If you have SuddenLink internet, you will want to use the best router for SuddenLink to get the wireless speeds you are after.
In order to do that, you will need to know which routers on the market are SuddenLink compatible routers.
SuddenLink might tell you that you can just rent a unit from them by paying $10 a month, but at that price, you could buy a better device that you actually get to keep.
After all, with as much as we all use the internet, we need our routers to work well. You just need to know what to look for in your ideal router.
Benefits Of Using Your Own Router For SuddenLink Internet
Faster WiFi Connection
When you opt to buy a SuddenLink router rather than rent one, you will find that you get a far better wireless connection from it.
The router that SuddenLink offers is limited by nature and will never be able to make the full use of the speeds that you are paying for. Once you consider how much you are using the internet and how much you are streaming, you should be able to tell whether you need a faster connection.
Save On Rental Fees
$10 a month might not seem like a bad price. But, when you think about it further, $10 quickly turns into $120 a year and $240 for two years and you do not get to keep the router that you paid for.
Save yourself the money and buy a router that you will actually get to keep. Any router that you pick is also going to be much better quality than the mediocre one that SuddenLink offers.
Better Wireless Coverage
The size and shape of your home makes a big difference in how far the wireless coverage can reach. If you live in a larger space, there is no way that the rental router from SuddenLink will ever be able to cover your whole network.
When you buy your own router, you can look specifically at the range that is offered by the routers and see which one will be able to cover your network.
Separate Units vs. Modem Router Combo For SuddenLink
You will inevitably come to question whether you would be better off buying a modem/router combo or separate units for your SuddenLink internet. There are pros and cons to both.
Modem Router Combo Pros
- Cheaper
- Take up less room
- Easier to setup
Separate Modem And Router Pros
- More customizable
- You can get the best of both types of devices
- Better to update firmware
Consider whether you need separate units before committing to one device over another.
5 Best Routers For SuddenLink (2022)
Device | Speeds | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Linksys EA7500 Editor's Choice | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 100% | |
2. Netgear R8000 High Performance | 3200 Mbps | 4 Ports | 99% | |
3. Medialink AC1200 Budget Friendly | 1200 Mbps | 4 Ports | 95% | |
4. Motorola MG7540 Modem Router Combo | 1600 Mbps | 4 Ports | 97% | |
5. Gryphon AC3000 Extended Coverage | 3000 Mbps | 4 Ports | 98% |
1. Linksys EA7500 Smart WiFi Router
Best Router For SuddenLink
Our pick for the best router for SuddenLink is the Linksys Max-Stream EA7500. This router gives good coverage and streaming capabilities, which should work well for most networks.
Design
The EA7500 has a black casing, sits horizontally, and it has three external high-gain antennas. They can also be pointed in the direction that needs a stronger and more reliable signal. It also has a USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet ports, allowing you to hook up whatever devices or connections that you need.
The settings for the Max-Stream EA7500 are simple and easy. There’s even a quick start guide to guide you through everything that you should you will need to know in order to complete the set up and online. It should work with any modem that you already have set up for your SuddenLink connectivity.
Performance
The Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 router supports more than 15 connected devices at a time. Its speeds range from 600 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 1300 Mbps at 5GHz, giving you a combined total of 1.9 Gbps. This makes it easy to stream videos and games without any trouble from more than one device. The range is also impressive, since it reaches up to 1,500 square feet in coverage.
The Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 also comes with 4K HD streaming, which is great for networks that stream a lot from multiple devices. This is beneficial regardless of whether you are an online gamer or an avid streamer. With the MU-MIMO technology on board, you should not experience any kind of lag or slowdown that will interfere. You also get Beamforming technology for an even better signal.
2. Netgear Nighthawk R8000 Router
High Performance
The best SuddenLink we suggest the Nighthawk R8000. The Netgear Nighthawk line is well-known for the quality and performance of its devices and this tri-band router is right in line with what you should be able to expect.
Design
To begin with, the design of the R8000 takes up quite a bit of room and comes with 6 antennas that can be pointed in the directions that you need the most signal. The antennas themselves are little bit flimsy, so you need to be careful to not break them accidentally when you are moving them around.
The Nighthawk R8000 router uses both Smart Connect and the Circle App. Smart Connect gives you a direct connection to your router’s activity while the Circle App is there to help you manage parental controls. You also get four high-speed 1G wired connections that can help you hardwire in your devices directly to the router.
Performance
Looking at the performance of the R8000, you will find that it can easily cover 3,500 square feet in your network. The speeds are exactly what you would expect from a Nighthawk router and with three bands onboard, you get a combined total of 4,000 Mbps. This depends greatly on your plan with SuddenLink, but still, it is a powerful router.
Additionally, the router offers heavy-duty Netflix streaming with 4K Ultra-HD as well. The R8000 router comes with MU-MIMO technology and supports up to 55 devices. MU-MIMO allows you to stream without interruptions, delays, or signal drops. Having 55 devices supported makes this ideal for smart homes or if you just happen to have a lot of devices that stream regularly.
3. Medialink AC1200 Gigabit Router
Budget Friendly
For anyone who is looking to save a little bit of money on their SuddenLink router, check out the Medialink AC1200 router. This router does its job, but does not have all of the high performance features that other routers that we have reviewed come with. That does not mean that it is any less quality, however.
Design
To begin with, the Medialink router has a fairly basic design, with two high gain antennas. The antennas can be positioned however you want them. The router can also be stood up or laid horizontally, depending on your preference.
A design feature that you might have never considered that this router offers is that the router lights can be turned off, so they will not shine in a dark room. Many of us have been annoyed by the incessant blinking lights, so this is a pretty great fix.
This router comes with parental controls that make limits the amount of time that your children can be online. You can also set it to only work on certain days or times to keep your children’s screen time controlled.
Performance
Looking at the performance features of the MediaLink router, you will first see that the router has good range. The coverage should reach the entirety of the average-sized network using both the Beamforming features, combined with the 2 high powered antennas.
This router also has Gigabit ports that can provide 1000Mbps with 4K video streaming. One of the downsides to this router is that it will only work for streaming if one person is streaming and no one else is within the network.
4. Motorola MG7540 Modem Router
Best Modem Router Combo For SuddenLink
Our recommendation for the best modem router combo for SuddenLink internet is the Motorola MG7540.
It has a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with a dual-band wireless router, giving you everything that you need to get your network running. With the router and the modem integrated, you will find that you have freer shelf or desk space and a lot fewer wires to contend with.
Design
The design of the MG7540 is a tower design, which is nice since tower devices stay cooler, giving them a longer lifespan. It has excellent vents built-into the sides as well. Tower units are also much easier to conceal than horizontal units.
This combo unit has four 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, so you will be able to plug in any device that needs a stable connection. It also comes with a Broadcam cable modem chipset as well to provide security from Denial of Service attacks.
Performance
Thinking about the MG7540’s performance, you will see that it has AnyBeam Beamforming, which can help boost the signal of the router, increasing its overall range. This works on both of the frequencies for better overall performance. It can also work on WiFi DFS frequencies so it is less vulnerable to neighbour interference.
The modem is a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem with speeds reach up to 375 Mbps, which should be what you expect from a standard combo unit.
The router has both the 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band, allowing you to focus your signal on the devices that work better on each band. The maximum total speeds that it allows are 686 Mbps, which is on par with the average cable internet plan.
5. Gryphon AC3000 WiFi Mesh Router
Extended Coverage
Some networks really need a router that can cover the entirety of the network, regardless of its size. If this sounds like you, take a look at the Gryphon AC3000. This is one of the newer mesh systems on the market and it was built with home networks in mind.
Design
The design of the Gryphon is more appealing than other routers, which is important since you will have multiple access points if you use it as a mesh system. The access point itself is white and vertical, setting it apart visually from the average router. The antennas on the Gryphon device are all internal, so there are no ugly antennas poking out anywhere, making it look very modern.
The set up for this router is fairly easy and straightforward, taking only minutes to get it up and going. It is also simple to add on new Gryphon routers to extend the coverage as far as you need it to go, so the more space you need to cover, the more points you need.
Performance
The performance of this router is outstanding. The Gryphon is a tri-band router and has a 2.4 GHz band and 2 x 5 GHz bands, which will keep traffic moving easily throughout the whole network. The extra 5 GHz band will greatly increase your bandwidth, making it easier to stream than ever before.
The Gryphon has 4x4 MU-MIMO technology as well, which helps more than one user to stream at the same time without interruption. The router covers up to 3,000 square feet, but as we mentioned above, when you at more points, you can extend the coverage indefinitely.
Make Sure You Get A SuddenLink Compatible Router
We cannot emphasize this enough, but when you buy a router to work with your SuddenLink internet, it has to be a SuddenLink compatible router. Otherwise, you will find yourself in a world of frustration where the internet simply cannot work.
Not every modem router combo is going to automatically work with SuddenLink, so make sure that the device that you get is compatible. It is a cable internet as well, so if you are looking for a combo unit, your modem needs to be cable. When you buy something that is not compatible, there will be no way to bring internet to your home.
Final Words
When it comes down to it, the best router for SuddenLink internet is the Linksys Max-Stream EA7500. This router will not only work with SuddenLink, but it also has good speeds and performance, giving you everything that you need for your network.
No two networks are identical, however, so you might be better matched with a higher performance router, like the Nighthawk R8000 router, or a budget-friendly router, like the Medialink AC1200. If you have a larger home, you might want to get the Gryphon router that can act like an expandable mesh system. The router that works for your network will be the best SuddenLink router possible for you.