Glossary of Modem Terms
| Term | Meaning/Function |
|---|---|
| Attenuation | The decrease in power of an electrical signal over distance. Longer lines experience more attenuation loss than shorter lines. |
| DNS Address | Internet location where the DNS server resides for URL to IP address translations. The modem will use the DNS addresses to find the requested URL on the Internet. |
| Downstream Rate | Connection rate achieved from CenturyLink to your modem. Downstream rate will be different than your throughput rate. |
| Dynamic IP | An address selected from an available IP address pool. A dynamic IP address can change between connections. Dynamic IP addresses are provided on your LAN via DHCP. |
| Encryption | A method of hiding a message preventing anyone from reading it except the destination intended. Encryption is used in wireless security to hide your wireless transmissions from others. |
| Ethernet | A local networking standard for connecting a group of devices to share Internet access and communicate with one another. |
| Firewall | Limits exposure of computers and devices on a LAN from the Internet at large. |
| Firewall Status | Provides a collective view of the modifications made to the firewall using the applications, port forwarding, firewall, DMZ, NAT, and UPnP features. |
| Forwarded Ports | Ports that have been forwarded to a LAN device. All incoming Internet traffic on that port will be forwarded to the defined LAN device. |
| Gateway | Combines a modem, router, Ethernet switch and wireless AP all in one device. |
| LAN Device | Any device connected to your LAN as a PC, printer, gaming console, camera, NAS, STB, etc. |
| Modem IP Address | The unique address in which the modem is identified on the Internet. |
| Modem Utilization | Modem utilization provides a snapshot of the modem resources being used. Memory and session usage can be determined. If your LAN appears to be slow, the modem utilization page can help determine if a LAN device is causing the slow down. The utilization log will show if a particular device has a high amount of open sessions possibly indicating the presence of a virus on the device. |
| NAT Table | The NAT table lists all connections established from the LAN to the Internet and from the Internet to the LAN. When a connection is established the connection will be added to the NAT table. |
| Ping | A network tool used to test if a far end device on the Internet is visible from the ping origination device. |
| Port | Also known as "IP Ports" are logical connection identifiers allowing for the establishment of multiple connections to a single IP address. Ports can range from 0 to 65,536. Internet games use unique ports to transmit the game traffic from one player to another. |
| PPP Credentials | PPP credentials are a unique set of identifiers used to authenticate a device on a secure network. |
| PPP Password | Unique identifier password used to establish a PPP session of Internet connectivity. |
| PPP Username | Unique identifier name used to establish a PPP session for Internet connectivity. |
| Radius Server | Provides account control by authenticating users for network use. When a radius server is present the user must use a set of login credentials (as the PPP credentials) to gain network access. |
| Routing Table | Stores paths to particular Internet destinations. The routing table enables the router to send Internet traffic to the proper destination. |
| Router | Central control point of a LAN. Routers control all traffic on the LAN and provide all LAN devices with unique IP addresses. |
| Session | An active data stream from beginning to end between two devices over a network. An example of a session is an instant message conversation between you and a friend. |
| SSID Broadcast | Sets the broadcast state of your wireless network name (SSID). To hide the wireless network name from users in wireless range, the SSID broadcast of the network name can be disabled. When disabled the wireless network name will not be visible in a wireless client. |
| Static IP | A defined unique IP address that will always be yours. A static IP address never changes, allowing the device with the static IP to be found easily on the Internet. Static IP addresses are commonly used for hosting Internet applications such as a web server. |
| Subnet mask | Used to split and confine traffic to one network. A subnet mask keeps all local network traffic local and only routes Internet traffic to the Internet preserving network resources. |
| Traceroute | A network tool that traces the path network traffic takes to a defined destination over the Internet. If you were to trace a route from your computer to www.CenturyLink.com the traceroute result will provide every step the data took to get from one point to another. |
| Upstream Rate | Connection rate achieved from the modem to the Internet. Upstream rate will be different than your throughput rate. |
| Wireless Channel | The channel frequency your wireless signal is traveling on thru the air. The wireless channel can be changed if experiencing wireless connection issues known as channel overlap. Channel overlap occurs when another wireless network in range is using the same channel or overlapping channel. To alleviate channel overlap change your wireless channel to 1, 6, or 11 in your modem. When auto-channel is selected in the modem, the modem will automatically search for the best available wireless channel. |
| Wireless Power | The power at which your wireless radio transmits. The power can be modified up or down on the wireless radio to help resolve wireless connection issues. |