Router guide · own the box
Bring your router. Keep your router.
Any standard router is welcome at no charge. If you need one, ours is $149 once and optional. No monthly equipment fee, ever. We’re the ISP that wants you to keep your router.
- Bring your own at no charge
- Ours is $149 once
- No monthly equipment fee
The two boxes
We bring the connection. You choose the router.
Those are separate jobs. Keeping them separate is what lets you use the router you already know and own.
What ConnectNYC installs
The service connection
ConnectNYC service terminates at a connection your router plugs into. The service-side equipment is part of the installation and stays with ConnectNYC service. It is not a router rental.
What you plug in
Your standard router
The router takes that connection and makes it available to your wired devices and over Wi-Fi. Bring any standard router at no charge, or choose ours for $149 once.
The distinction matters.
Your internet plan describes the connection to your home. Your router, its placement, and the device you are using shape the Wi-Fi result inside the home. A slow Wi-Fi test does not automatically mean the internet connection is slow.
Bring yours or buy ours
Most people should start with the router they have.
If you own a standard router — the home Wi-Fi box with a WAN port, not a monthly rental gateway from a cable company — bring it. See how it performs in your home before spending another dollar. We do not require our router to activate service.
Bring your own
- Any standard router is welcome
- Keep the setup you already know
- No monthly equipment fee
- Test it before deciding whether to replace it
Buy ours
- Optional, for people who do not want to shop
- No monthly equipment fee
- You buy it, so it is yours
- Keep it or sell it if you cancel
Shopping for a new router?
Look for a Wi-Fi 6 model. The TP-Link Archer AX55 is a solid lower-cost pick. The Amazon eero 6+ is about the easiest setup there is. Check current prices online before choosing. Neither model is required; any standard router is welcome.
Match the router to the plan.
| Home plan | Plan speed | Router starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 150/50 Mbps | Any recent dual-band router should handle it |
| Plus | 300/100 Mbps | Wi-Fi 6 recommended |
| Ultra | 600/200 Mbps | Wi-Fi 6 recommended; use wired Ethernet for the guarantee test |
Typical network latency is around 10 ms. The router, Wi-Fi conditions, and device still shape what you experience in a room. The NYC Speed Guarantee is evaluated under its wired-test conditions.
Placement basics
Before you replace it, move it.
A capable router in the wrong corner can look like a bad router. Start with three simple placement choices.
Keep it central
Start near the center of the area where your household actually uses Wi-Fi. The far edge of the apartment is a poor starting line for the rooms at the other end.
Keep it elevated
A shelf or table is a better starting point than the floor. Give the router a clear position in the room rather than burying it at ankle height.
Keep it away from interference
Do not place it beside a microwave or behind large metal objects. Move it away, then test from the same device and location again.
Testing it right
Test the line, not the room.
A Wi-Fi test measures the connection, the router, the room, and the device all at once. For the NYC Speed Guarantee, wired Ethernet is the standard.
A Wi-Fi test answers
“What is this device getting in this spot right now?” That is useful for placement and everyday troubleshooting, but it includes every wireless variable between the router and the device.
A wired test answers
“What reaches a capable device through the router without the Wi-Fi hop?” That is why the speed-guarantee conditions use wired Ethernet.
Run a useful test
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Connect with EthernetPlug a capable device into the router with a capable Ethernet adapter and cable.
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Pause other trafficPause other heavy use on the connection and disconnect a VPN before testing.
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Repeat at different timesOne result is a snapshot. Run more than one test, including an off-peak test.
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Use the testing guideFollow the ConnectNYC speed-test guide and keep the results if you need support.
The guarantee has a precise test.
The NYC Speed Guarantee applies to qualifying, persistent shortfalls caused within the ConnectNYC network. It is evaluated under wired-test conditions; one slow Wi-Fi result is not enough. If a qualifying shortfall remains unresolved under the stated process, account credits apply under the terms. Read the exact Speed Guarantee →
Router questions
Keep the useful answers.
Do I need to buy the ConnectNYC router?
No. Bring any standard router at no charge. The ConnectNYC router is optional at $149 once. Either way, there is no monthly equipment fee.
Will an old router slow me down?
It can. Any standard router is compatible, but an older router can limit what reaches your devices over Wi-Fi. Any recent dual-band router should handle 150/50 Mbps; Wi-Fi 6 is recommended for 300/100 and 600/200 Mbps.
What happens to a router I bought if I cancel?
Anything you buy is yours. If you cancel, keep it, sell it, or use it elsewhere. A router purchase does not create anything you have to return to ConnectNYC.
What should a renter know about the wiring?
The installation method depends on the building. ConnectNYC handles building-level permissions with the owner or manager; you need the right to allow work inside your unit. We confirm the method before you decide whether to proceed. Your router plugs into the connection we provide.
How should I test my plan speed?
Use a wired Ethernet connection to the router, pause other traffic, and repeat tests at different times. The NYC Speed Guarantee is evaluated under its wired-test conditions; Wi-Fi results also reflect the router, placement, device, and interference.
Start with the building. Bring the box.
Request the building check. If your address works, bring any standard router you already own or choose ours for $149 once.
There is no monthly equipment fee either way. The NYC Speed Guarantee uses wired-test conditions.