What Is A modem?

Question

in one of my questions and answerer mentoned a modem what is it?what does it look like?

Answer 1

A device that converts a signal from a phone, cable, or wifi into internet that a device can use.

Answer 2

its what you use to connect to the internet with...

EDIT

you need a wireless router...

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_modem

Answer 4

Modem is short for modulator-demodulator. It translates the analog telephone signal from your telephone service to a digital signal that can be used by your computer.

Primarily it is used for internet access. It can also be used for fax operations from your pc with the correct software.

Modems are typically produced in two varieties: internal and external. Internal modems are the most common; older modems were external because the circuitry developed too much heat for internal PC use.

Dial-up Modems aren't commonly used anymore for internet access, with the popularity of broadband internet connections.

Now there are types of modem that is quite popular: the DSL modem and cable modem. It is a similar piece of hardware that interprets a high-speed connection with your ISP. Both modems are external devices, and are still used to translate the connection.

Ah- the second part of your question....some Broadband modems  have built-in wifi access. You simply need to follow your modem's documentation on how to connect to its wireless signal.