The best satellite broadband router is often the one that is provided by your ISP, or it might be an upgraded router that covers a bigger area (if your home is large). It depends on what you need. While you must use the modem issued by your satellite internet provider, you can use any router you choose. This opens up a lot of options.
Using an alternate router might enhance your network’s performance, or it might not perform any better than the router that’s already built into your modem. Satellite internet speeds aren’t fast enough that they’re going to push the speed limits of any modern router, so pairing a fancy router with slow but steady satellite service might not be worth the effort or the cost. Cable modems and routers are designed to deliver speeds of 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) or more, which isn’t necessary for satellite internet (which tops out at 100 Mbps).
So, if you’d rather not spend extra money on additional equipment, you can just use the built-in router that comes with your ISP-issued modem, which generally performs fairly well. The exception would be if you have a large or rambling home.
The best router for Viasat internet in a big house is one with a large coverage area, so you can get Wi-Fi on any story of the house or even out in the barn. Boosters and extenders can also help strengthen Wi-Fi signals across large areas, however, and may be less expensive than a top-of-the-line router. See our review on how to extend your Wi-Fi with boosters and extenders for more information.