Like most internet providers out there, CenturyLink lease you a modem when you use their service. While this is good to help you get set up and cheap over a short period, you will usually pay a monthly rental fee which can soon build up.
CenturyLink generally charge pay $9.99 a month for their modem which means you could save almost $120 a year by using your own.
CenturyLink Router Picks:
- ActionTec C1000A (Modem/Router Combo)
- ZyXEL C1100Z (Router Modem VDSL Combo)
- D-Link DIR-850L (Router Only)
- Netgear Nighthawk R7000 (Router Only)
(view the routers on Amazon by following the above links)
However, most CenturyLink modems have a built-in router. This means you will have to ensure that you replace both products if you choose to not use their modem.
How Owning A Router Can Help You
Save Money
As mentioned above, buying your own modem and router means you can waive CenturyLink’s modem rental fee and start to save money.
How much you save will depend on the modem, router, or modem/router combo that you buy.
Choose Your Own Products
Not using the provided router means you are able to choose your own products. Considering the number of different uses people have for their networks, it is highly unlikely that the router provided by your cable company will be perfect for everyone.
For example, gamers, families, and people who work at home are all likely to have hugely different needs for their network. By choosing your own products you will be able to choose the exact features that you need from a modem and router.
Install Your Own Firmware
If you really want to go it alone with your wireless router, then it could be a good idea to install a firmware such as DD-WRT. DD-WRT is an open source firmware that can supercharge router with features such as the ability to install a VPN, monitor your network and use advanced QoS tools.
Be very careful if you decide to install open source firmware.
You could potentially 'brick' your router if you don't know what you're doing.
Installing DD-WRT (or other firmware) on your router can cause your router to stop working if not done properly so please ensure you know what you are doing before you try to install it.
CenturyLink Approved Modems And Routers
Using a modem and router approved by CenturyLink is a must to ensure that you are able to use their service. CenturyLink have provided a list of compatible modems at this link.
Ensuring you use a compatible modem means that your internet speeds won’t be bottlenecked by your modem meaning you will get the full service you are paying for.As well as this, the modems including in our roundup all work with CenturyLink.
Best Routers For CenturyLink Internet
1. ActionTec C1000A (Modem/Router Combo)
>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<
This ActionTec modem/router combo is fully compatible with CenturyLink. It uses the Wireless N standard meaning that while not as fast as some newer routers, it should be more than capable of streaming HD videos on the web and pretty much any other web browsing.
As well as this it has some basic features that can be used to upgrade your network including four Ethernet ports and a USB port.
2. ZyXEL C1100Z (Router Modem VDSL Combo)
>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<
The Zyxel C11000Z modem/router combo is another that is guaranteed to work with CenturyLink. It uses the wireless N standard which allows network speeds of up to 300 Mbps and it also has features such as WPS, Gigabit Ethernet ports, and strong encryption.
It also has a sleek modern design and network management tools to ensure everything is working properly.
3. D-Link DIR-850L (Router Only)
>>> Click here to read customer reviews & learn more at Amazon <<<
The D-Link DIR-850L is a Wireless AC router with a ton of great features. Its AC wireless technology allows theoretical network speeds of up to 300 + 867 Mbps which is enough for activities including online gaming, multiple HD video streams, and even file transfers over your network.
In terms of other features, it is dual band to allow congestion free connections, has QoS to ensure your bandwidth is used where it is needed, and has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for when you need extra speed over your home network.
4. Netgear Nighthawk R7000 (Router Only)
The Netgear Nighthawk R7000 is an absolute beast of a router that should be able to handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. It uses the wireless AC to deliver theoretical speeds of up to 600+1300 Mbps.
It has a 1GHz processor to ensure that it won’t have a problem with multiple devices being connected, ensuring that they all get to take advantage of those super fast network speeds!
Added extras include a USB 3.0 port for fast transfers from external storage, excellent inbuilt QoS services, and dual band functionality.
Of course, being the router on the list with the highest power it is going to eat into your modem savings, however, for the right person this could well be worth it.
Conclusion
There are plenty of reasons to choose your own modem and/or router if you are a CenturyLink customer. Being able to save a bit of money on modem rental and having the ability to choose a router that suits your exact need are two of the biggest.
However, before purchasing anything, make sure that it is compatible with the service you get from CenturyLink.
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