OK, where were we? Oh yes looking at some of the things that make your network and your connection to the internet, work. So let's take a look at your Router and all that it does.
What's a Router (or as the Americans call it a rowter).
A Router is that box with the flashing lights that your internet provider sent you when you subscribed for broadband. So what's the purpose of a Router - well the modern Router has multiple functions - first, it has a modem inside that makes the connection to the internet. Your Router takes requests from your computer and passes them to the internet and then delivers the replies back to you. So when you type www.netflix.com this is sent to your Router which in turn sends it to Netflix and then sends the web page back to your PC. It's a bit like a traffic cop for your internet.
Firewall
Every Router has a firewall built-in ( a basic one). A firewall acts like a door man on a nightclub door determining what can come in and what can't (based on the dress code and your level of intoxication). This is to keep out the bad guys (hackers)
Your Router also hands out essential information to every device that connects to your network - wired or wireless such as:
IP address
Every device on your network must have a unique identity to differentiate it from all others. This is in the form of a number and looks like this 192.168.1.10 - think of it as a PostCode. The Router gives this out when you connect and facilitates the delivery of information to the correct PC just as a postcode ensures the mail is delivered to the right house.
Gateway address
This is the IP address of your Router. Web traffics path to the internet is out through your Router - that's why it is called the gateway. So when handing out IP addresses to the devices on your network, it also tells them it's address - the gateway address.
DNS
The last thing the Router tells to your PC is the DNS addresses. What the flip is a DNS address I hear you ask? Well, your computer doesn't understand web addresses like www.website.com. But there are specialist computers on the interweb that do, and these are called DNS servers or Domain Name Servers. You see computers only understand numbers (IP addresses) like 74.125.193.100 but for the average Joe/Jane, or indeed anyone other than Rainman, these would be impossible to remember. Imagine if every time you wanted to go to Google.com you had to type 74.125.193.100 - impossible right?. If you type Google.com, this is sent off, for translation, to a DNS server which turns it into numbers like 74.125.193.100 and bingo you're there.
WiFi (or Wifeey as some politicians call it)
With more and more connected devices from mobile phones to smart bulbs, tablets and laptops, many will never be plugged into a network and rely on WiFi. Most modern WiFi connections are in the range of 50 - 600 Mbps with WiFi 6 just emerging and offering speeds of up to 9,000 Mbps. The two bands you will see on WiFi networks are 2.4GHz and 5 GHz. Older and less expensive connected devices will only work on 2.4GHz - the 5GHz band is found on more modern devices, is faster but has a shorter range than the 2.4GHz band. For more information on Networks and how they work - check out my previous Blog here.
There, you are now officially a nerd and network expert - congratulations.
Your final results will be determined by a combination of algorithm and brown envelopes and sent to you in the post (before being readjusted on appeal).
Oh, and don't forget - if the internet is slow, or not working at all - turn your Router off and back on again! (Don't tell any IT people I divulged this trade secret!)