A woman at her kitchen counter reads router news on her phone. A woman at her kitchen counter reads router news on her phone.

Switching routers?

Your router trusts everyone. Rio doesn’t.

The 2026 FCC news has people rethinking their routers. Rio is Wi-Fi 6, and nothing joins it without your OK.

Get Rio, $199.99What the FCC rule means
  • Nothing joins without your OK
  • Up to 16 walled-off SecureRooms
  • 1 year of Rio VPN included

Designed in USA. Manufactured in Taiwan. No Chinese components.

Your old router lets everyone in.

The FCC rule won’t switch your router off. The real risk is what it lets in, and what you can’t see.

  • An old router blinking in a dark hallway, surrounded by glowing smart devices near a child's room. Worst case

    One hacked gadget can reach every device you own.

    SecureRoomsUp to 16 walled-off SecureRooms keep gadgets away from your laptops and phones.

  • A hooded stranger with a laptop sits in a dark stairwell below an apartment door. Worst case

    Someone nearby joins your Wi-Fi. Nothing tells you.

    Device approvalNo new device joins your Wi-Fi without your OK in the Rio app.

  • A worried woman uses her phone flashlight to read the faded label on a dusty old router in the dark. Worst case

    You can’t say who made the box running your home.

    Every device in viewRio is designed in USA, made in Taiwan, and its app shows every connected device.

A family relaxes on the sofa in morning sun, kids on tablets, everyone online and calm.
The Rio router beside the Rio app

With Rio

Same home. Now every door has a lock.

New devices wait for your OK, and gadgets live in their own walled-off rooms.

  • Nothing joins without your OKEvery new device waits in the Rio app.
  • Up to 16 SecureRoomsGadgets walled off from laptops and phones.
  • Rio VPN for the rooms you choose1 year included, plus apps for the road.
Get Rio, $199.99See how rooms work

How Rio sets up your rooms

A fresh start, room by room.

Rooms are walled off by default. Open a path between them only when you choose.

Rio router beside a phone showing the Rooms screen of the Rio app. Rio router beside a phone showing the Rooms screen of the Rio app.
Rio
  • FamilyPrivate
    • Phones
    • Laptops
    • Tablets

    Only devices you approved.

  • KidsPrivate
    • Tablets
    • Game console
    • School laptop
  • Smart homeWalled off
    • Cameras
    • Speakers
    • Smart plugs
    • TV
  • GuestsGuest Wi-Fi
    • Visitors’ phones

    Removed when they disconnect.

An example home. Up to 16 rooms, each with its own Wi-Fi password.

Swap routers in about 10 minutes.

No tech skills needed. The app shows you each step.

  1. Unplug the old router. Plug in Rio.

    Rio goes behind your modem. Scan the QR code on the back and follow the app.

  2. Rebuild your rooms.

    Give each room its own Wi-Fi password, then move your devices in.

  3. Approve what’s yours.

    Each device waits for your OK. Anything you don’t recognize stays out.

What Rio does, and doesn’t do.

Router news is confusing. Here are straight answers.

Topic Rio handles it Still on you
FCC status Authorized before the March 2026 change (FCC ID H8NEAI2326) Nothing. No one is required to replace a router.
New devices Wait for your OK in the Rio app Approve only devices you recognize
Wi-Fi security WPA2 Personal, with a password per room Pick strong room passwords
Your accounts Can’t secure your logins Unique passwords and two-step login

Rio is designed in USA and manufactured in Taiwan, so the FCC counts it as foreign-produced. It isn’t exempt from anything: its authorization simply came before the rule. FCC fact sheet.

Router rule questions.

Different setup? Email our team and a real person will reply.

Do I have to replace my router because of the FCC rule?

No. The FCC says its March 2026 change doesn’t affect routers you already own, and stores can keep selling models it approved earlier. It blocks new foreign-made models unless they get Conditional Approval. Read the FCC fact sheet.

Is my TP-Link router banned?

No. You can keep using it. A proposed federal sales ban was shelved in February 2026, Reuters reported. New TP-Link models, like other foreign-made routers, need FCC Conditional Approval, which TP-Link hadn’t received as of September 2026.

Is Rio affected by the FCC rule?

Rio is designed in USA and manufactured in Taiwan, so the rule counts it as foreign-produced. Its FCC authorization (FCC ID H8NEAI2326) came before March 2026, so it can still be sold, and the FCC allows security updates until at least January 1, 2029.

Will my devices work with Rio?

Phones, laptops, TVs and smart gadgets connect to Rio’s Wi-Fi 6 like any router, and it’s built for 150+ devices. Rio plugs in behind your modem, setup takes about 10 minutes, and each device joins once you approve it.

What does Rio cost?

$199.99, including 1 year of Rio VPN. After that, Rio VPN is optional at $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year. Shipping is free, and Rio comes with 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty.

Swap the box. Lock the door.

Device approval, up to 16 SecureRooms and Rio VPN, on Wi-Fi 6.

$199.99includes 1 year of Rio VPN

  • About 10 minutes to set up
  • Free shipping
  • 30-day returns
  • 1-year warranty
Get RioCompare plans

Designed in USA. Manufactured in Taiwan.