Cable Internet. The Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) connects lots of different cable connections to an ISPs core network.

Which connection technology uses what is known as a CMTS?

Typically, a CMTS refers to the headend of a Cable TV system.

Headends are one of the three basic functions in any Cable TV system (the other two being the "Cable Card" and the "Smartbox"). They take up to 60 channels, combine them into a single RF signal and then convert it to a cable plant. In some implementations this can mean that several RF channels could all be combined using the same coaxial cable. These are the more standard implementations.

In addition, with fiber optic "access nodes", headends don't have to be located at a physical midpoint of the last CATV distribution point and the subscribers. In such cases the term "CMTS" can refer to either a passive device, located at the premises or the "headend" of a central office.

Depending on the use case of the device in question it may be implemented as just a Media Converter, Multimedia Terminal System (MTS), or a Multimedia Terminal Adaptor (MTA).

What device connects to the ISP network?

Is that a router or a modem?

Are you talking about your ISP connection? Are you talking about the device that you are running the wireless network on?
tatertots: I'm not sure what you're referring to, but the router has WAN1 and WAN2, and WAN2 is connected to the modem/router. tatertots: WAN2 is not connected to the router. tatertots: WAN2 is connected to the modem. nacc: you're right.there's no more information to be found in that area of the config nacc: what's this "WAN2". tatertots: it's a switch port, which is not connected to any network device (that I know of). tatertots: it's just a spare physical port. nacc: so in a sense WAN2 is a "fake" port? tatertots: I'd say it's more than that -- it's not connected to anything. nacc: okay so what do you think this means? tatertots: I don't know, you just told me that it's connected to the modem. tatertots: I'm not sure what you're asking me. nacc: if I have two "real" ports on my computer, one for each network card, is there a way to "merge" the two ports into one? tatertots: no. tatertots: they're seperate. tatertots: you can only use one of them at a time. nacc: can you explain further? nacc: i'm not entirely sure I follow. tatertots: you are saying that you have two "real" ports? nacc: no. tatertots: what do you mean by "real" ports?

How are ISP networks connected?

I need some help.

I am a newbie and have only just started to experiment with Linux a few days ago. I am running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (server edition). The computer is connected to a router via ethernet cable. I have a laptop and a mobile phone connected to the router via wifi.e. In Windows the wifi was connected via a wifi dongle, but in Linux it is connected to my laptop's ethernet port.

I have a question: to the internet? I know that you have to have a router connected to the internet to get to the internet, but how do the routers connect to the ISPs? Are they directly connected to the ISPs, or do they connect to the ISPs through another ISP? What is the connection between the two? When I use Google I want Google to send me to the ISP of the country I'm living in. This is done by me going to that country's web page (with the correct URL) and clicking on "Search" in the top right corner. When I use Google from Spain I want Google to send me to the ISP of Spain and not the ISP of the country I am living in (which happens to be the Netherlands).

This makes sense, and makes sense because I don't want Google to send me to a web page of an ISP other than the one I have selected to use. Is there any way of making my router or Linux behave in the same way? The ISPs are not directly connected to the internet. If I want to go to the website of the USA's AT&T, for example, it needs to be sent to an ISP that is connected to the internet. The ISP then needs to be connected to AT&T. The final step would be for my router to tell the ISP it is connected to the internet. That is where I get lost.

I am able to see the routers on my local network. But how are they connected to the internet? And more importantly, how do they make a connection to the ISPs? I know this is a basic question but I cannot find a definitive answer anywhere. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

EDIT: For those who are curious, I found the answer to my question after trying your answers. There's a software called OpenWRT that gives you full control over your router and its connections.

What connects lots of different cable connections to an ISP's core network?

I'm new to the business of telecoms, so I apologize if this is a stupid question.

I've recently set up a couple of servers at home and am trying to determine how to configure them to do what I want. So far I've managed to successfully get online and I can ping the router.

The problem is that I can't get any data going through the core network. What connects my computers to the cable? Do I need to buy a cisco box? The data goes through the core via one or more "circuits". A "circuit" is a path from one endpoint of the line to the other. When you're talking about a single point-to-point link, the line is just a circuit; there is no circuit termination point.

The most common way this is implemented is using one or more "trunks". A trunk is a circuit that runs between two locations; it may be routed by any number of different technologies (fiber, microwave, radio frequency, etc.) or it may be point-to-point between two locations.

A trunk is made up of a number of different components: A line card for each end of the link. This is the component that terminates the line and performs the line encoding and decoding.

A line interface. This is the component that handles signalling and line management functions such as circuit supervision, error recovery, etc.

A network interface. This is the component that performs the encapsulation and decapsulation of data traffic.

In your case, you would have one line card per computer. You may also have a network interface for the modem that connects your computer to the cable.

At some point in the future, you may also want to consider a "switch". This is a component that connects many line cards and network interfaces together. A switch is similar to a trunk but it provides layer 2 connectivity between all the components on its ports; it is used for data aggregation and load balancing.

The reason you don't need a "cisco box" is because a "cisco box" is just a name for a "switch" which happens to be from Cisco. There are a number of different companies that make switches. Some use proprietary technology and some use open standards.

what connects lots of different cable connections to an isp's core network?

I'm new to the business of telecoms, so I apologize if this is a stupid question.

I've recently set up a couple of servers at home and am trying to determine how to configure them to do what I want. So far I've managed to successfully get online and I can ping the router.

The problem is that I can't get any data going through the core network. What connects my computers to the cable? Do I need to buy a cisco box? The data goes through the core via one or more "circuits". A "circuit" is a path from one endpoint of the line to the other. When you're talking about a single point-to-point link, the line is just a circuit; there is no circuit termination point.

The most common way this is implemented is using one or more "trunks". A trunk is a circuit that runs between two locations; it may be routed by any number of different technologies (fiber, microwave, radio frequency, etc.) or it may be point-to-point between two locations.

A trunk is made up of a number of different components: A line card for each end of the link. This is the component that terminates the line and performs the line encoding and decoding.

A line interface. This is the component that handles signalling and line management functions such as circuit supervision, error recovery, etc.

A network interface. This is the component that performs the encapsulation and decapsulation of data traffic.

In your case, you would have one line card per computer. You may also have a network interface for the modem that connects your computer to the cable.

At some point in the future, you may also want to consider a "switch". This is a component that connects many line cards and network interfaces together. A switch is similar to a trunk but it provides layer 2 connectivity between all the components on its ports; it is used for data aggregation and load balancing.

The reason you don't need a "cisco box" is because a "cisco box" is just a name for a "switch" which happens to be from Cisco. There are a number of different companies that make switches. Some use proprietary technology and some use open standards.

What kind of cable typically connects a cable modem to an ISPs network?

I'm in the process of buying a new modem and would like to know what type of cable we will need.

We are currently living at our parents house.

You can pretty much use any coaxial cable you want. For example if your cable company carries Comcast the coaxial cables that go from the cable modem to the wall is called an "active coaxial cable." If it is going to a satellite dish (Dish Network), then the coaxial cable is called a "passive coaxial cable."

The important part here is that you don't have to use a special type of cable. It's also possible to use coaxial cable that is "fiberoptic" or uses fiber optic connections but all you need is coaxial cable and a splitter.

This post has been edited by viper2k: Feb 11 2026, 05:16 PM. -------------------. If you want to win your life is very simple, just stop thinking about it. I think about my life all day. ~ Moo Roo

Cable Internet will be the best choice. I don't even know where to get one since I live in a rural area. What I think will be the best thing to do is wait until the time comes when we move into our own house. The last time we lived there was the same time that a cable box came to the area, I don't think the cable company is going to offer the same kind of service when we move into our own place. We're trying to decide if we want to build our own house (and if so, how big we want it to be) or if we're going to just buy another rental property so we can continue to rent. Our current house doesn't have a big enough yard for a tree, so we won't be able to have the cable line running along the tree trunks for an outdoor TV antenna (which is where I'm hoping to get cable Internet through). We'll probably end up with cable internet but we don't have a definite plan on that yet.

What cable is used in ISP?

A cable like this one is used when a person who already has a ISP doesn't want to buy a modem.

When there isn't an Ethernet jack on the modem or router a cable from another computer can be connected directly to the modems Ethernet port. A cable like this is called ISDN Cable Modem or ISACOM Cable Modem.

What cable is used when a person who already has an Internet access is changing ISPs? This is often a telephone network which was originally intended to handle only voice service; today, however, it continues to exist mainly as a backup for private lines (especially for use by long-distance carriers). It has many applications, including the handling of high-speed modem data transfer.

Some telephone systems use digital data link circuits. The ISDN network is essentially a serial data link with data rates much higher than voice. The standard is known as the Integrated Services Digital Network or ISDN. Common uses include:

Dial-up services and dedicated services. Voice traffic over ADSL. Modem over voice traffic. Modem over ATM. Fiber to the home or small office. Coaxial cable connection to satellite dish. In some cases a single pair of copper wires is used to provide multiple data connections. This form of interface is called Multifilar Filamentary Conductor (MFF).

The ADSL services are delivered over existing access lines between your modem and ISP. In most cases, there's a telephone jack near or in the area of the ADSL modem.

A dialup modem requires power at the other end. So does the router. There are three (or maybe four) options: power, batteries, solar panels and a cord to plug in.

Power - You hook up a heavy gauge cable, or you can use a switch to turn off the cable modem or router. Most people prefer the switch approach, since power outages affect all the devices in your house at once. If you are going to use AC power, there must be a 120V 3-prong outlet nearby. If it's a 120V two-prong outlet it's probably a GFI outlet.