from your ISP as well.
Modems
A modem modulates and demodulates electrical signals sent through phone lines, coaxial cables, or other types of wiring; in other words, it transforms digital information from your computer into analog signals that can transmit over wires, and it can translate incoming analog signals back into digital data that your computer can understand. Most stand-alone modems have just two ports: one that connects to the outside world, and an Ethernet jack that connects to a computer or a router.
If you use cable Internet service, your ISP probably gave you a modem when the company set up your service. But it didn’t do this out of the goodness of its heart—if you look at your bill, you’ll most likely discover that you’re paying an extra cost for connections.
Motorola MB7621
The best modem for most people
Compatible with the most ISPs, the MB7621 supports internet plans up to 600 Mbps. It’s widely supported, it has a two-year warranty, and it pays for itself in about eight months.$78* from Amazon$80 from Best Buy
*At the time of publishing, the price was $103.
That’s one reason why we recommend that cable Internet users buy their own modems.1 Good ones such as the Motorola MB7621 or the Netgear CM500 cost between $60 and $80; the modem will pay for itself after a few months and last for years, even if you change cable providers.
If you use DSL or fiber Internet (like Verizon’s Fios service), your choices are more limited. Your ISP probably provides you a modem or a modem/router combo, and may not allow you to bring your own modem even if you can find one to buy in the first place. In many cases you can turn off the router features of a combination modem/router and use it as a stand-alone modem so you can add your own router, but the process for doing so (and whether that’s supported at all) differs depending on your service provider and the type of Internet connection you have.
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