Do you live in a rural area where there is no availability of Fiber Optic internet and the DSL services are still scarce? HughesNet Satellite internet can be the solution for your internet requirements. By pairing it with a compatible router, you can effectively share your internet with multiple devices.
With limited internet at your disposal, are you wondering about getting the best bandwidth for your PC or work laptop? Do you want an easier way to track and control internet usage, even when you are away from home? You can do so for both the wireless & wired devices and optimize your utilization with certain routers.
Here, you will find the routers fulfilling your requirements. Having understood the requirements of the satellite internet users and the expenses involved, I have chosen the routers that offer a good balance of features and utility at different price ranges.
Table of Contents
Best Routers for HughesNet Satellite Internet in 2023
With limited internet speeds and soft data caps, you are going to need a router that brings the best out of the available bandwidth. After analyzing the market for the value of money routers, I have shortlisted the top 7 HughesNet compatible routers that enable you to utilize your internet efficiently without breaking the bank.
I’m starting the list with dual-band routers that bring advanced features like MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Smart Connect with ample wired connectivity, and a USB port. I have also listed a few routers with a long range to cover medium-large homes. As you move towards the end of the list, you will find budget routers that fulfil your essential requirements.
1. Best Overall: Netgear Nighthawk R6700
In Nighthawk R6700, Netgear keeps most of the hardware and features in its predecessor, sans a USB 2.0 port at a reduced price tag. If you are looking for a sub $100 router that brings features like Beamforming, Advance QoS, the Nighthawk R6700 does that at an incredibly affordable price.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
The 25 Mbps download speeds of the HughesNet Satellite can be utilized owing to the router’s top speeds being 450 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1300 Mbps on 5GHz. With Beamforming, the router can minimize the loss of bandwidth in transmitting signals to multiple devices spread across 1500 sq ft.
Hardware & Performance
The Netgear router has dual-cores clocking at 1GHz on a Broadcom chipset working in tandem with 256MB RAM and 128MB storage memory. It can handle up to 25 devices while supporting data-heavy activities like 4K TV streaming and gaming, although the soft data caps can be a limiting factor for prolonged gaming hours.
Design & Ports
R6700 comes with 3 antennas attached to its matte black chassis that weighs 1.65 pounds and measures 11.22 x 7.26 x 1.97 inches.
With 4 LAN and 1 WAN ports, you can wire your work PCs, laptops, or TV to the router for maximum utilization of the bandwidth. The USB port is crucial for transferring media, data within the network.
Setup & App Support
The Netgear Nighthawk application makes the setup easier with any device of your choice, including iPads, laptops, and tablets. The mobile application allows managing the router even when you are away from your home.
Security & Other Features
Netgear Armor offers a robust security package with comprehensive parental controls for an additional cost. Netgear features dedicated guest network access, WPA2 encryption, double firewall protection, and DoS prevention to keep your network safe from cyber threats.
Conclusion
Netgear R6700 offers the advantage of a better hardware unit and few advanced features, over its close competitor Archer A7 making it our top choice for the HughesNet router.
- Dual-core Processor
- Beamforming
- Smart Connect
- Advanced QoS
- Airtime Fairness
- Awkward USB placement
2. Best Runner Up: TP-Link Archer A7
The Archer A7 brings the ability to work with an amazon voice assistant that was absent in its predecessor. Its internet throughput, extended range, and easy interface of Tether make this router highly suitable for large households.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
The maximum speeds of the HughesNet internet package will be put to good use with the aggregate speeds of 1.7Gbps. The top speeds of 450 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1300 Mbps on 5GHz can translate to adequate bandwidth for multiple devices. This is also my go-to recommendation when a router for a 2500 sq ft house is concerned.
Hardware & Performance
Archer A7 comes with a single-core processor unit on Qualcomm Chipset clocking at 750MHz. The memory duo of 128MB RAM, and 16MB flash memory can handle up to 50 devices (including smart devices) contingent on optimized utilization. Keep the data-intensive activities like 4K media streaming, online gaming to a minimum.
Design & Ports
The glossy black body of Archer can turn into a dust magnet quickly. The router weighs close to 0.90 pounds and measures 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches in dimensions, sporting 3 external antennas on its rear.
Use the 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 WAN port to keep your devices wired and minimize the loss of bandwidth.
Setup & App Support
The Tether application assures simple and quick configurations. The user-friendly interface allows you to keep a tab on your network at the comfort of a mobile device, be it remote or local. The web GUI allows access to customize the settings in your router, including parental controls and setting up device priority.
Security & Other Features
With a dedicated guest network, access filters, WPA2 encryption, and firewalls, the router keeps unauthorized usage and infected devices at bay. Archer comes with profile-based parental controls and QoS to keep a tab on your bandwidth allocation and internet consumption.
Conclusion
The absence of features like MU-MIMO, and Beamforming doesn’t diminish the overall speeds and utility of Archer A7 over its peers. Ease of use, scalability, and coverage make the TP-Link router a top choice.
- Advanced QoS
- Easy Wi-Fi mesh scalability
- Tether Application
- Alexa compatible
- Parental controls
- No USB 3.0 connectivity
3. Best for Streaming: NETGEAR R6230
The NETGEAR R6230 is a rehashed version of its predecessor with improvements in the memory duo. The parental controls and QoS make it a perfect router for small businesses and small homes/offices.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
The Netgear R6230 delivers individual speeds up to 300 Mbps in 2.4GHz and 900 Mbps in 5GHz, allowing you to make full utilization of the 25Mbps speed at your disposal. It can cover areas measuring up to 1200 sq ft.
Hardware & Performance
The R6230 has a single-core processor on a Meditek Chipset clocking at 880MHz. With 128MB RAM and 128MB Flash storage, the router can handle up to 20 devices. It can support activities like media downloads, surfing in multiple instances without hassles. Simultaneous data-laden activities can stress out the processing unit.
Design & Ports
At 0.75 pounds, R6230 is one of the lightest routers. The matte-black body bears the logo on the center with LED lights aligned below. It measures 9.27 x 5.94 x 2.14 and has 2 external antennas on its rear.
If you want to keep your TV, laptop connected to the router through wires? You have 4 Ethernet ports and 1 WAN port to keep your priority devices wired to your router. With the USB 2.0 port, share a printer within the home network.
Setup & App Support
The Nighthawk application keeps the initial setup simple, even to newbie users. You will be able to keep an eye on your internet consumption and control your network at the comfort of your mobile device, even when you are on the move.
Security & Other Features
Create user profiles and manage access to users and devices. The separate guest Wi-Fi access keeps your network safe from infections through external devices. WPA 2 encryption and Double firewall protection are vital to keeping your devices secure.
Conclusion
With an advanced QoS to optimize your streaming activities, and parental controls to create user profiles, the Netgear R6230 brings easy network management at a competitive price.
- Guest Wi-Fi
- Advanced QoS
- Parental Controls
- Double Firewalls
- Limited customizability
4. Best from ASUS: ASUS RT-AC1200_V2
ASUS gives up the USB port from its previous version at a lower price. The extended coverage, parental controls, and its comprehensive real-time wireless and wired monitoring system make ASUS RT-AC1200_V2 an ideal router for medium-large households with kids.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
With the maximum speeds of 25 Mbps from HughesNet Satellite Internet, the device can reach top speeds of 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps on 5 GHz. With 4 external antennas, the router can cover a surface area of 2000 sq ft.
Hardware & Performance
The hardware capacity limits any data-intense activity related to online gaming or high-quality Twitch streaming, the router can support standard activities like surfing, downloads, on over 20 devices. The single-core MediaTek processor clocking at 580MHz, 64MB RAM, and 16MB storage form the core of the router.
Design & Ports
The combination of black and grey shades makes this one of the most uninspiring designs. With 4 external antennas towering from it, the router weighs close to 0.60 pounds and measures 6.97 x 4.96 x 1.34 in dimensions.
While the 100Mbps 4 LAN ports and 1 WAN port would suffice for the current speeds of the satellite internet, it leads to bandwidth throttling on higher speeds and turns into an impedance in case of future upgrades.
Setup & App Support
The Asus router app is as easy as it comes to installations and management. The comprehensive customization of the web interface is crucial to setting up parental controls, monitoring wired and wireless connections, and creating device priorities.
Security & Other Features
Asus comes with WPA 2 encryption standards to protect your network from any unauthorized usage. Configurable firewalls, Keyword/URL filters, MAC filters help you keep the network safe from malicious content on the web.
Conclusion
Despite its limitations on the hardware and wired connectivity, ASUS RT-AC1200 brings extensive coverage and networking monitoring to your households, making it a good entry-level router for larger homes.
- Airtime Fairness
- Guest Access
- Traditional QoS
- Parental controls
- 4 External antennas
- Limited hardware and wired connectivity
5. Best for Small Homes: Linksys ROULNK920
An improvement on its previous release, the Linksys ROULNK920 brings improved speed throughput and additional features over its predecessor. If you are in for the cheapest router in the market to complement your small household, without compromising on parental controls, the Linksys router fits your preferences perfectly.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
With the added efficiency of beamforming, the router can get the best out of your 25Mbps HughesNet Internet Package. Put together with its top speeds of 300 Mbps and 867 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, it can transmit signals to devices efficiently and cover up to 1500 sq ft.
Hardware & Performance
With a single-core clocking at 580MHz on a Mediatek chipset, and a combination of 64MB RAM and 16MB storage brings the limited capacity to handle up to 10-15 devices with basic web activities like downloads, music & video streaming.
Design & Ports
Sporting a lighter shade of black, the chassis comes with a matte finish. It sports 4 external fixed antennas on its rear. The lightweight router weighs 0.38 pounds with a sleek build measuring 6.69 x 4.4 x 1.29 inches in dimensions. The router has room for 4 Ethernet ports and 1 WAN port with a transfer limit of 100Mbps, adequate to accommodate the current speeds of HughesNet satellite internet.
Setup & App Support
The lack of mobile application support to Linksys routers may be a disadvantage, but a welcome change for the old school router users. The browser-based setup is rather easy and comes with limited customization.
Security & Other Features
Despite the lower price tag, the router offers guest network access, WPA 2 encryption to keep your network safe from unwanted infections and unauthorized usage. The parental controls are vital to keep tabs on your kid’s internet exposure and firewalls offer a layer of additional protection.
Conclusion
Despite the same price tag, the Linksys router fares better than its D-Link counterpart for its higher speeds, and additional features like beamforming, Guest Wi-Fi, and parental controls.
- Guest Wi-Fi
- Parental controls
- Beamforming
- WPA 2
- Compact lightweight
- No mobile application
6. Best Budget-Friendly: TP-Link Archer A6
The Archer A6, comes with a similar processor with additional features, while missing out on a USB port. The presence of advanced features and the lower price tag keep this router on the list as a good entry-level router for satellite internet in households with fewer devices.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
To bring the best out of the 25Mbps speeds of the HughesNet Satellite internet, the top speeds of 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 900 Mbps on 5GHz would be more than sufficient. The signals can be transmitted with efficiency through features Beamforming and MU-MIMO, to cover multiple devices spread across 2000 sq ft.
Hardware & Performance
Archer A6 brings the strength of a Qualcomm processor clocked at 775 MHz. The memory duo of 128MB RAM and storage of 8MB can limit handling multiple instances of Streaming or online gaming. Nonetheless, the processor can handle basic surfing activities on up to 20 devices.
Design & Ports
The utility of the router lets you ignore the choice of a shiny grey/black design on this router. Measuring 9.1 × 5.7 × 1.4 inches in dimensions with a sleek demeanor, it weighs a little over 1 pound.
With 4 external antennas towering from its sides and rear, Archer finds room for 4 LAN ports and 1 WAN port.
Setup & App Support
One has limited complaints about the user-friendliness of the Tether Application. Easier setups, the comfort of local and remote management, are imperative to its modern intuitive design.
Security & Other Features
Firewalls, WPA 2 encryption, guest network access, Access control, and parental controls play a crucial role in keeping your home network secure. Setup device priority with QoS and allocate the highest priority to your Work PC, laptop, or TV, and don’t let the bandwidth fluctuations bother you.
Conclusion
Despite its lack of a USB port and better storage capacity, Archer A6 is a better choice. It brings features like MU-MIMO improving communication to multiple devices and beamforming increasing the efficiency in signal delivery. Which makes this a better choice in a household with limited devices.
- MU-MIMO
- Beamforming
- Mesh Support
- Parental controls
- No USB connectivity
7. Cheapest Option: D-Link DIR-813
One of the earlier models in the line of D-Link routers, the DIR-813 can be your go-to router if you are looking for the best budget option for your small household. It offers basic wired connectivity with a web-based setup.
Why is it suitable for HughesNet Satellite Internet?
DIR-813 delivers up to 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 433 Mbps on 5GHz, adequate to allocate and utilize the speeds of HughesNet internet. The device can cover up to 1500 sq ft, making it an excellent choice for smaller homes.
Hardware & Performance
A single-core processor on a Realtek chipset, a 32MB RAM, and a 4 MB storage comprises the hardware unit. It can support up to 10 devices in your home and handle basic surfing, skype-ing activities, including 4K streaming.
Design & Ports
With a simplistic striped design on a black chassis, the router is featherweight. At 0.50 pounds, it has a sleek body measuring 7.4 x 12.25 x 1.25 inches in dimensions, with 3 external antennas towering from its rear.
D-Link sticks to a 100 Mbps WAN and 4 LAN ports, which might be a hurdle in an upgraded setup, but adequate for the current setup.
Setup & App Support
D-link DIR-813 doesn’t come with any application or Cloud support. The initial setup and the configuration is done via the web-based wizard. The router does come with an inbuilt QoS engine to optimize your incoming traffic.
Security & Other Features
The router comes with WPA 2 encryption standards, Dual firewalls, that keep your network safe from unwanted usage.
Conclusion
The D-Link DIR-813 appears on the list owing to its price advantage and its suitability to the speeds of satellite internet. While it offers similar wired connectivity to ASUS AC-1200, its weaker hardware leaves it at the end of the list of HughesNet Wi-Fi routers.
- Inbuilt QoS engine
- Lightweight
- Double Firewall
- WPA2 encryption
- Basic hardware unit
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. HughesNet Internet comes with an installation of a dish and a modem. The modem is essential for the internet to work. You can connect your router to the modem and share the internet with multiple devices.
The internet speed cannot be increased. Using a better router with features like MU-MIMO, Beamforming, QoS improves the performance. Connecting your priority devices like Workstation/Laptop/TV through ethernet cables allows you to use the bandwidth effectively, boosting the performance.
Yes. HughesNet works with the Netgear routers. Most of the routers, with support to wireless standards starting from Wi-Fi 3, will work with HughesNet. But it is advisable to go for Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 routers because of the latest features that can bring the best out of your internet.
No. Satellite Internet isn’t faster than fiber optic, not at this juncture. The data/signal is transmitted from satellites that are at least 22000 miles out in space. Satellite internet is an alternative for rural areas that have the disadvantage of remoteness, lacking technology penetration.
Verdict
The internet packages of HughesNet satellite internet are designed with varying data limits, while speed remains common across all plans. The price leaps being exorbitant for an increase in data limits; it is diligent to choose basic plans, and use the Bonus Zone 50GB for data-heavy downloads.
Most of the routers mentioned here are entry-level routers. They are picked considering the high-cost factor of the satellite internet & the monthly rentals of the modem/router from HughesNet.
- Netgear R6700 brings the best overall value, including features like Beamforming, Armor Internet security, and parental controls.
- ASUS RT-AC1200 offers extended coverage for large homes with excellent network monitoring ability and parental controls.
- Linksys ROULNK920 is the best budget choice, being equipped with better hardware and features. The improved overall utility gives an edge over D-Link DIR-813.
For Morton, reviewing a router is just like spending another day at the office. As BCCA’s senior copywriter, Morton believes is explaining every concept concerning routers, networking technologies, and additional routing specs. Also, Morton is our go-to man if we are looking to get the ISP-dependent internet plans tested across devices.