Broadband modem

[DoesItMatter]

Wow - no idea how you got to this forum for that search.

Did you use Google? Or what search engine?

I ask because I don't ever want to use that one...

Anyway...

Ideally - you should have a router in between your cable modem
and any other computers - this provides you with multiple links
without having to dis-connect and re-connect the cable modem.

Almost all cable modems out there store a specific MAC address,
either a router, or PC, laptop, etc for the connection.

If you swap your cable modem around, you have to power-cycle
your cable modem for at least 5 minutes each time, so that it
forgets that stored MAC address and acquires the new one on
the new device.

This is why a router is so helpful - provides multiple connects.
Also - if you have any wireless devices, a wireless router will
allow you to connect via wire and wireless (laptops, wi-fi phones)