Best Routers and Modems for Satellite Internet

While Amazon’s Project Kuiper may become a big satellite internet provider eventually, right now it’s really a three way competition between Viasat, Hughesnet, and Starlink. So we’ll focus on these three major providers.

Here’s the best satellite internet equipment for HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink.

Hughesnet is one of the best rural internet providers in the United States, and, luckily, the service comes with a quality satellite modem-router combo. It’s called the HT2000W, and it sports many modern features, like dual-band technology, WPA security, and four Ethernet ports.

This satellite modem and router combo is perfect for all your basic activities, like streaming the new season of the Great British Baking Show, Zooming into a work meeting, or doom scrolling until the wee hours or the morning.

Hughesnet’s modem and router combo costs $14.99-$19.99 a month to rent or $349.99 a month to buy outright. That means you’d have to rent the equipment for almost two years before you met the total purchase price. If you think you’ll stick with Hughesnet for the long-run, then you might want to purchase it. But if you’re on the fence about the service, stick with a rental.

You can learn more about setting up and troubleshooting your Hughesnet equipment in our explainer article.

Viasat is another one of our favorite off-the-grid internet service providers. And, like Hughesnet, the service comes with a quality satellite modem router to rent or purchase.

Viasat’s satellite internet equipment doesn’t come with an actual model number. Instead it’s just called the Viasat WiFi Gateway. But we do have the specs for it, which include dual-band 802.11ac technology, WPA security, two Ethernet ports, and a Viasat voice adapter port.

If you’re just using your satellite internet for everyday activities, like light gaming, streaming video, and browsing the internet, this modem and router will do the trick. Only those who need extra range on their router should consider other options. (We’ll go over alternatives below.)

With a $12.99-a-month rental fee and a $299.99 purchase price, this modem and router device is a bit cheaper than Hughesnet’s. Most customers will probably want to stick with renting the equipment, but if you’re sure you’re going to use Viasat’s service for more than a few years, then purchasing it could be more economical.

Starlink’s equipment works a little bit different from Hughesnet and Viasat’s. Instead of having a modem-router combo device, Starlink’s modem is actually built into its satellite dish. So there is no way to use your own modem, but you can use a different router, which we actually recommend for many users.

When you sign up for Starlink, you have to buy one of the company’s equipment packages no matter what. The equipment costs either $599 or $2,500, depending on your set up. Both packages include Starlink’s router.

The router has pretty outdated specifications, including Wi-Fi 5 technology, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and WPA2 security. But perhaps the worst issue with the router is that it doesn’t have any ports for direct connection: This means no Ethernet or USB ports. You can’t even plug in a phone line.

For many casual internet users, Starlink’s port-free router will be fine. The Wi-Fi connection should be strong enough for basic activities. However, it’s nice to have the option to connect directly to your router, especially when your satellite internet connection isn’t the strongest. This is why we recommend that Starlink customers opt for third-party equipment.

There are plenty of great options out there, but we think the TP-Link AXE5400 gives you the most bang for your buck. We’ll talk more about that router and others in the following section.

If you live in a big house or a sprawling ranch property, you might notice that your HD videos are buffering often or your online games are laggy. While this could be an issue with your internet, it may also be time to upgrade your satellite internet router. Here are our picks for the best devices.

So what makes these the best Starlink, Hughesnet, and Viasat routers? In short, the same thing that makes them the best routers for all internet customers: They let you connect tons of devices to your internet service with a fast and reliable connection.

The TP-Link AXE5400 and Synology RT6600ax are especially powerful devices that can handle internet speeds that, frankly, you’ll never reach with satellite internet. But they also come with special features like Alexa compatibility, parental controls, web filtering, traffic control, and VPN capability.

If you don’t need all of that fancy stuff, you can always pick up the cheap but reliable NETGEAR C6250. It has plenty of power to handle satellite internet speeds and allows you to connect tons of devices over Wi-Fi or directly with Ethernet. You could also consider buying a simple Wi-Fi extender device instead.

If you want to go even a step further, you can pick up a mesh Wi-Fi system for your satellite internet. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are, essentially, multiple Wi-Fi routers that are linked together. This allows you to have a much larger, more consistent, and speedier Wi-Fi network.

Here are our picks for the best mesh Wi-Fi systems for Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink satellite internet customers.

These mesh systems are all powerful enough to support even the speediest satellite internet connections. However, the TP-Link Deco AX3000 and NETGEAR Nighthawk MK63S come with certain advantages, like extra Wi-Fi bands, increased security protocols, and additional units that greatly expand your Wi-Fi range.

If you go with the more budget-friendly Google Nest device, you may need to invest in several units to make a truly wide mesh Wi-Fi system.

The essential gear that every satellite internet customer needs is:

• Receiver or satellite internet dish
• Modem
• Router
• Device (like a computer or a phone) for using the internet

If you’re going with any of the major satellite internet providers, like Hughesnet, Viasat, or Starlink, all of these components (with the exception of the computer or phone) will come with your initial package. You will likely have to pay a rental or purchase fee for the dish, modem, and router.

Yes. In most cases, you are required to use the modem that comes directly from your satellite internet provider. This is true for Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink. Third-party modems will not work if you try to connect them directly to your satellite dish.

Connecting your router to your satellite internet modem should be an easy and straightforward process for most users. Just follow the steps below.

Hughesnet requires professional installation when you sign up for the service. The company technician will set up your satellite dish as well as your modem and router combo device.

However, if you want to hook up a third-party router to your Hughesnet modem, you can do so. All you need to do is follow the instructions provided with your router. Usually, it will be as simple as plugging the router into the modem with an Ethernet cable.

Like Hughesnet, Viasat requires professional installation. The company technician will set up your dish and your modem-router device for you.

But if you want to connect a third-party router at a later time, you can. You should follow the instructions provided with your router, but likely the process will simply involve connecting the Viasat modem-router device to your new router with an Ethernet cable.

Starlink is a bit different from other satellite providers because it requires self-installation. You can read all about setting up the dish system and router in our explainer article. Connecting the router is a simple process. All you need to do is connect the dish to your router and your router to a power outlet with the cables provided.

If you want to connect a third-party router to your Starlink dish, you’ll need to buy an Ethernet adapter, which the company sells on its website. Then you plug your dish into the Ethernet router, then connect that to your preferred router device.

We take our responsibility to our readers seriously, which is why we begin every article with an extensive research process. We want to provide the most accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information so that you can pick out the perfect internet provider and product for your lifestyle.

For this article about satellite internet modems and routers, we looked at the equipment and policies of the three biggest providers: Viasat, Hughesnet, and Starlink. We reviewed the equipment by looking at third-party data, customer reviews, and by talking to people with hands-on experience. We then compared the companies’ equipment with third party alternatives.

Ultimately, we made our recommendations based on what we think different kinds of users want in their internet experience. We hope that you found our analysis helpful for finding the perfect modem or router.

Yes, all of the major satellite internet providers rent or sell Wi-Fi routers with their plans.

Satellite internet speed can be influenced by many factors, like the position of your dish, the plan you’re signed up for, and snow and other weather.

The best way to assure you’re getting maximum speeds is to sign up for a great satellite internet plan, and then follow the company’s recommendations for set up. You may be able to get increased speed by adding on a third-party router, like those discussed above.

There is no universal answer here. However, it generally makes sense to buy a modem and router device from your provider if you plan to stick with them for more than a couple of years.

Yes, because of satellite internet’s unique technology, standard modems won’t work. You have to use the modems that you rent or purchase from your provider instead.