Best Router For Satellite Internet

Know very little about satellite internet? For most people that isn’t surprising. Realistically, satellite internet is an internet option that many people won’t really need to worry about.

Top Picks: Satellite Internet Routers

(the links above take you over to Amazon)

However, for people living or working in remote areas, who don’t have access to cable or DSL internet, it can be an absolute godsend.

If you have or are thinking about getting a satellite internet connection, make sure you get a router that has features that will optimise the service provided.

What Features Make A Good Router For Satellite Internet?

Security

Of course, security is an absolutely crucial feature for any network. However, due to the high cost and limiting fair use policy of many satellite internet services, it is especially important on satellite routers.

This is because should anyone use your precious internet allowance without you knowing, you could end up with poor speeds (and/or no internet due to breaking data limit) for the rest of the month.

QoS

Quality of Service (QoS), is another important feature to have on your router due to these fair use policies. When setting up QoS you can make it so that certain applications are restricted in their internet use.

This means that you can stop someone on your network from using up all your bandwidth to watch shows on Netflix.

Traffic Usage and Monitoring

This is another key feature to check who and what is using your internet. If anyone on your network is using more than their fair share of their allowance, you will be able to see using the traffic usage feature on your router.

This will allow you to stop them before they use up your allocation of data.

Satellite Internet Providers - What Are They?

Satellite internet is, unsurprisingly, an internet service that is provided to you via a satellite. Signals are sent between a satellite dish attached to your home, and your ISP, via a satellite in space. The fact that it is beamed via satellite is what makes it a great choice for people who live in remote locations without access to cable or DSL internet.

If your only other option is a dial-up internet connection, which is often the case in remote locations, then satellite internet can offer significantly faster speeds.

The three main satellite internet service providers are HughesNet, Excede and Dishnet. Excede have the highest advertised speeds (at the time of writing) although the actual speeds you receive will depend on the specific plan you choose.

One thing that I’m sure you will notice when looking for plans is that satellite internet is generally a lot more expensive than equivalent cable or DSL services.

As well as this, despite the increased cost satellite internet has some other issues that make it a worse option than DSL/cable. For example, due to the sheer distance the signal has to travel, there is a high latency which can make things such as playing games difficult. The signal you receive can also be affected by things such as bad weather.

As such, you would generally only choose satellite internet if you had no other choice.

Before going on to the next section which goes into details about the top routers for satellite internet, please check with your service provider that it is possible to use your own router...to replace theirs.

Top 3 Routers For Satellite Internet

1. Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 R7000 Router

Netgear Nighthawk R7000

>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<

Any router from the Netgear Nighthawk series is likely to be a smart choice. Not only does this particular version have the series’s standard design, but it also comes with a load of great features for you to take advantage of.

It provides great speeds over your network via its AC wireless, and includes features such as three antennas and beamforming to ensure the data travels straight to you.

It has QoS so you can restrict or prioritize certain types of data, perfect if you have limited bandwidth, while the Netgear Genie allows you to manage your network. This is even possible to do remotely so you can change settings and manage your network while you are away from the house.

Unfortunately, you may struggle to use the VPN due to the high amount of lag found on a satellite internet connection. Likewise, the router claims to have been built for gaming, but you may struggle with a satellite connection.

However, despite the fact that you may not be able to use these features, this is still an incredibly solid router!

 > More on the R7000 here


2. Asus RT-AC66U

Asus RT-AC66U Main

>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<

This router from Asus is solid router that should not disappoint. It looks good, and has features such as dual band functionality, gigabit Ethernet ports and wireless AC that make it a great router for anybody.

What makes it suitable for satellite internet users is the ASUSWRT dashboard. From here you will be able manage and check on all aspects of your network, ensuring that nothing is wasting your precious bandwidth.

It is also easy to optimise your network using the built in QoS function. This section also allows you to easily monitor your web usage and provides an easy to read graph.

As with the above Nightgear router, you may not be able to use the VPN features. However, this is another very solid router that will work well with a satellite internet connection.

> Read the Full Review here


3. Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Wi-Fi Dual-Band Router

Linksys EA6100 AC1200 Router

>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<

The main differential of the Linksys router is the range of Smart Wi-Fi and Smart Wi-Fi apps that you can use to manage and control your network.

By having complete control over your network you will be less likely to waste bandwidth on unnecessary data downloads. This all easy to setup and even someone without any network management experience should be able to work it without any problems.

As well as this the Linksys router compares well with the other routers on the list and has features such as dual-band connectivity, wireless AC technology, and gigabit Ethernet ports to ensure you get the most from your network.

Conclusion

And that is all for our look into satellite routers. If you are thinking about getting a satellite wifi connection, or if you simply want to upgrade your router, any of the routers above will likely be a good choice.

Just remember, that whatever router you buy, make sure that you use the network management features to ensure you don’t waste any of your data!

Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment below if you have any questions.

12 Comments - Write a Comment

  1. very annoying FB , Twitter, Pintrest pop-up. Wont be back to site

    Reply
    1. · Edit

      What was annoying? Were you using mobile or a laptop/desktop?

      Reply
  2. I have an old Vizio TV in my living room & my internet modem is in another room. I don’t know if it is a wireless modem. Where do I go from here to get me dumb TV like it’s owner to be a smart TV?

    Reply
    1. · Edit

      Have you tried out our article on upgrading TVs to Smart TVs? https://bestwirelessroutersnow.com/turn-tv-into-smart-tv/

      Reply
  3. I am trying to set up a reliable internet (dish is the only option for the provider) for my rural house and detached wood shop. The house is ~1,500 sq ft and the shop is ~2,000 sq ft. The distance between the shop and house is 100 ft between the two closes points with no obstructions (trees etc.). How would you recommend I set up a reliable wifi connection for both locations with one service? Usage would be medium — no gaming, light video streaming, the primary use woud literally be connectivity (ie. emailing/texting/social media etc.) Thanks!

    Reply
    1. · Edit

      Hi Trinity,

      If you can’t run an Ethernet cable between the two buildings, or Powerline won;t work (could be tricky if different celectric ciruits are used, then you could consider a wireless bridge.

      We wrote an article about wireless bridges here: https://bestwirelessroutersnow.com/best-wireless-ethernet-bridge/

      Reply
  4. · Edit

    will these three routers work with ViaSat

    Reply
    1. Trying to find the best wireless for exceed

      Reply
  5. i have hughesnet internet my only option will asus rog rapture gt-ax11000 slow down ping and latencey for ps4 online game world of tanks

    Reply
    1. how does it work

      Reply
  6. Trying to find the best wireless for exceed

    Reply

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