It's your 5,000th modem/router restart of the day. There are places in your house where the WiFi dares not go. Your router is unfamiliar with the term "dual-band." If you've got networking problems, then we've got the five Editors' Choice networking solutions that'll bring you back into the Internet's loving (if oddly moist) embrace. Save $20 on a Motorola modem bundle, get $60 off a Netgear router bundle, or score a ZyXEL router for $96.
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Motorola SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Broadband Cable Modem bundled with the On Networks N150 802.11n Wireless Enhanced-G Broadband Router
Store: Newegg
Price: $66.99 via coupon code "EMCPHWB85" with free shipping
Lowest By: $20
Expires: February 24Is It Worth It?: Can't get the speeds you want from your current modem? The Motorola SB6121 is capable of download speeds of up to 160Mbps. Though you probably won't get anywhere near those speeds from your ISP, it won't be your modem holding you back. The modem also features DOCSIS 3.0 technology and support for IPv6. Better yet, apply coupon code "EMCPHWB85" to get the On Networks N150R wireless router for free, saving you $20 on the cost of both items. This dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) wireless router features wireless speeds of up to 1.75Gbps and five Gigabit Ethernet ports.
The modem may not be compatible with all service providers.
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Netgear AC1750 Dual-Band 802.11ac Wireless Gigabit Ethernet Router bundled with the Netgear DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
Store: Newegg
Price: $159.99 via coupon code "EMCPHWB67" with free shipping
Lowest By: $60
Expires: February 24Is It Worth It?: If you're looking for a future-proofed router bundled with a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, then use coupon code "EMCPHWB67" to score this Netgear bundle for $160, a $60 savings. The Netgear R6300 dual-band router supports 802.11ac wireless, which offers speeds of up to 1.3Gbps on its 5GHz frequency band — when you can get an 802.11ac client someday down the road. Until then, CNET says this is still a great all-around router: "The R6300 makes an excellent router for those who want a fast home network for wired clients as well as existing WiFi clients and future 802.11ac clients." The Netgear CMD31T-100NAS modem that comes bundled with it features download and upload speeds of up to 150Mbps and support for IPv6.
The modem may not be compatible with all service providers.
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ZyXEL AC1750 802.11ac Wireless HD Media / Gaming Router
Store: Buy.com via Rakuten Shopping
Price: $96.24 with free shipping
Lowest By: $41Is It Worth It?: Should you not need a modem, but still want an 802.11ac wireless router, the ZyXEL NBG6716 is another choice for your home, priced at $96. While Trusted Reviews found the router's performance lacking at longer distances, the site said "the ZyXEL NBG6716 is a very capable performer, particularly at closer ranges." This router features an 800MHz dual-core processor, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, StreamBoost support, and wireless transfer rates of up to 1,750Mbps.
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Refurbished D-Link SmartBeam 802.11n Wireless 4-Port Router
Store: Altatac via Rakuten Shopping
Price: $29.99 with free shipping
Lowest By: $10Is It Worth It?: If future-proofing is less important to you than just replacing your aging router on the cheap, then this refurbished D-Link SmartBeam DIR-645 router is a great choice at $30. You'll save $10 under the price of a new unit, and gain features like a 6-element beam forming antenna, WPA and WPA2 encryption, and support for Gigabit Ethernet.
Of note, no warranty information is provided.
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Virgin Mobile U600 3G/4G Prepaid USB Adapter
Store: Virgin Mobile
Price: $24.99 with free shipping
Lowest By: $25Is It Worth It?: If your Internet woes stem from not being able to take it with you, then you need this Virgin Mobile U600 3G/4G prepaid USB adapter. Compatible with Mac and PC, this USB adapter connects you to Virgin Mobile's 3G/4G network in seconds. And at $25, you'll be paying $25 less than what other merchants charge. Virgin's data plans start at $25 per month.
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