With the increase of connected devices to the network, it has become more important than ever before to ensure that you have the best router for Mediacom internet.
You may love the speed tier you subscribe to, but do you love the fees that come tagged on to your monthly bill? Incredibly, there is a $10 monthly rental fee, and this is not all. The rates have been jumping up over the years. Many of our readers complained about the $10 activation fee and $100 installation fee.
This is a huge amount, especially when you add up the monthly amounts! Paying over $120/ year for a device that you cannot even call your own is a little ridiculous, don’t you think?
Well, the BlueGadgetTooth team definitely thinks so, which is why we researched the reviewed not only top wireless routers but also the best modem router combos for Mediacom.
Benefits Of Getting Your Own Router For Mediacom
Better Performance: You may not have the latest gateway to access the internet, which is when having your on router would see a boost in performance. Your ISPs gateway could be the bottleneck in your network. Having the best router for Mediacom Internet will allow your devices to reach their full potential through having the latest wireless standards, and other features like Tri-band routers which allows all your 5GHz devices to be connected.
Save On Rental Fees: Your ISP will be more than happy to give you a router or modem router combo, but they will also happily charge you a monthly fee. Even though it may seem like $10/ month is not a big deal, you could actually cover the costs of your own device within a year or so simply be saving on the rental fees and other surcharges that get tacked on to your bill.
More Control: Each network is different and having your own router offers you access to advanced features such as parental controls, better access to guest networks, advanced settings related to QoS, Bandwidth Prioritization, Security and perhaps even allow you to install third party firmware to allow more customization.
5 Best Routers For Mediacom Internet
Device | Speeds | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Netgear R7000 Editor's Choice | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 99% | |
2. Netgear R8000 High Performance | 3200 Mbps | 4 Ports | 100% | |
3. TP-Link Archer A7 Budget Friendly | 1750 Mbps | 4 Ports | 95% | |
4. Netgear C7000 Editor's Choice - Modem Router Combo | 1900 Mbps | 4 Ports | 97% | |
5. Negear Orbi Best Coverage | 2200 Mbps | 4 Ports | 98% |
1. Netgear Nighthawk R7000 WiFi Router
Best Router For Mediacom (Editor's Choice)
With Mediacom internet, you should be looking for the best wireless router that you can get. From our research, we found that the Netgear Nighthawk R7000-100PAS is the best choice for Mediacom internet.
Design
The design of the R7000 is what you will normally see with a router. It is horizontal, with venting down the sides. Horizontal routers generally rung the risk of getting overheated, since so much of their surface area is touching your desk or shelf, so make sure that your router stays as cool as possible.
Additionally, the router has three high-gain antennas, which can be moved to aim your router’s signal in the direction that you need it the most.
The R7000 comes with a sharable USB port, so you can share a printer or storage device across your entire network. There are actually two USB ports, including one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port. You could even use these to create personal cloud storage that you could access from anywhere from using these ports.
The Nighthawk R7000 also uses Netgear Armor for security. Unfortunately, this is a paid service, but Netgear does give you 30 days to try it out for free. The security service provides you with anti-malware, anti-virus, and data protection for all of the devices that are connected to your network.
Performance
The performance of the R7000 is excellent. It easily can cover up to 1800 square feet, which should work for the average network. You can also get dual-band coverage. There is 600 Mbps available on the 2.4 GHz band and the 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.
The router will also be able to keep up with all of your needs since it uses a 1GHz dual-core processor. This, combined with the other performance features, will give you a router that will perform incredibly well.
The other features include QoS, which will allow you to indicate which devices need bandwidth priority, and Beamforming+ technology, which will help boost the strength and the reach of your signal throughout your network.
The router also has smart parental controls. This will give you the ability to pause device internet access, see what websites have been visited, and control the types of websites that can be accessed, keeping your children as safe as possible online.
2. Netgear Nighthawk X6 (R8000-100NAS)
High Performance
The first tri-band router, the Nighthawk X6 has 2 5GHz bands, which help to load balance your network’s performance. More smart devices can be connected to the faster 5GHz band. Advertised to deliver 3200Mbps, it allows 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on each 5GHz band.
Design:
The dual-core 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM and 128MB flash memory all are great features of the X6. There is a USB 2.0 and 3.0 port located at the back, with a WAN port, 4 LAN ports and a few more buttons that make your life easier – like a power switch.
It is black in colour and bigger than other Nighthawks in terms of size but has vents running over its top to keep it running at cool temperatures.
Performance:
The automated setup process has been perfected by the Netgear team. All you have to do is follow the instructions, and use the Netgear Genie app to complete the set up process.
By default, each band gets its own SSID which you can change later. The Smart Connect allows you to change settings according to your preferences. The X6 automatically assigns your device to the band it is best suited for, and is a great feature to leave enabled for those who want enhanced performance from their router without tinkering with settings.
3. TP-Link Archer A7 Wireless Router
Budget Friendly
Design:
The TP-Link Archer A7 is a budget friendly dual-band router with 4 Gigabit LAN ports and multiple settings to manage your home network.
It follows the same lines of previous Archer models, with 3 fixed adjustable antennas and a single USB 2.0 port. It runs n a 750MHz processor, and can reach theoretical speeds of 1750Mbps, with 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band. It uses the latest wireless standard of 802.11ac.
Performance:
You can install the Archer A7 by using the TP-Link Tether App on your smart phone or computer. This is a very user friendly app and guides you through the set up process, with the whole process being completed in a matter of minutes.
It scored 88Mbps at close range, with the speed dropping to 42Mbps at a distance of 40 feet. The 5GHz band measured 484Mbps at close range, with the speed crashing to 112Mbps at a distance of 40 feet.
The file transfer speeds were quite miserable, scoring 12MBps writing speed and 17Mbps on its reading speed.
4. Netgear Nighthawk C7000
Best Modem Router Combo For Mediacom
Design:
The Nighthawk C7000 is a great buy for those who don’t want to deal with the hassle of buying a separate modem and router and getting both set up. The vertical design with no visible antenna is visually appealing. This best modem router combo for Mediacom internet has a 1.6GHz processor, 4 Gigabit ports, a single USB 2.0port and runs on the latest wireless standard of ac. It is also backwards compatible with older wireless standards.
It can reach theoretical speeds of 1900Mbps, 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band. It has good security features like double firewall protection (NAT & SPI), DoS and Parental controls.
Performance:
It has Beamforming technology that ensures all your devices get a direct signal for better connectivity. For gamers and Video buffs, the channel bonding of 24x8 will ensure you can continue with your online activities, uninterrupted.
The installation process is quick and easy, taking mere minutes as you are guided through the entire process with the instructions that are clearly included. You can even manage your network remotely via the Netgear Genie App, allowing you to tweak wireless settings from your smart phone.
Parents can rest easy. There are simple to use Parental controls and you can set up a guest network for visitors. The speeds on the C7000 are good, but not great. Speeds on the 2.4GHz band at close range measured at 80Mbps, dropping to 52Mbps at a distance of 40 feet. The 5GHz band showed speeds of 312Mbps at close range, falling to 167Mbps at a distance of 40 feet. The reading writing speeds for files transfers were average, measuring 18MBps and 12MBps respectively.
5. Netgear Orbi Mesh System
Best Coverage
Design:
The Netgear Orbi follows the mesh system technology. Towering white devices, they are not easy to hide. Having vents near the ports and bottom grills ensures that the devices run at cooler temperatures.
The Orbi has 5 high performance antennas that are located around the Orbi’s perimeter. It also has MU-MIMO technology, 2 Ethernet ports, tri-band technology, 710MHz quad-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB solid state storage space, a QCA9984 chip for backhaul and a dormant Bluetooth radio and antenna.
The only downside is that you cannot randomly use any router or satellite as their functions are set. The router can handle up to 3 satellites.
Performance:
The 2 Orbi pack kits can cover a range of 5,000 sq. ft and you can always purchase extra satellites if you want more coverage over a larger area. It is a 2x2 router and can handle two data streams simultaneously to connected devices. The set up process is simple and straightforward with the Orbi App or the Netgear Genie App.
The 5GHz band delivered impressive speeds at close range, measuring 525Mbps, with the speed dropping to 442Mbps at a distance of 40 feet. The extensions also delivered, with strong signals reaching 422Mbps, with being placed at a distance of 40 feet from the router, and with obstacles like walls coming n between.
Final Words
Having your own router or modem router combo for Mediacom makes a lot of sense if you are planning to stay in one location for a long period of time, want more control over your network, want more security for your connection and want a powerful device that can handle the load of a modern day household.
If you are looking for a no hassle- easy to use router, you should go for our Editor’s Choice – the Linksys MaxStream EA7500. However, if you’re looking to get more power and control and want a router that can easily work with multiple connected devices and heavy internet usage, you should seriously consider our high performance router – the Nighthawk X6.
Being connected shouldn’t give you a headache and you shouldn’t be getting a router or modem router combo that will not suit the needs of your household. Choose the best router for Mediacom internet and get the most out of your Internet package.
Fortunately, any of these recommendations will work with Mediacom.
Get connected!