We’ve compiled this list of our picks for the Best DSL Routers in the UK for you.
When it comes to internet access in the UK, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is one of the most common protocols. Most of you already pay for a DSL broadband connection for “work from home” purposes, but odds are you can only browse the web from your desktop or laptop with the current setup.
If you want to put your costly DSL broadband subscription to other uses, such as streaming content from BBC iPlayer on your smart TV or playing multiplayer titles on your gaming console, a Wi-Fi router is a must-have. It can convert your ordinary DSL line to an Ethernet connection and wirelessly connect multiple smart devices to the internet.
Alternatively, if you are stuck with that junk modem router provided by your ISP, swapping it with a new model can vastly improve network performance and coverage for every device in your home.
Now that you are here, we will help you find the best DSL routers in the UK as per your budget and requirements. Thus, we suggest you continue reading till the very end.
List Of the Best DSL Routers UK
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The Best DSL Routers Reviews
The good news is that nearly every modern Wi-Fi router works with both xDSL (e.g., ADSL, VDSL2) and optical fibre lines, making it easier for buyers to make a purchase. Support for fibre-optic connections is also handy, especially if you plan to switch your service provider in the future.
So, let us show you the five best DSL routers we have chosen to review in this guide, starting with:
1. Asus DSL-AC88U Modem Router
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The Asus DSL-AC88U natively supports ADSL, ADSL 2, VDSL2, and the modern G.fast connections, meaning it can replace your existing underperforming modem router.
Apart from its four RJ45 Gigabit LAN ports, it has an RJ11 jack for xDSL and another RJ45 WAN port. It lets you use the router with your current ADSL/VDSL connection and keeps the door open for a future fibre-based ISP upgrade.
Even though it’s a dual-band Wi-FI 5 router, performance is excellent, thanks to Asus’ NitroQAM (1024-QAM) technology. It reaches up to 1000 Mb/s on the 2.4 GHz band and 2167 Mb/s on the 5 GHz band, ensuring super-fast network speeds for every connected device.
The DSL-AC88U’s USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports let you connect external storage devices and printers. You can even connect a 3G/4G LTE dongle in case your home DSL line goes down. The router runs on AsusWRT OS, featuring an intuitive user interface and loads of robust advanced network options. At its current price, the Asus DSL-AC88U is a superb package.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent performance and throughput | Incompatible with Asus AiMesh |
| Flexible network connectivity options | No IFTTT support |
| State-of-the-art parental controls |
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2. TP-Link Archer VR2800 Modem Router
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The TP-Link Archer VR2800 is a fantastic value-for-money DSL router. It uses the 802.11ac Wave 2 Wi-Fi standard and supports all standard DSL connections, including ADSL2+ and VDSL2, for compatibility with most service providers. It also works with Sky Fibre, which we consider a welcoming addition (though good luck retrieving your login credentials).
The VR2800 achieves up to 600 Mb/s on 2.4 GHz and 2167 Mb/s on 5 GHz, enough for web browsing, on-demand video streaming, and lag-free gaming across multiple devices. The four external antennas offer maximum wireless network coverage for your house. Furthermore, it has four Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired LAN connections and two USB 3.0 ports for file and printer sharing.
The TP-Link Archer VR2800 is also a breeze to set up and manage with the Tether mobile app on Android and iOS. It gives you access to advanced parental controls and helps you set up a guest network.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Fast wireless and tethered connectivity | Slower 2.4 GHz link speed |
| Powerful mobile app | Dated design |
| Inexpensive |
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3. Netgear Nighthawk AX8 (RAX80) Wifi Router
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Netgear sells some of the most capable, feature-rich Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market, and the Nighthawk AX8 isn’t even their most expensive model.
Yet it offers exceptional performance with ultra-fast link speeds, delivering up to 4.8 Gb/s over 5 GHz and 1.2 Gb/s over 2.4 GHz. And thanks to its wider bandwidth frequency, older 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5-enabled devices also benefit from increased internet speeds.
The state-of-the-art antenna design ensures fast and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity from the front porch to the backyard so that you can have access to the internet regardless of where you are in the house.
While it doesn’t have a built-in DSL modem, you can use a splitter to hook up your DSL line to the router’s Gigabit WAN port. It gives you five Gigabit LAN ports instead of the usual four and supports Ethernet Port Aggregation. The AX8 also has two USB 3.0 ports for sharing hard drives and printers on the network.
The Nighthawk AX8 supports VPN passthrough, firewall, guest Wi-Fi access, dynamic QoS, hands-free voice controls (requires Nighthawk mobile app), data usage monitor, and more. It’s a cutting-edge router with a slightly premium price tag but is cheaper than most home networking equipment.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Theoretical 6 GHz band | No built-in DSL modem |
| Five Gigabit LAN ports | Expensive |
| Unique design |
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4. D-Link DIR-X1860 Wi-Fi 6 Router with Gigabit Ethernet Ports
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The D-Link DIR-X1860 is another entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router on this list. Although this model comes at a slightly higher price. it also offers a more all-rounded feature set. It features beamforming, 4×4 MIMO, firewall, VPN passthrough, dynamic DNS, and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls.
While the DIR-X1860’s theoretical link speeds are a bit slower, its two additional Gigabit LAN ports make up for it. Sure it isn’t the fastest Wi-Fi 6 router, but it’s reasonably affordable and still manages to outperform a Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) unit.
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| Pros | Cons |
| Good performance and coverage | Slower 2.4 GHz link speed |
| All-rounded feature set | No USB ports |
| Mobile app support with voice controls |
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Top 5 Most Selling DSL Modems in the UK
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Conclusion
These are our five recommendations for the best DSL routers in the UK. Once you make a suitable pick for yourself, it’s a matter of plugging your broadband cable into the router’s WAN port, opening the companion mobile app (or browser configuration page), and following the on-screen instructions. You can also ask your service provider to help with the setup process if you encounter difficulties.
