As described by How-to Geek, here is the short answer to their difference: A router creates a network within your home for your devices; the modem gives that network access to the Internet.

Both pieces of equipment are needed to connect your other devices to the internet. But the roles they play are different.

Fix The connection between your access point, router or cable modem and the Internet is broken on Windows 11/10 computer by following these suggestions.

If you disable routing on the second router, and use it only as a Wireless access point and switch, then you should disable DHCP as well, and give it an IP address in the subnet of the first router.

The router acts as a sort of middleman that's responsible for directing messages to and from two parties -- your laptop and the Internet. The Wi-Fi card is what enables your laptop to communicate ...

I fixed the Asus router to 192.168.0.100 as an access point, and now I can access the settings page via this URL. However, the "seamless unified network" wasn't really working out.

To mesh or not to mesh your home Wi-Fi network; that is the question. We look at the differences between a router and access point configuration and a mesh network package.

In the case of the combo modem and router, the device actually contains a modem, router, switch, and wireless access point bundled into one.