In April 2021, Suddenlink released the new Altice Gateway 6 with Smart WiFi 6 technology. This device is a modem/router combo with the latest version of Wi-Fi tech to connect your home to the internet.
While Suddenlink isn’t the most forthcoming with details on Smart WiFi 6, we cover your essential “must-knows” below.
Suddenlink doesn’t have any deals on the Smart WiFi 6 gateway right now—we’ll let you know if that changes.
If you’re looking to get Smart WiFi 6 with your Suddenlink service, keep in mind that it’s available only with the Internet 1 Gig plan (or the fastest Suddenlink service available in your area).
Suddenlink Smart WiFi 6 is the router technology that powers the new Altice Gateway 6. If you have a Suddenlink Internet 1 Gig plan, you can get a gateway with Smart WiFi 6 for an additional $10 per month.
Suddenlink Smart WiFi 6 is a step up from the Smart WiFi technology in the older Altice Gateway that comes with slower plans. Smart WiFi 6 supports internet speeds up to three times faster, and the signal reaches further than the previous gateway model.
The “smart” part of Smart WiFi 6 means the Altice Gateway 6 will automatically choose which Wi-Fi frequency to connect your devices to so it can have the best signal.
To be more specific, the 5.0 GHz frequency provides a strong connection with nearby devices, and the 2.4 GHz frequency is better for devices further away from your gateway—but you don’t have to remember that because Smart WiFi 6 will do it for you.
We wish Suddenlink spent less time patting itself on the back about how amazing Smart WiFi 6 is and spent more time giving us the meaty details on Altice Gateway 6. Even after scouring the internet for days, this is all the info we could find.
But never fear—we’re working on hiring someone to try out Suddenlink and Smart WiFi 6 for us. With their help, we hope to have even more details in the future. Until then, maybe you’d be interested in applying for that $1,000 paycheck?
| Product | Price* | Device | Max recommended speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altice Gateway 6 | $10.00/mo. | Modem/router | 940 Mbps | Add to Suddenlink plan |
| NETGEAR Orbi CBK40 | $390.00 | Modem/router | 940 Mbps | View on Amazon |
| Motorola MB8600 | $159.99 | Modem | 940 Mbps | View on Amazon |
| NETGEAR AX5400 | $242.59 | Modem | 940 Mbps | View on Amazon |
*Amazon prices effective 03/04/22 at 1:15 p.m. PT. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
If you rent the Altice Gateway 6 from Suddenlink, you’ll pay $10 per month for your internet equipment. While Smart WiFi 6 is cutting-edge technology (and you’ll have access to 24/7 tech support), renting adds up over time.
To save a bit of cash, you can buy your internet equipment instead. While Suddenlink doesn’t sell the Altice Gateway 6, you can easily find other modem/router combos or go for both a modem and router separate. To learn more about the pros and cons of each third-party option, check out our Modem vs. Router article.
If you’d like to learn more about the alternative modems and routers recommended above, check out our article on Best Optimum-Compatible Modems. Optimum is another internet service provider from Altice, and equipment that works with it will work for your Suddenlink plan.
For $99, you can get Suddenlink’s standard installation, during which your technician will install your Altice Gateway 6 with Smart WiFi 6 and set up only one device on your new wireless network.
Suppose you don’t feel comfortable connecting your other devices to the internet. In that case, you can spring for the $149 premium install, where your technician will install your Altice Gateway 6, use an ethernet cable to hardwire one internet-ready device, and wirelessly connect all the other available devices.
But if you’re tech-savvy, you can install your Altice Gateway 6 (or your own choice of modem) all by yourself. Just head over to Suddenlink’s Modem Self-Install page and follow the prompts.
Suddenlink Smart WiFi 6 is a big step forward for Suddenlink’s equipment technology. You’ll get much better speeds over Wi-Fi than you would with the old equipment, and you won’t have as much trouble with dead spots in your house.
But if you’d rather pay an up-front sum to own your internet equipment, there are plenty of Wi-Fi 6 routers and modem/router combos on the market. Like we mentioned earlier, the modems we recommend for Optimum will work just as well for its sister company, Suddenlink.
All Suddenlink internet plans now come with unlimited data. Plans start at $24.99 per month.
If you’re paying your internet provider for gigabit speeds (940 Mbps), you may notice your Wi-Fi speeds improve with a new Wi-Fi 6 router. But if you’re not having any trouble with your Wi-Fi, or you pay for low internet speeds to start with, you should be fine sticking with your old Wi-Fi 5 router.
If you want the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, you’ll need a new router with Wi-Fi 6. If you’re a Suddenlink customer with Internet 1 Gig, talk to Suddenlink customer service about upgrading to the new Altice Gateway 6, which comes with Smart WiFi 6 technology.
Or, you can just buy your own new router with Wi-Fi 6. We’re fans of the NETGEAR Nighthawk 6-Stream AX5400, but there are plenty of other options out there.
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest router technology, so you’ll need to get a new Wi-Fi 6 router to use it. It will work just fine with your old modem, though, so unless you have a modem/router combo, there’s no need to get a new modem.
To learn more about the differences between modems and routers, see our Modem vs. Router article.
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest standard for wireless router technology, also called 802.11ax. It’s about three times faster than the previous generation of Wi-Fi technology.
The previous Wi-Fi technology was called 802.11ac—but no one wanted to keep track of those messy numbers and letters anymore, so folks in the industry went back and renamed that old tech Wi-Fi 5.
You can download the Suddenlink Support app on Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for iOS devices. Heads up—the reviews for this app are really crummy.
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