. For homes that want as many Ethernet connections as possible, a networking switch can connect to a router to further delineate local network traffic, whereby the router can mainly tackle wireless connections, and the switch takes care of wired connections. Technically, a modem can connect directly to a networking switch, but this would eliminate wireless connectivity in the home.

WiFi extenders are handy for larger homes that want to expand the signal of a WiFi router to far-reaching parts of the home or outside. These networking devices are designed to mirror and extend an existing WiFi network. If your internet is slow, you can always make use of a WiFi extender, booster or alternatives.

In many respects, WiFi extenders are old tech when stacked next to their successor: the mesh WiFi system. Mesh WiFi systems let you effectively add additional compatible WiFi satellites that act as routers, which means better and more consistent signal strength, all on which is treated as a single local network.

That said, the more devices you add, the trickier troubleshooting becomes, as each device can form a critical part of the home network connectivity chain: one weak link can result in no internet connection.