Modem

What to look for when buying a Modem

So you're looking at buying a new modem. Modems are the link between your computer and the Internet. When looking for a modem most people don't pay due attention to the choice but while other components may become obsolete very soon, the right modem will serve you many years.

Modems can cost anywhere from $40 to over $10,000 depending on its purpose. The average DSL modem for home use will cost around $150 and the average analog modem will cost $100. It's also common to find routers with a built-in modem. Common modem brands include Cisco, Digium, NetComm, Avocent, D-link and Belkin.

There are different modem device types such as the standard modem, voice interface card, RAS modem card, fax interface card, analog / digital phone line converter, WAN interface card and ISDN terminal adapter.

The most common factors to consider when purchasing a modem are transmission line and interface. Transmission line includes analog modem, cable, DSL modem, E1 / FE1, ISDN modem and T1 / FT1. Common interfaces are PCI, RJ-11, expansion slot, USB, PCI express, PC card, Ethernet and RJ-45.

Other factors to consider are the enclosure, maximum transfer rate, platform and if it is a DSL modem, the DSL standards. Enclosure can be an internal modem or external modem. Common transfer rates are 50 Kbps or less, 50 Kbps - 100 Kbps, 100 Kbps - 1 Mbps and over 1 Mbps. When purchasing a DSL modem the DSL standards include ADSL2 DMT (ITU G.992.3), ADSL2+ (ITU G.992.5) and G.Handshake (G.HS ITU G.994.1).