The average user usually ignores their Wi-Fi router once their ISP installs it and everything seems to be working fine. Only when you stop getting internet do you think of calling your ISP to fix the problem. I have a 200 Mbps plan at my home that I have been using for over three years on the ISP-provided router. It's working fine on most of my devices, but I've been meaning to upgrade it to something much better.
The thing is that ISPs usually provide a router that's just enough for the plan that you subscribe to. I've been facing speed issues on my gaming PC and coverage issues on my phone in some parts of the house. Upgrading to a modern router will solve most of these issues, while also bringing additional benefits to address network congestion.
Why you should upgrade from your ISP’s router
Looking for more features and settings, upgrading to your own router frees you from the shackles of your ISP's software.
3 My ISP's router is missing modern features
Most budget routers are better than this one
I've been using it for over three years, but that doesn't mean I haven't been missing out. Sure, having the latest features doesn't always mean you'll have the best experience, but in my case, the router is woefully ill-equipped. For instance, it's a Wi-Fi 5 router, and doesn't support OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) or MU-MIMO to better accommodate multiple devices at once.
Another feature that I miss on my existing router is mesh support. I've often noticed a total connection breakdown in the rooms furthest from the router. If I buy a mesh router system or one that supports adding mesh capabilities, it'll solve this Wi-Fi coverage issue for good, enveloping my entire house without sacrificing speed like I would with a Wi-Fi extender.
Upgrading from a Wi-Fi 5 to a Wi-Fi 6 router will bring significant latency and coverage benefits to my home Wi-Fi network, and prepare it for an eventual upgrade to a Gigabit plan.
Like most ISP-provided routers, mine doesn't have any app support. I can't easily track my data usage, connected devices, or other network settings without logging into the horrible UI of the router. Most modern routers have an accompanying app, which is much more user-friendly than the outdated interface of my ISP router. Upgrading from a Wi-Fi 5 to a Wi-Fi 6 router will bring significant latency and coverage benefits to my home Wi-Fi network, and prepare it for an eventual upgrade to a Gigabit plan.
Do I need a modem and router?
If you've got a cable or DSL internet connection, you'll need a modem. Whether you get your own or rent one is up to you.
2 I've been suffering from sub-par connectivity on my PC
Both Ethernet and Wi-Fi aren't where they should be
A major reason why I want to leave my ISP router behind is that my gaming PC has been suffering from weird connectivity issues for a long time. I mostly use a wired connection from my router to the PC that works fine until it doesn't. Often, without any reason, the link speed drops to 100 Mbps (instead of 1Gbps) in the adapter settings, basically halving my 200 Mbps connection.
I know the problem isn't on the PC's end or with the CAT6e cable, so there has to be something wrong with the router.
What's more, whenever this happens, I get the added bonus of delayed connectivity whenever I wake the PC from sleep — it takes 30-40 seconds to connect to the internet. I know the problem isn't on the PC's end or with the CAT6e cable, so there has to be something wrong with the router. I'm fairly confident that upgrading to a new router will rid my PC of this annoying problem.
Even on the few occasions when I've tried to switch to Wi-Fi using the onboard Wi-Fi 6E module and the bundled antenna, I've not been getting the speeds I enjoy on my phone, Apple TV, or laptop. I've seen different ISP routers in many of my friends' homes perform way better than this one, so I'm certain upgrading the router is the way to go.
Do you need Cat5, Cat6, or Cat7 cables? Save your money, just get Cat5e.
Don't waste money on marketing nonsense
1 Upgrading to a tri-band network to enjoy breezy internet
Switching to a Wi-Fi 6E router would be sweet
Dual-band Wi-Fi is fine, but I live in an apartment building crawling with multiple networks. Everyone is competing for the same 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum, leading to a lot of congestion and occasional slowdowns. If I switch to a tri-band router with two 5GHz bands, or better yet, a Wi-Fi 6E router with a 6GHz band, I can enjoy crowd-free internet, at least until more people wise up and join the party.
A Wi-Fi 6 mesh system will probably be the best option, until Wi-Fi 6E routers become common and more affordable in my region.
It's another matter that in my region, the 6GHz spectrum is still not delicensed for either telecom networks or Wi-Fi use, so we have a fair bit of wait ahead of us. However, I can still upgrade to a decent tri-band Wi-Fi 6 router to enjoy all the latency and network decongestion advantages that come with it. A Wi-Fi 6 mesh system will probably be the best option, until Wi-Fi 6E routers become common and more affordable in my region.
If you're buying a router, these are the specs you need to think about
Buying a router can be complicated, but these are the most important specs to make sure you get the right one.
Upgrading your ISP's router is almost always recommended
Your ISP has no incentive to provide any more features than it absolutely needs to. It also has to prioritize compatibility over performance, and hence chooses the hardware that most people will find perfectly adequate. If you're after a higher tier of performance than that, you'll have to buy your own router.
Just remember that if you're replacing a modem+router combo device, you'll need a modem/ONT to plug into the new router, or buy something that has an integrated modem/ONT compatible with your ISP's incoming cable or fiber connection.