HughesNet is a well-known satellite internet provider that caters to people who live in rural or remote areas where fiber or cable internet is not readily available. Although not as fast as Starlink, it can still work well with the assistance of a capable router.
The supplied WiFi gateway is typically average in terms of specs and performance. To achieve faster speeds, wider coverage, advanced features, and reliable connectivity, it’s recommended to invest in a router that best suits your HughesNet connection.
However, with so many options available, you might end up choosing an inappropriate device or spending more than necessary. I, your networking guy, have tested 13 routing units in varying scenarios, and finally here with my recommendations.
7 Best Routers for HughesNet in 2024
The routers in this list aren’t picked on the basis of their spec sheet, but they went through a series of tests for speed, coverage, consistency, security, and cost-to-value ratio. Depending on your specific needs and HughesNet plan, there are corresponding options to choose from.
So without further ado, let’s dig into it!
1. Best Overall: ASUS RT-AX3000
- Suitable For: HughesNet Fusion 200 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.2
- Number of Devices Supported: 30
- App Support: Yes
ASUS RT-AX3000 is one of the top dual-band WiFi 6 routers that encompasses a vast range of functionalities to emerge as the top WiFi router for your HughesNet Internet.
Be it its long WiFi range, QoS, or dependable wireless performance, there’re five Ethernet ports and the latest USB 3.2 port to not deny a tad in wired capabilities. Besides, it stays much ahead of its predecessor, Asus RT-AX56U in most regards.
Wireless Speeds
As evident in the name, Asus RT-AX3000 can transmit data at a maximum rate of 3000 Mbps, and the capability of each band is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2401 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
With Wi-Fi 6, the Asus router performs great with HughesNet Fusion 200MB Internet plan with a maximum speed cap of 50 Mbps.
At 20 feet, the respective download and upload speeds were recorded at 47.7 Mbps and 11.3 Mbps, respectively. Besides, the router manages to squeeze out 39.4 Mbps and 8.8 Mbps respective speeds at 40 feet. However, the real test is the consistency.
For that, I used the WiFi mapper app to map the signal density in different parts of the house. And unsurprisingly enough, the signals at the far end were stable and powerful enough to let you send emails, browse the web, and send messages.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
In terms of coverage, RT-AX3000 draws the line at 3,000 Sq Ft, claiming it can breeze through any three-bedroom apartment.
To test it out, I installed it at my 2,500 Sq Ft Nashville test lab with conditions close to an average household. And the four antenna setup with beamforming tech transmits signals to every corner. That’s probably the highest among HughesNet routers.
Besides, the spec sheet mentions its device limit is 30, depending on the networking setup it’s installed in. With the speed it has got and MU-MIMO, the number maximizes at around 24. That’s great considering you have a family of 7-8 people.
Security Features
ASUS routers are known for offering great security for free with their AiProtection Pro software tools. You get access to advanced features, malicious site blocking, security assessments, infected device blocking, and others to let you browse without fear of compromising data.
Besides, features like WPA3, VPN, guest network, access control, and auto-firmware update adds a cherry on top.
With respect to parental controls, it allows digital mothers to block a website category, schedule the internet, and pause it whenever needed. This is important, especially in this digital age when online education is the new normal.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s safe to say that Asus RT-AX3000 is hands down the best router to use with HughesNet Internet. Its standout features include long-range, throughput capacity, and security. For a closer look, check out the full RT-AX3000 review.
Pros
- Futureproof WiFi standard
- Great speeds and stability
- Excellent wireless range
- Lifetime-free AiProtection pro
- AiMesh compatibility
- Easy to install
Cons
- No major cons at this price
2. Best Runner-Up: Linksys Hydra 6
- Suitable for: HughesNet Fusion 200 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Number of Devices Supported: 30
- App Support: Yes
If you want to take the speed benefits of Wi-Fi 6 but can’t spend a load of money, Linksys Hydra 6 could be the choice. It put four beamforming antennas and other networking technologies like QoS, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA together to establish lag-free connections across your smart devices.
Besides, compared to Linksys Max-Stream, it brings speed, range, and overall performance upgrades.
Wireless Speeds
Linksys Hydra 6 bestows an identical throughput capacity of 3000 Mbps, and the respective speed on each band is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2401 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 574 Mbps |
To gauge the WiFi router’s performance, I used the Fusion 200GB plan and my iPhone 13 as the testing device.
At a distance of 20 feet, it yielded 46.3 Mbps for downloads and 10.1 Mbps for uploads. While separating the Hydra 6 and test system by 40 feet, the respective speeds moved to 36.8 Mbps and 6.8 Mbps.
Over my week of using it as a primary router, the router passed through an informal saturation test where I sent & received email, stream online music, browse the web, and send messages to my colleague on multiple devices at once.
Besides, it is a QoS-supported router, so you can prioritize any traffic if needed.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
To test Hydra 6’s claims of covering about 2,000 Sq Ft area, I installed it in my 1,500 Sq Ft home office. Thanks to the beamforming tech, the signals penetrated throughout the space and provided strong, stable signals.
Aside from that, technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA ensure I could stream online music on all of my 18 smart devices at once.
Security Features
Security is the area where it falls much behind my previous recommendation as there aren’t any advanced features on offer, premium or free.
But, there are some handy features like WPA3, VPN, guest network, access control, and auto-firmware update to keep the network data packets secure.
In terms of parental controls, it lets you browse through the total online time of each user and pause the internet any time if someone overspends.
Conclusion
The Hydra 6 comes as a great affordable WiFi 6 router that you can use with HughesNet. While using it for around a week, I became a fan of its speed and consistency. But the lack of advanced security has pushed it to the second position.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 support
- Reasonable price
- Great throughput
- Decent WiFi range
- Stable performance
Cons
- No advanced security features
3. Best Parental Controls: Gryphon Tower
- Suitable For: HughesNet 50 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 3 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 100
- App Support: Yes
If your large house needs stable connections all around, then don’t bother playing around and look for a mesh router like Gryphon Tower.
Despite the Wi-Fi 5 standard, it is AC3000 speed rating and tri-band support enable faster and more effective data transfer. But its highlight feature is a phalanx of security tools and parental controls to protect your data and online identity.
Wireless Speeds
Gryphon Tower comes with a speed rating of AC3000. It also happens to be one of the few Tri-Band routers in this range whose each band has respective speeds as follows:
| 5 GHz (1): 1700 Mbps | 5 GHz (2): 866 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps |
Using the Ookla Speedtest on my iPhone 13, Gryphon Tower had an exceptional performance, both close-up and at a distance.
The test system peaked at 43 Mbps of download and 11 Mbps of upload throughput 20 feet from the router. And it even excels in the 40 feet test with 37 Mbps and 8 Mbps respectively for downloads and uploads.
The speeds aren’t suitable for your high-speed gaming or streaming needs, but other tasks like stock trading, web surfing, sending emails, and others stay well within its capabilities. My home workspace stays operational throughout the day.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
As per the manufacturer, a single Gryphon tower can fill a 3,000 Sq Ft house while adding another unit takes it to 6,000 Sq Ft.
I got the single unit and installed it at my test lab which mimics home construction materials. And unsurprisingly, with beamforming tech, it tore through the walls to encase each corner of the 2,500 Sq Ft space.
Besides, the mesh system passed my informal saturation test where I listened to online music, send and receive emails, surf the web, and filed my taxes at the same time. All summed up, around 27 devices could connect to the bandwidth at once.
Security Features
Like my Asus pick, Gryphon Tower adds a piece of mind with its built-in powerful network security and parental control tools.
To start with, it’s known to block intrusions and dangerous sites, while evaluating and blocking new threats using cloud-based AI. Its additional features include WPA3, VPN, guest network, access control, and auto-firmware update.
Besides, it’s one of the best-rated parental control routers with features that give you total control over your kids’ online activities. You can check the details of their visited sites and block them if you find anything dangerous.
Also, there’s an option to limit their online time and reward an extra hour or two for completing their homework or some house chores.
Conclusion
Gryphon Tower is not only cool to look at but is a screamer that satisfies a horde of smart homes. It protects them from any unwanted devices or miscreants by creating a firewall. But the slightly older Wi-Fi standard has put it into the third position.
For more details, you may read the full review of the Gryphon Tower.
Pros
- Tri-Band operation
- Advanced parental controls
- Excellent WiFi performance
- Excellent wireless coverage
- Advanced firewall
- Appealing design
Cons
- No USB port
- WiFi 5 standard
4. Best Value for Money: D-Link Eagle Pro Ai
- Suitable For: HughesNet Fusion 200 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,000 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Ports: 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 30
- App Support: Yes
If the above mesh router seems a bit heavy for your pocket, then take a look at this D-Link Eagle Pro Ai. Price at just around $110, it has many things going in its favor, starting with dual-band Wi-Fi 6, a decent range, and device-handling ability.
Besides, it packs networking technologies like MU-MIMO, OFDMA, and others for stable connections.
Wireless Speeds
Before I go on discussing how it performs with the HughesNet Fusion 200 GB connection, it’s worth mentioning that its max throughput is capped at 3200 Mbps. The respective speed on each band is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 2400 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps |
To test the raw speeds, I installed it at my grandpa’s house and recorded the values on my iPhone 13. First, I separated by test system by 20 feet only to get the respective download and upload speeds of 42 Mbps and 10 Mbps.
Then I went around the house to about 40 feet away from the router, and respective speeds valued at 28 Mbps and 5 Mbps.
Noticed with Eagle Pro Ai, the performance drops at a distance are greater than my previous picks. But it doesn’t compromise a tad in terms of consistency, as obtained on my WiFi mapper app. So even at a distance, basic office tasks are very doable.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Theoretically, the coverage of Eagle Pro Ai stands at 2,000 Sq Ft, which already puts it beneath my top recommendations. Nevertheless, the router signals easily could beam through the walls of my grandpa’s 100-year-old house to cover each corner.
To put things into perspective, area of the house is about 1,500 Sq Ft, and it’s a formidable task to travel through its thick concrete walls.
Other than that, technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA come in handy, especially when you need to connect multiple devices simultaneously. Thanks to these, I could connect up to 17 smart devices including smartphones, computers, laptops, and others.
Security Features
In terms of security, Eagle Pro Ai barely scores a fifer with not including any advanced security features, free or paid. It has just got the staple ones like WPA3, VPN, guest network, and access control. These however work in unison to secure the data traveling from the router to smart devices or vice versa.
Its parental control features include saving kids from overspending online by pausing the internet at any time.
Conclusion
Clearly, the performance with D-Link Eagle Pro Ai offers excellent value for money. Its close-range speeds are decent enough to take care of your basic home internet needs and with MU-MIMO and OFDMA, you got stable speeds on all your devices. But, its middling range compared to my top recommendations has ranked it in third position.
Pros
- Excellent close-range speeds
- MU-MIMO and OFDMA
- Easy to install
- Value for money
Cons
- Middling range
5. Best Security Features: Netgear R6700AXS
- Suitable For: HughesNet Fusion 200 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 1,500 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN
- Number of Devices Supported: 25
- App Support: Yes
Next on my list is yet another Wi-Fi 6 router, Netgear R6700AXS that includes a year of subscription to advanced cyber threat protection by Netgear Armor 2.0. Aside from that, it brings along excellent wireless capabilities with dual-band WiFi, MU-MIMO, and beamforming-laid powerful antennae.
Besides, compared to its predecessor, it brings multiple upgrades in terms of features, and in turn performance.
Wireless Speeds
Netgear R6700AXS built around Wi-Fi 6 peaks out at 1800 Mbps throughput, with the capacity of each band as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 500 Mbps |
Using the Ookla speed test app, the R6700AXS pushed 41 Mbps and 11 Mbps across 20 feet to my test system, i.e., iPhone 13. On the first floor when the devices were separated by 30 feet, the router moved to about 28 Mbps and 6 Mbps, respectively.
Over a week of continual use as a primary router, the performance was more than decent. The available bandwidth easily suffices two of your HD streams, provided no other tasks are running in the background. That’s an unreal situation.
Besides, basic internet tasks like cashless transactions, online booking, sending emails, and browsing social media seem like a childsplay.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
As per the manufacturer, Netgear R6700AXS is suitable for any one to a two-bedroom apartment, with its value standing at 1,500 Sq Ft. It’s less than its competition but its three-antenna setup easily transmits signals to up to 1,200 Sq Ft.
And as generated on the WiFi mapper, the signals in the outskirts stays stable with maximum download speeds of 10-12 Mbps. The router further brings in an OFDMA and beamforming support to connect to up to 15-16 smart devices simultaneously.
P.S.: These numbers stand true provided you’re on basic tasks like sending emails, web browsing, and others.
Security Features
Security-wise, the R6700AXS comes with a 1 year Netgear Armor subscription included. The advanced features available with it are network vulnerability assessment to scan and identify network flaws, manage or block vulnerable devices, anti-theft protection, malware block, and many others.
Post that, you may opt to continue with the subscription or stay protected with basic features like WPA3, VPN, guest network, and auto-firmware updates. These are however best for any household network settings.
Conclusion
Netgear R6700AXS comes at a decent speed and security features much better than most budget routers out there. Besides, the availability of technologies like MU-MIMO and beamforming makes way for stable signals on your smart devices.
Its range might be middling but still, enough to cover any mid to small-sized apartment with ease.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6
- 1-year free subscription to Netgear Armor
- Budget-friendly
- Stable throughput
- Decent device-handling ability
Cons
- Middling range
6. ASUS RT-AC67P
- Ideal Plan: HughesNet Fusion 100 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 3,000 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 3.0
- Number of Devices Supported: 15
- App Support: Yes
Asus RT-AC67P comes as a good low-cost HughesNet router to deliver a speed boost to your home apartment or small office. It brings in a 3,000 Sq Ft range, five Gigabit ethernet ports, and decent connectivity options.
Wireless Speeds
Despite boasting Wi-Fi 5 technology, the Asus RT-AC67P delivers data at a maximum rate of 1900 Mbps, and the respective speed on each band is as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps |
The Asus router turned good scores in my throughput test with HughesNet Fusion 100 GB Internet. Its score of 23 Mbps for downloads and 6 Mbps for uploads at 20 feet was a hair faster than many in this range. Besides, at 40 feet, the respective scores of 11 Mbps and 3 Mbps were on par with its competitors.
Such speeds aren’t great when you compare it with a cable or fiber connection, but in a remote area, something is better than nothing. It can let you stream music, attend video calls, and do other basic tasks.
But the consistency it offers is laudable. In my WiFi mapper, the signals in the corner were stable and can soldier through web browsing and messaging tasks.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Asus advertises the RT-AC67P as a long-range budget router with a maximum theoretical range of 3,000 Sq Ft. That pretty much makes it a fit for a three-bedroom apartment.
But these numbers often turn out as marketing gimmicks, so I tested it in my 2,500 Sq Ft lab, and to my surprise, not a corner was left empty, all credit goes to AiBeamforming tech.
Despite its excellent signal range, performance wasn’t great in terms of connecting multiple smart devices at once. With a lack of MU-MIMO, the maximum number of connections it could establish was around 8. And with one device hogging the network, speeds fell down on others.
Security Features
Despite being an Asus router, it doesn’t include the lifetime-free AiProtection pro software with an array of advanced features.
But with performance with HughesNet makes it a fit for a household network setting with features like WPA2-enterprise, VPN, guest network, and auto-firmware update.
Besides, it offers something extra over its competitors concerning parental control features. For example, you can create schedules for internet use, manually block any explicit or dangerous content, and pause the internet at any time.
Conclusion
To conclude, Asus RT-AC67P comes as an all-round performer that offers decent speed output, beating most of routers suitable for HughesNet. Besides, its excellent range, simple setup, affordable price, and excellent interface makes it easy for novice to install and use it at their home.
But its device-handling ability and lack of MU-MIMO is rather disconcerting.
Pros
- Decent and stable throughput performance
- Reasonably priced
- Excellent range
- Easy to setup
Cons
- Below-par device handling ability
7. Cheapest Option: TP-Link Archer A7
- Ideal Plan: HughesNet 100 GB Internet
- WiFi Range: Up to 2,500 Sq Ft
- Wireless Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
- Ports: 1 x Gig WAN + 4 x Gig LAN + 1 x USB 2.0
- Number of Devices Supported: 30
- App Support: Yes
Now that I have reached the end of my list, presenting you with a cheap yet dependable device, TP-Link Archer A7.
Despite coming around at $52, it’s rich in capabilities and offerings like a massive 2,500 Sq Ft range, multiple ethernet ports, and the ability to handle devices stand clear of many budget-range and ISP-rented routers. Let’s find out how it fares in real life.
Wireless Speeds
TP-Link Archer A7 with its Wi-Fi 5 standard comes at an aggregated speed of AC1750, split between its two bands as follows:
| 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps |
With the 100GB plan, the TP-Link router at 20 feet managed a 22 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload speed. That’s an above-par performance from a budget wireless router. Besides, on the first floor, i.e., 40 feet away from the router recorded respective speeds of 11 Mbps and 3 Mbps.
Besides the speeds in line with my previous recommendation, consistency was also great. Never in a week did I black out when online on any of my basic office tasks like attending an important client meeting, forwarding emails, or working on project software.
WiFi Coverage & Devices Capacity
Beating many similar-priced models in the market, the A7 comes at a stipulated range of 2,500 Sq Ft. My client got it installed at his farmhouse, and reported that each of its corners was filled with network. Putting it in numbers, the range of the router maximizes at 2,100 Sq Ft, still bettering many high-priced options.
Furthermore, A7 claims to handle up to 50 devices, which is rather blatant considering the maximum speeds available to you. I could still connect up to 21 devices simultaneously with each having a two-bar signal. The numbers can decrease depending on the tasks you’re performing.
Security Features
Security-wise, nothing has changed from Asus RT-AC67P, and the smart home devices and network data packets are secured with features like guest network, SPI firewall, WPA2, and VPN. Using the Tether app you can also block or remove any connected devices manually.
But being an older device, it will not receive any future firmware updates to address potential security vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
While TP-Link Archer A7 may not be the fastest option, its range, performance, port setup, and features, position it as a steal deal. It offers sufficient coverage for a mid-sized home with two or three bedrooms, and the QoS ensures a smoother signal flow throughout the area.
For more information, read the full review of Archer A7.
Pros
- Affordable router
- Great range
- Decent speeds
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Security is a bit weak
Frequently Asked Questions
HughesNet provides the flexibility to get your own router to pair with it. But you must lease or buy the gateway as it houses the modem. You must turn its router feature before connecting your own device to it.
There’s no compatibility criteria for a router with HughesNet, but you must evaluate your needs and the available features before you make an investment.
You can increase the signal strength of HughesNet by pairing a mesh router or an extender to pair with your existing router.
Verdict
I hope my curated list helped you make an informed decision. But if you still are scratching your head, here are my final suggestions:
- If you seek a reliable all-around mid-range wireless router to future-proof your home network, go for Asus RT-AX3000.
- If you don’t want to spend much, D-Link Eagle Pro Ai is a value-for-money recommendation for your HughesNet network.
- And finally, the cheapest yet reliable option would be TP-Link Archer A7.
With that comes an end to my guide. Goodbye and take care!
