The broadband router is 1. broadband modem and 2. router

Look into the pricing of the broudband modem the ISP is selling and compare that price to the broadband router you are considering. It is not a bad thing to have a router as well as a modem. The router contains a switch which provides each individual connection its own line to the internet without having to split the broadband between them.

For example: With a broadband modem and two computers you would need to use Internet Connection Sharing with one computer as the Server and the other the Client. When used in this fashion both share the connection. If you have 4Mbps each would have 2Mbps. If you utilize a router with the modem then each would receive the full amount of broadband which in this example would be the full 4Mbps.

Now, a router can also increase your broadband capabilities. For example my ISP provides for 12Mbps. With our router we have a 108Mbps with all three computers utilizing the entire 108Mbps each. If we only had the modem we would have to share the 12Mbps amoung the three computers and the computer which was sharing the connection would need to be on in order for the other two to use the connection. I just don’t care for the Internet Connection setup.

So, it depends on how much you have to spend. If you have the money I highly suggest you purchase the broadband router. It is much better.

The modem comes from your internet provider.

A modem (a portmanteau constructed from modulate and demodulate) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information.

A router is a computer networking device that forwards data packets across an internetwork toward their destinations, through a process known as routing.