The Included Frontier Router: Good Enough?
Frontier includes a WiFi 6 router at no separate monthly fee on all fiber plans. We tested it against a third-party mesh setup on the same Fiber 1 Gig connection.
Coverage Test Results
| Setup | Wired Speed | WiFi (same room) | WiFi (2 rooms away) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier router alone | 962 Mbps | 580 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
| Frontier router + extender | 962 Mbps | 580 Mbps | 320 Mbps |
| Third-party WiFi 6E mesh | 968 Mbps | 780 Mbps | 440 Mbps |
Wired fiber performance is excellent regardless of router choice. WiFi range is the weakest link — similar to AT&T's included gateway, coverage past two rooms drops significantly without an extender or mesh addition.
What the Frontier App Does Well
- Basic device list and guest network setup.
- Speed test built directly into the app for quick checks.
- Simple parental control scheduling by device.
The Verdict
For apartments and smaller homes, the included router is adequate — the fiber line behind it is the real value. For homes over roughly 1,400 sq ft, budget for a mesh upgrade from day one rather than discovering dead zones later; Frontier's app-based extender pairing makes this a straightforward add-on.