Your hospital’s network operates much like a post office.
1. Modem: A modem is like a large county post office branch. It takes data from the internet and allows it come into your clinic. A modem only provides internet access. Modems are often provided by our Internet Service Provider, such as AT&T, Cox, Comcast, etc.

2. Router: A Router takes the information from the modem and distributes it to the computers in your hospital. This is your ‘hospital network.’ The Router allows your computers to talk to each other and access the internet. Routers come in many forms with the most common being a wireless router with 4 ports on the back that allows you to plug a cat-5 network cable into. Your Sound digital system will require at least 2 ports on network.
The Router assigns every computer in your clinic an address. Think of the Router like a hotel. A computer check’s into the hotel and is assigned a room. Mail can be delivered through the hotel’s front desk to that guest and the hotel will deliver it the guest’s room.

3. Switch: A switch provides more ports or access for more computers to be hard wired on the network. If you run out of ports on the back of your router, you may need a switch. They often come in 8, 16, 32, and 64 port options. This is like adding more rooms to your hotel to allow for more guests.
