If you have WOW cable internet, you will want to be sure that you are using the best router for WOW internet possible.
But, it is important to also know which routers are WOW compatible routers as well as knowing what exactly you should be looking for in a router.
Buying your own WOW router will save you anywhere from $120 to almost $300 a year in rental fees, depending on the WOW package that you have. Instead, you should buy your own unit and get one that is better quality and will save you money in the long run.
Reasons To Get Your Own WOW Compatible Router
Faster WiFi Speeds
The first reason that you should consider buying your own WOW router is that you will get better speeds from a router that you have chosen.
The router that WOW will rent to you will never get the same performance level that you have come to expect from a high-quality router. Instead, opt for a router that is made to handle the speed demands of the modern era by giving you the speeds you deserve.
Eliminate Monthly Rental Fees
Who doesn’t like to save money? While $10 a month for a rental might seem doable, why would you pay $120 a year for a router that you never get to keep?
If you get one of the bigger WOW packages, you could easily spend nearly $300 a year to be honoured *snort* with the right to rent a router. You can take that money and put it toward a router that will be better overall and eventually pay for itself.
Extended Wireless Coverage
A router is often limited to the confines of its band. If you want to get more coverage from your router, you will need a router that is better than any rental would be able to give you.
A router that you choose will be able to have the coverage that you are really after, reaching every point of your home. Never settle for less than perfect when you are talking about WiFi coverage.
Separate Units vs. Modem Router Combo For WOW
You might be wondering whether to opt for the best modem router combo for WOW or to have separate modem and router units. There are benefits to both, so it all depends on your needs.
Pros To Separate Units:
- More customizable to your needs
- Update the firmware easier
- You don’t have to replace both units if one becomes obsolete
Pros To Modem Router Combo Units:
- Easier to set up one device
- Less expensive to buy one unit
- Takes up less room
5 Best Routers For WOW Internet (2022)
Device | Speeds | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Netgear R7000 Editor's Choice | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 100% | |
2. Asus AX11000 High Performance | 11000 Mbps | 5 Ports | 99% | |
3. TP-Link Archer A9 Budget Friendly | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 95% | |
4. Motorola MG7550 Modem Router Combo | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 98% | |
5. Eero Mesh WiFi Extended Coverage | 2000 Mbps | 2 Ports | 97% |
1. Netgear Nighthawk R7000 WiFi Router
Best Router For WOW Internet (Editor's Choice)
The best router for WOW internet is the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. This is a pretty standard router with all of the features that you should be able to expect from a modern router.
Design
Design wise, this router has a horizontal design with three high gain antennas that can be positioned however you want them to be. It is a bulky design and will take up a lot of room wherever you put it.
The router supports WPA2 wireless security protocols, has guest WiFi access, a firewall, a VPN, and DoS. The Netgear Armor will protect your network from malware and viruses under a paid subscription.
This router also has a USB 3.0 port, as well as 4 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports. The R7000 connects to the OpenVPN Connect App, which allows you to have remote access to the network to see what’s going on in your network.
Performance
The R7000 can impressively support up to 30 devices at one time, making it easier than ever to stream. This router also has the ReadySHARE Vault that provides an automatic backup to your USB 3.0 port.
Some of the other features include a 1 GHz dual-core processor as well as a Beamforming+ feature that adds more power to your antennas. The reach of your network is extended this way as well. You also get dynamic QoS, so you can prioritize which devices should get fastest speeds.
2. Asus ROG Rapture AX11000 WiFi Router
High Performance
If you are more in the market for a high performance router to work with WOW, look no further than the Asus ROG Rapture AX11000. This router, to put it simply, is a beast.
Design
The design of the AX11000 is unique and quite large. It will not be easily concealed and will take up space wherever it is placed. The router does sit flat on a surface and has 8 high-powered antennas, extending from every side of the router. This makes the reach more impressive.
The router also has a 2.5 G gaming port, which allows for ultimate, high-speed performance. The design of the Gaming Center interface is ROG-themed, which provides an easy point-and-click control over everything that you need to set up or do with your router.
Performance
This high performance router is really made for the gamers out there. It offers triple-level game acceleration and game package and game server prioritization.
The triple-level acceleration will boost game traffic while lowering the ping rate and reducing the game latency, for an overall better experience. You don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy the perks, however.
All of those great gaming features do carry over for reliable and fast connectivity to your TV. You should be able to have no interference when it comes to streaming as long as you use the tri-band router well.
3. TP-Link Archer A9 WiFi Router For WOW
Budget Friendly
You do not need to spend a fortune to have a reliable router for WOW internet. If you are working within a budget, we suggest the TP-Link Archer A9. This is a solid router that has the basics to get you up and going.
Design
The Archer A9 sits horizontally with a black exterior and three high-gain antennas coming out of the back. It has 1 WAN and 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports to help deliver wired speeds to the devices that need the added security.
The Archer A9 comes with its own VPN server to help with your network’s privacy as well as a guest WiFi option as well as Alexa voice control, which can help you connect your devices even when you are not right next to it.
Performance
Looking at the router’s performance, the Archer A9 has two simultaneous data streams to help your devices achieve the best performance possible. The 2.4 GHz band gets speeds up to 600 Mbps and the 5 GHz band gets up to 1300 Mbps.
The Archer A9 also has MU-MIMO, which is good for networks that like to stream. It is still a basic router, however, so you do not want to have too much heavy-duty streaming at once with this router., but it still can handle a couple of devices at a time.
4. Motorola MG7550 Modem Router
Best Modem Router Combo For WOW
If you are shopping for the best modem router combo for WOW, we suggest you take a look at the Motorola MG7550. This combo unit offers reliability from both its modem and its router.
Design
To begin with, the MG7550 has a vertical design, which can be a big space saver as well as helping keep your modem and cool. The longevity of tower designs is also typically greater since the components are kept in better shape.
The MG7550 has 4 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports, so that you can plug in any device that cannot risk being kicked off your WiFi. It is also nice to have a modem and router combined into one, space-saving device.
Performance
Taking a look at the dual-band router within the MG7550, you do get both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands to work with. The router uses AnyBeam Beamforming to focus your signal strength onto the wireless clients to further enhance the router’s performance.
The MG7550 has a Motorola Power Boost feature with the MG7550. This increases the overall coverage of the network and with speeds up to 650 Mbps, you should have enough power to effortlessly maintain signal throughout your network. Since WOW is cable internet, this cable modem will work with it without trouble. The actual cable speeds you can get from this device are 375 Mbps.
5. Eero Mesh WiFi Router For WOW Internet
Extended Coverage
If you really need extended coverage beyond what is available from a standard router, you will need to get a mesh system. While there are a few on the market, the eero mesh system is what we recommend. This is an Amazon router that works well with Alexa.
Design
The design of the eero is sleek and trendy. It is white, rather than black, and is easy to hide. Since you will need to place three points throughout your home, these points will not be an eyesore or hard to conceal if you want to.
The eero also has great security features, such as threat scans, content warnings, and ad-blocking. You have to upgrade to eero Secure+ to get the best security apps, however.
Performance
The performance from the eero will not disappoint. With the three WiFi points that come with the router, you can get up to 5,000 sq ft in coverage. Since this is a mesh system, the coverage can be further expanded when you add on extra WiFi points.
Looking at the router’s speeds, it supports wireless speeds up to 350 Mbps. It is a dual-band router that has an intelligent function that will divert traffic to the right band, ensuring that you always get the most efficiency from your router.
Factors To Consider When Looking For A Router For WOW Internet
Compatibility
Before all else, you should make sure that the router you are looking at is compatible with WOW internet. If you find a router that will not work, it is never going to work.
Routers are generally more flexible than modems as far as compatibility goes, but it is better to check than be frustrated at something not working. If you are having compatibility issues with a new router, you might need to check your settings.
What You Do Online
What you do online makes a huge difference in deciding what kind of router that you might need. If you are just browsing online, you just need a 2.4 GHz band to keep you going.
If your network has heavy streaming, however, you need a router that is built to handle multiple devices at the same time. In some cases, it might be the amount of people using the internet at once causing slowdown.
Features
The features that your router supplies also make a difference. If you are planning on having more than one user streaming at a time, you need MU-MIMO technology on board.
If you are worried that a certain device won’t get the right amount of bandwidth, you need QoS as well. You will need to think about what you are doing online and your network’s needs to know which features are best for you.
Wireless Standards & Security
Finally, you need to also consider the wireless standards and security features that come with a router. You will need an ac standard with your router, because they have a 1.3 Gbps of throughput to support the streaming demands of your network.
The security features that you might want include a firewall, guest network, an Open VPN, or even parental controls. It just depends on your network and the level of security you want.
Final Words
If you are a WOW internet user, you will need the best router for WOW internet possible. While this might mean different things for different people, we recommend the Netgear Nighthawk R7000 as the best overall router. It has all of the basic features that you want from a router as well as some great features.
The best high performance router we recommend is the Asus AX11000 router. This is a router that is made to give you the best online experience possible and is a great choice for gamers. To find the best router for you, think about what activity happens on your network and consider your needs.