Electronics

6 Best Routers for Verizon Fios

No matter what kind of work you will be doing, a good router is a must to sync well with ISPs like Verizon to enjoy reliable and fast internet service. Working remotely or not, the internet has become an intrinsic part of our daily lives. Despite having a good internet connection you might not get reliable or interrupted internet speed except with a good router.  

6 Best Routers for Verizon Fios

The router is a connectivity device that helps network several electronic gadgets to an internet source. With the influx of routers in the market today, you need the right information to locate a reliable router that works best for you. This review takes a look at the top routers compatible with Verizon Fios for the best purchase decision.

Things to Remember When Buying a Router

There are several things to consider when shopping for an easy to configure, fast, and reliable router. Not all routers apply to all home or office users. Router manufacturers use terms or acronyms that make it even more complicated for particularly beginners. Therefore, let's consider some of the things you should take note of before making the buying decision for a router.

1. Go for Dual Band -  Dual-band router offers more efficiency if you live in a densely populated area with the likelihood of network interference from your neighbors. Single-band router works fine without interruption and in a sparsely populated region.

A wireless router broadcasts 2.4GHZ and 5GHZ frequency bands. A 2.4GHZ connects the more considerable amount of devices in a home but could experience congestion or network interference. The significant benefit of 2.4GHz is that it can work with the old WIFI network standards of 802.11n. Therefore, it connects old devices with extensive coverage but could be slow and experience interference.

The 5GHz offers faster network connectivity with little or no clutters. However, we recommend the dual-band because it can connect at the frequency of 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time. 

2. Range - The router position will determine the level of obstruction. Hence, I always recommend placing the router in a central place, possibly on a shelf top. What determines the range of the router includes the 802.11 protocol, device transmitter strength, and level of physical obstruction.

The type and number of the router access point will determine how effective the range would be. A standard home user with a small family can get a reliable network using one wireless router. A business network or office building might require more than one router or access points. 

Therefore, for a home network using a 2.4GHz band, 150 feet (46cm) range for indoor and 200 feet (92m) for outdoor will be ideal. But 802.11a routers running on 5GHz bands will cover about 50 feet distance for older networks. A newer system running on 802.11ac or 802.11n routers running on 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands can cover more range.

3. Number of Ports - The comm. Port determines the number of devices you can connect to the router. Most routers make use of USB ports today. Your router should have at least one USB port for connecting printer, file transfer or storage purpose, etc. You could also stream videos after creating a hub for media networks. A 3.0 USB port will be ideal for transferring data faster.

4. Smart Routers - Depending on your choice, users can now purchase smart routers on the market today. Besides being faster, you can now set up and control your home network using your router. With the smart router, you can stream videos or music and more from the smartphone app. However, different manufacturers have limits on available functions. Therefore you need to check before purchase.

5. Processor and RAM - Today's internet users carry out so many functions on the internet and require a faster processor and more RAM. With so much online gaming, video streaming, etc. you need to have more space and speed.

Therefore, a dual or quad-core instead of a single core would provide the user with less latency and more space to operate. However, the least should be a single core at 800MHz and 128MB RAM. If you would spend a little more, then a dual or quad-core of 1.2 GHz should be best. The RAM should also be at least 256MB.

Top 6 Routers for Verizon Fios Under Review

NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi Router (R9000)
  • Four adjustable antennas.
  • 6 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Ports.
  • 2 x 3.0 USB Ports.
  • 802.11ac and 802.11ad WiFi technology
  • 60 GHz throughput.
  • Dual-band. 2.4 and 5GHz
  • Smart parental control feature.

Netgear Nighthawk X10 Smart WiFi router offers one of the most innovative and smart routers for an extensive home network. Nighthawk is a company with decades of years of experience producing top-grade networking facilities. The Netgear Nighthawk X10 is a bundle of exciting network offer for any home user. With the Multi-User, Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) users get to stream data at fast speed anywhere within the home. Effortless streaming of videos at 4k streaming, quick downloads, and online gaming.

Also, what makes Netgear Nighthawk a compelling buy is its enterprise-level offering for home users. The 160MHz WiFi technology, 60GHZ circuitry new 802.11ad WiFi standard all offer top-grade performance. When you include the 6 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port and 10G SPF+ you can connect more devices with ease. The inclusion of 2 x 3.0 USB makes the connection to a printer and other devices more accessible.

It's a fact that the Netgear Nighthawk X10 is a bit pricey compared to other routers in the market. It, however, offers so much value in one router allowing you to stream across as much as 45 devices. Other drawbacks with the Netgear Nighthawk X10 is the sluggish web interface and the inability to customize the WiFi. Making the SFP+ optical only with 10Gbps will limit network options. The non-inclusion of QoS settings with the ability to optimize gaming traffic will not sit well for game lovers. All in all, the Netgear Nighthawk due to its speed and smartphone capability is the best buy for heavy internet users.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router (R6900P)
  • Three antennas.
  • 4 x 1G Ethernet.
  • 1 x 3.0 USB Port.
  • Dual-band.
  • Smart parental control feature.
  • Beamforming technology.

The Netgear Nighthawk gives users an exceptional network speed of up to 1,900 Mbps. Using 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual-band offers users an opportunity to select a better network per time. With such high network performance, the LAN Ethernet port allows you to stream 4K HD videos and connect up to 30 devices.

The choice of a beamforming technology makes a more reliable and faster WiFi signal strength at farther ranges.

Netgear Nighthawk R6900P incorporates 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports with one as WAN and 4 as LAN. Therefore, you can enjoy a more secure network connecting as much as four devices when not using wireless connections. Wired connection always enjoys better latency than wireless. Offering users a 1GHz dual-core processor means the router has more capacity to carry the load without affecting its network speed. For a smart device, you can enjoy more network coverage without bulking.

Another plus for the Netgear Nighthawk R6900P is the QoS technology which gamers, video streamers, and video conferencing users will love. With the Quality of Service technology, it's possible to upstream and downstream videos without breakage or experiencing a sluggish network.

However, offering only one 3.0 USB port means a bit of a limitation for users with substantial USB connectivity needs. For users who might want to upgrade or flash their router, this presents another drawback for this router. It offers the stock firmware only which generally works fine for most users. But considering the relatively moderate price, I think the Netgear Nighthawk R6900P is an excellent buyer's choice.

MOTOROLA AC1700 Dual-Band WiFi Gigabit Router MR1700
  • 6 x adjustable antennas.
  • 1700 Mbps WiFi throughput.
  • 802.11ac WiFi protocol.
  • Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency band.
  • User-friendly features.
  • Parental and guest access control.

Motorola MR1700 presents home users the chance to break down barriers to a reliable and fast network anywhere. With an extended range, 6 adjustable antennas, and dual-band option users can enjoy exceptional network always. The 2.4 GHz plus 4 antennas make long-range network connections great with high performance. It's possible to sync the Motorola MR1700 with your broadband modem or a cable modem. And you can still experience the same video streaming, online gaming, and other devices at an average speed.

Several features qualify this router as one of the best for a budget-friendly option. The WiFi network connectivity and 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port remain standard without much latency to the network connection. The WiFi throughput and range can withstand rigorous video conferencing, security cameras, etc. with excellent frame rates.

The high-performance QoS will also make up-streaming and down-streaming an exciting option. However, you will notice some latency and buffering with the WiFi connection with more range above 20 feet from the router, which is a drawback.

But using a dual-core processor means faster processing time with little or no interference with the network during connections.

The router also provides firewall protection to block off unwanted networks and sites. The parental control features help set limitations for your kids' internet viewing. You could also determine the extent to which your guest can access the network at any time. Checking the price against the value of the Motorola MR1700, it's an excellent buy compared to those in its category.

NETGEAR AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Router (R6230)
  • Dual-band frequency.
  • Connects up to 20 devices.
  • Advanced QoS technology.
  • 1 x 2.0 USB Port.
  • Two amplified antennas.
  • Uses Nighthawk App.
  • Includes security protocol.

The Netgear WiFi router R6230 stands as one of the best routers for Fios with a price tag of under $100 router. With the four wired Ethernet ports, you can enjoy consistent network gaming, video streaming, on your PC, and more. Whether a long-range connection of 2.4GHz or 5GHz, you still maintain excellent connectivity from 300 to 900 Mbps. Also, with the Wi-FI connection, advanced Quality of Service, you can stream as much as 1,200 Mbps. Gadget requiring wireless connections at higher speed will function without buffering or latency.

To ensure your network activity remains secure from infiltration, Netgear WiFi R6230 offers Virtual Protocol Network (VPN), firewall, etc. The advanced WPA/WPA2 helps regulate guest access to keep private information safe from intruders. You can also be sure what your kids do online by activating parental control with the Nighthawk app.

The 2.0 USB Port, though offers lower speed data transfer; it allows the user to carry out USB connectivity. With USB 2.0 port you can connect printer, camera, etc. and not lose any connectivity window. Having an 880 MHz processor gives the average user enough speed to stream upload and download files with ease. Therefore, having a Netgear WiFi R6230 router for an affordable price gives you reasonable internet connectivity at its best.

TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit Dual Band MU-MIMO Wireless  Router (Archer A6)
  • Four antennas.
  • MU-MIMO advanced technology.
  • Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Gigabit.
  • Up to 1200 Mbps speed upgradable.
  • 4 Gigabit LAN port.
  • Two internet modes.
  • TP-Link Tether App.

When searching for an on-budget router for your ISP, the TP-Link AC1200 is one of the best routers of all time. It offers decent internet speed with reliable hardware and all the basic needs for up to medium-sized home users. The mainstream WiFi technology needs by the TP-Link AC1200 include a dual-band frequency for long-range connectivity.

The TP-Link covers 2.4GHz frequency of 300 Mbps and 5GHz band at 867 Mbps providing ideal speed for the regular user. It uses a Broadcom BCM47189 processor at 900 MHz and 128 MB RAM to give relative navigation time. It is running on a network standard of 802.11ac and 802.11n and more.

TP-Link AC1200 uses four Ethernet ports at the speed of 1 Gbps to enjoy enough speed. At such speed, you can run multiple devices and maintain exceptional speed, streaming HD videos, music, etc. The 4 external Archer A6 antennas are detachable and adjustable to help direct the speed and increase network strength. With the 2.0 USB port, you can connect printer and other USB devices for seamless storage and more. At the bottom of the router, the available slot makes it possible to mount the router on the wall. You can install on the shelf as an alternative and still enjoy excellent signal strength always. Also, the router is light-weighted at 2.3 pounds and space-efficient at 9.6" W x 6.4" depth x 1.3" H.

The only downside with the TP-Link AC1200 is the fingerprint body that makes it magnet dust. Also, the idea of restricting the smartphone app to the Wi-FI broadcasting from the router limits connectivity with other networks. Besides the above perks, TP-Link AC1200 is a workhorse with high speed at an affordable price.

Medialink AC1200 Wireless Gigabit Router (MLWR-AC1200R)
  • Beamforming technology.
  • Two high-powered antennas with long-range.
  • Includes range extender.
  • Secure connectivity plus guest network.
  • Parental control functionality.
  • Gigabit Ethernet port up to 1,000 Mbps.
  • Customizable functions.

Medialink AC1200 wireless offers one of the best routers for Verizon. And one plus for the Medialink is its few times more speed than the regular routers in its category. Using the Gigabit Ethernet port users can revel in lag-free online gaming and video streaming up to 1,000 Mbps. The cutting-edge beamforming technology plus the two dynamic antennae will help users experience a stronger signal range anywhere within the home. The router connects a large home or office building without network interruptions using the antenna and range extenders. MediaLink AC1200 also has the range extender mode. It increases the router's reach anytime it's activated; therefore, no need to purchase additional ranges. And you can connect as much as 20 devices without much latency.

You have no reason to worry about data intrusion as the robust encrypted firewall guarantees data security. Your guest network can run without infringing on your privacy. The parental control features keep your kids safe within browsing limits and timeframe.

Other exciting features include managing data consumption rates or limits, router lights control, and more. Router light intensity helps control the router operations, and you can turn them off when not in use. The router is easy to set up with the step-by-step guide for installation. It also has compatibility with Verizon Fios and other ISPs. The one drawback with the Medialink AC1200 is the intermittent lag in connection with extended networks.

Final Words

The above routers should provide ample quality and trouble free service for your networking needs. And if you were confused about what the best router should be, understand that several factors come to play. Your internet needs, space, budget are three factors besides the technical ones already discussed in the buyer's section. Whatever your need, purchasing any of the reviewed routers above should give you exceptional internet connectivity and speed.

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