Popular Internet Terms You Need to Know Part 2
The internet being a vast, confusing place is no longer something to wonder about. But it’s helpful to learn some of the technical terms to avoid confusion about acronyms like DOCSIS, the difference between “Wi-Fi” and “internet,” and so on. We still got you covered with Part 2 of a simple list of some of the most common home internet terms.
Gateway: This is a modem and router combined into one device — your “gateway” to the internet, if you will. Many providers, including AT&T, Optimum and Xfinity, offer gateway devices in place of separate modems and routers. Verizon and other 5G home internet providers also use all-in-one gateway equipment.
Geosynchronous orbit or geostationary orbit satellite internet: Satellite internet ISPs Hughesnet and Viasat use satellites positioned in high orbits to provide internet to their (mostly rural) clients. This type of satellite sits in the same spot above Earth. Hughesnet’s latest geostationary Jupiter 3 satellite, for example, hangs out 22,300 miles above the planet and covers much of North and South America. Viasat’s satellite fleet is also in a high Earth orbit and would appear to someone on the ground to stay in the same place. These satellites can each cover a large area with internet access.
IP address: An internet protocol address is like a numerical fingerprint for internet devices and networks. Everything from your laptop to your router has an IP address for identification, so internet communications go to the right place. Your internet router has a unique public IP address, but you will also have private IP addresses assigned to devices like computers or televisions on your home network.
ISP: This is shorthand for “internet service provider.” That’s the company you pay to get access to the internet. Different ISPs use different technologies to hook you up, so you might have a fiber, cable, DSL or fixed wireless ISP. Big names in the ISP world include Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon, AT&T, Optimum, Cox and Frontier.
LAN: This stands for local area network. When devices in the home, at school or in a work office are connected to the same network, that’s a LAN. A WLAN is also a local area network but wireless. Wi-Fi is a type of WLAN connection.
Low Earth orbit satellite internet: We already discussed Hughesnet and Viasat and their geosynchronous satellites. Starlink does things a little differently with its low Earth orbit (sometimes called “LEO”) satellite constellation. Instead of using a few satellites that sit in one place in a high orbit (over 22,000 miles up), LEO employs thousands of small satellites that are on the move in relation to the planet’s surface. They orbit at a distance of about 342 miles above Earth. You can sometimes spot a Starlink satellite “train” trucking across the night sky under the right conditions.
MAC address: This stands for media access control address. Each NIC (see below) has an identifier. This identifier is the MAC address.
Mbps: Megabits per second (or Gbps for gigabits per second) is a measurement for data transfer over a network. Essentially, it’s your internet speed. For example, you might sign up for fiber internet that offers 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) downloads. You might get 10,000Mbps (10Gbps) speeds with fast fiber. Slow-poke DSL? You might max out at 100Mbps. Actual home internet speeds can vary, but it will help you compare plans.
Mesh Wi-Fi: A mesh Wi-Fi system features a router and additional nodes that boost the signal from the router throughout your home. The benefit of a mesh system is that you can walk throughout your home with a wireless device, like your laptop or the new iPhone 16, and your device will automatically connect to the best signal output, whether that be your router or a node.
Modem: The word “modem” is short for modulator-demodulator. It’s a piece of hardware that converts the data from your ISP into data your devices can use on your home network and vice versa. It acts like a translator that keeps your internet flowing. Modems are typically used for cable and DSL internet connections. If you sign up for 5G home internet from the likes of Verizon or T-Mobile, you will get a gateway device that combines the capabilities of a modem and a router.
MU-MIMO: This acronym equates to multi-user, multi-input, multi-output. The majority of recent Wi-Fi routers have MU-MIMO capabilities, which divide the Wi-Fi signal into multiple streams. This accommodates multiple devices at once and potentially delivers extra bandwidth to those who need it.
NIC: A network interface controller is a component in your computer or wireless device that enables it to communicate with a network.
ONT: An optical network terminal isn’t the same as a modem but plays a similar role. It translates signals so your devices can use the internet. ONTs are used with fiber networks. You’ll still want a router to manage where the data goes.
