If you’ve been using cable modems, you must be quite familiar with brands like Netgear and Arris. Both these brands hold a reputed position in the market for offering excellent and reliable cable modems.
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Both the Netgear CM700 and the Arris SB6190 have taken the market by storm, making it difficult to choose one. Both have some similarities in their features, as well as differences. Therefore, the following detailed comparison will help you choose the right model over the other according to your demands.
Let’s get started!
Our Top Pick
If you don't currently have the time to read our full review, our top pick is the Netgear CM700 because:
- It shows compatibility with almost all major internet service providers, unlike many other units.
- The model is quite compact and equipped with additional features like the power button to make it user-friendly.
- This cable modem comes with an advanced QoS feature that lets you prioritize the bandwidth for certain activities.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?
When it comes to investing in a modem, you will find several options available in the market. You might get confused about getting the right product. For your ease, we have summarized a few factors that must be taken into consideration in order to make a valued purchase.
Brand
No doubt, there are several brands on the market and all of them offer a variety of modems. It is an important factor that must be considered when you intend to make a purchase. It is recommended to go for a reputed brand for good quality products.
ISP Compatibility
Another essential feature to look for is the ISP compatibility of the model. When picking a model, double-check whether your ISP is compatible and if it is good enough to provide high internet speed.
Netgear CM700
Speed
This factor can’t be overlooked, and therefore, you should get a unit that functions with your internet speed. For example, if you have an internet connection with speeds up to 300 Mbps, you must grab a modem with 16x2 channels in order to enjoy full speed.
Channel Bonding
Who does not want a traffic-free connection? Therefore, try to get a unit with more channels to avoid any congestion during web surfing.
Warranty
Manufacturers offer a warranty for a certain time period on their products in order to win the confidence of customers. Try to pick a model that comes with a reliable warranty to avoid any additional expenditures for repair and replacement.
Netgear CM700 vs. Arris SB6190 Comparison
Now that you are well aware of all the primary factors to consider, let’s move towards the comparison of our top-picked products. In this section, we will lay down a detailed comparison of both similarities, as well as differences. This way, you will get a better understanding of the features of both models and ultimately get the best cable modem for yourself.
Encryption
The data transferred through the cable might face the risk of being exploited by a third party. Cable modems present more of a risk in this regard, as all the information travels through a shared medium. Therefore, technically, it becomes easier to listen to a user’s communication and gain access to sensitive data like passwords, credit card numbers, and much more.
In order to protect the data from a third-party, cable modems require encryption. If a model does not feature encryption, you should avoid it. Cable modems featuring encryption are simply immune to eavesdropping.
When we talk about encryption, both of the models in our comparison are based on DOCSIS 3.0 standards and, therefore, offer encryption. DOCSIS standards have been improved vastly, and it has been proven to be successful in protecting critical information. Both of these models are quite efficient in protecting your network from any attack. This specification prevents internet users from listening to each other.
According to customer reviews, the Netgear CM700 has satisfied them with data privacy across the cable network. The channel bonding also works really well with DOCSIS 3.0 technology in providing high-speed internet without any worry of eavesdropping at all.
Wireless Speed Rating
The speed limit of wireless routers is generally displayed in the form of Mbps. Talking about a wireless speed rating, it is important to note that both these models are just cable modems. The package does not include any router to spread the signals to every corner of the house.
These modems do not feature any router functionality. Therefore, if you intend to allow internet access throughout your house, you are required to connect a router to either Netgear CM700 or Arris SB6190 to an efficient router.
Both these cable modems have an Ethernet port. This port features a maximum bandwidth of 1.0 Gbps. No doubt, both are capable of providing higher speeds, still, the maximum amount of data that can be transferred at a time is limited to this particular value.
Netgear CM700: This is best for data plans up to 500 Mbps.
Arris SB6190: This model proves ideal for internet plans up to 600 Mbps.
Clearly, we have a winner in this category. The Arris SB6190, when combined with a good router, allows you to enjoy videos and internet surfing without any buffering.
Arris SB6190
Streaming Capabilities
Whether you are a gaming enthusiast or a routine web surfer, every internet user would love to have uninterrupted data streaming. Although internet speed greatly affects data streaming, a major role is played by the capabilities of streaming devices.
Getting streaming videos without fast internet service can be quite challenging. Therefore, it is highly recommended to always look into the streaming capabilities of any model. Streaming can be altered by multiple factors, such as channel bonding or speed of data plan.
Both the models chosen for this comparison are established with great streaming capabilities. Both of them feature channel bonding technology, which enables the modem to use multiple channels when processing any download or upload. They also come with 32x8 channel technology. In simple words, each model is equipped with 32 download channels and 8 upload channels. These channels can be used simultaneously to offer amazing download performance and superior upload speed.
However, users of the Arris SB6190 have some complaints regarding signal loss at times. Therefore, our pick in this category is the Netgear CM700 for offering impressive performance. It is reliable enough to let you enjoy the best performance of your internet service.
Compatibility
Cable modems are built to show compatibility with a number of internet service providers. Most cable modems on the market are compatible with almost any internet service provider. However, there are some models that offer compatibility with a specific or limited number of ISPs.
A modem that is capable of working with a wide range of services generally wins the confidence of the customers.
Netgear CM700: It is compatible with all major cable internet providers, including Xfinity by Comcast, COX, and Spectrum. However, it is not certified by Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink DSL providers, Dish, and any other bundled voice service.
Arris SB6190: this modem is approved by Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Mediacom, Suddenlink, and many other U.S. cable providers. The drawback is that it does not work with some major cable internet providers like Verizon, AT&T, and CenturyLink.
Since Netgear CM700 is established with universal compatibility, it has a certain edge over the Arris SB6190. There are multiple data plans provided by these internet service providers to choose from. Users can avail any of these plans according to their requirements and enjoy a traffic-free network anytime they want.
Extra Features
Different manufacturers introduce some distinctive features in their products in order to make them stand out from their competitors. These features might include additional ports, a reset button, or autosensing technology in the Ethernet port. Such features play an important role in making a modem more advanced and smarter. Not only do they make cable modems user-friendly, but they also add on to the reliability of the product.
The autosensing technology in the Ethernet port allows you to recognize the local internet speed. Moreover, it has the ability to adjust the internet speed according to your demands. Similarly, the existence of a power button in a modem saves the user from the tension of plugging and unplugging the power cable.
Netgear CM700: It is equipped with a power button that allows you to turn off and on the modem in a convenient way. The Netgear CM700 also has advanced QoS technology for better performance.
Arris SB6190: This model has no power button, which makes the resetting extremely uncomfortable, especially if the power outlet is difficult to reach. It is also deprived of any built-in quality of service functionality.
Therefore, it’s pretty clear that when it comes to extra features for convenience, the Netgear CM700 is the better option.
Netgear CM700 vs. Arris SB61990 Differences
There are certain technical differences between the two models that affect their performance and usage in a certain way. Let’s discuss them one by one!
Design
One of the major differences between these cable modems is their design. Arris SB6190 is equipped with wall-mount slots that allow the user to mount the device on the wall according to their desire. The modem can be directly mounted on the wall without using brackets. On the other hand, Netgear CM700 does not have any such slots and instead comes with an integrated foot stand. Therefore, you can easily place it on your desk or shelf.
Talking about the dimensions and size, the Arris SB6190 is a bit larger and measures 5.2 x 6.6 x 1.7 inches. You can get this model in two different colors, black and white. The plastic casing has vent holes on the sides.
Comparatively, the Netgear CM700 is more compact physically and offers a tough plastic casing with a beautiful matte black finish. It measures 5 x 5 x 2.1 inches. One of the sides has a green indicator while the other features connector ports.
Warranty
The Arris SB6190 comes with a longer warranty compared to the Netgear CM700. The former model has a warranty of 2 years that covers all defects in quality and craftsmanship. On the other hand, Netgear CM700 is backed by a shorter warranty of only one-year.
QoS
QoS Technology is an advanced feature that controls the amount of bandwidth assigned to a certain device on the network. This feature helps you prioritize the speed for certain devices to ensure superior performance. The Arris SB6190 does not come with QoS technology, while Netgear CM700 is quite efficient in serving multiple devices through a router.
Overview of Our Winner
Now that the benefits and limitations of both models are in front of us, it all comes down to which one stands out among the two. Of course, the winner depends on your needs and requirements. However, for us, the Netgear CM700 is the clear winner.
It is quite difficult to find a better option than for reliability and improved features. A plus point of Netgear CM700 is the super-compact design that allows you to keep it out in the open. The black appearance with the mesh accents are highly complemented by a green indicator to show what’s working.
Similarly, the installation of this device is a breeze. Plus, you can conveniently reset the device thanks to the power button. Talking about the performance, you won’t find a better option in the market. It comes with powerful hardware that can easily manage multiple devices and provide each one with reliable internet speed. Moreover, the advanced QoS feature adds on to its excellent functionality.
The Netgear CM700 brings you the fastest speed through the 32x8 channel bonding. With this modem, you are guaranteed a seamless internet connection without any interruption. It is quite efficient in managing loads, and that’s why it is ideal for streamers as well as small businesses.
Another striking point is its compatibility with almost all major ISPs, plus it is backed by a one-year warranty to enhance the confidence of the customer. In addition, this modem offers a great download speed of 500 Mbps that is good enough to establish a reliable internet connection.
In a nutshell, the Netgear CM700 offers a fast connection that is good for online gaming, as well as HD video streaming.
Conclusion
Each of these models, the Netgear CM700 and the Arris SB6190, has its own respective pros and cons. Both are equipped with spectacular features. In the end, we found the Netgear CM700 better than the Arris SB6190 for multiple reasons. The former offers a stable, high-quality internet connection and comes with advanced features. Moreover, the speed is great, and it has 32x8 channel bonding, making it a great pick.
