Understanding the Internet

As magical as the internet may seem to us, it's actually a very real and tangible technology that most people just don't fully understand. So what do you need to know about the internet?

First, the internet is made out of a vast network of computers that are all connected to each other. When you visit a website, you're essentially visiting another computer that has the content of that website stored on its hard drive. When you connect your computer to the internet, you become a part of it! You can stay in contact with family and share funny cat videos.

Now isn't that nice?

So how does the internet get into your home, and how do we fix it if it breaks? It starts by coming in through your cable modem or satellite dish. This is the same thing that lets you watch cable television. From there it generally goes to what's called a wireless router. Think of this as a hose being attached to a sprinkler. The hose is the internet and the sprinkler is what distributes the internet to the devices in your home without the need for wires. If you've heard the term Wi-Fi, this is what it is.

Here's a diagram that should help to explain it and help you identify your devices:

A wireless router- characterized by its antenna










A modem- look for the blinky lights!






If you're having trouble accessing the internet, a quick fix can be to unplug the power cords from both of the devices above. Wait 60 seconds, and plug them back in. Give it a few minutes to reset and then try accessing the internet again. If you think this sounds familiar to my previous post, you'd be right. That's because these things are all connected!

Daily Challenge:

If you can't get to the internet, try plugging your computer directly in to your cable modem. If it seems to fix the problem, that means the problem is with your wireless router. The cable will look like this:

If it doesn't work, it most likely is the fault of your cable provider and you should call and complain.

Fun fact: By threatening to cancel your cable internet service, you can often get big discounts on your monthly rate!