Go with separates . More flexibility with placement . Modem in one location and router in another for best WiFi coverage . Flexibility to upgrade . I switched ISPs 3 times in one year . I sold off my modem but kept my router throughout . In my experience , vendors seem to keep standalone router firmware more up to date than their modemrouters . A standalone router is entirely under your control . ISPs often have partial access to modemrouters . <| sep |> NU R DET DAGS att fortstta m skit pga nacksprr . <| sep |> I appreciate you being civil . I did address your point in another heavily downvoted comment . Sorry about my tone , there I was arguing with a person who was being really condescending . <| sep |> neato in the babeato