We live in an era where the internet has brought the world to your fingertips. Therefore, good internet connectivity is incredibly important. The modem and router you choose are vital in determining the speed of your Wi-Fi, as it is capable of maximizing its performance.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price →Read Customer Reviews |
Therefore, you should only invest in a modem that works well and is compatible with your broadband service. Arris is a brand that is widely trusted to provide home connectivity. It has sold over 200 million modems and counting. One of their masterpieces is the Arris SB6190 modem. This unit is equipped with all the latest features, such as DOCSIS 3.0, 32x8 channels, etc. which enable the unit to make the most of your Wi-Fi and provide great internet connectivity.
This frees you from the troubles of leasing a modem from your internet service provider. This product provides you a much better value for money in the long term and enables incredible internet speed compared to many of its counterparts. Therefore, this review goes into detail about all the features one should look out for in the ARRIS SB6190 and whatever shortcomings it has, as well.
PROS
CONS
Main Features
This unit is jam-packed with features that are responsible for its excellent performance. Let’s take a look at all that this gem has to offer:
Speed
This product features 32 downloads with 8 upload bonded channels that provide 1.4 Gbps downloads along with 262 Mbps upload speeds. These are highly significant, as they enable the unit to be future-proof and work great for heavy gaming and smooth streaming, as well as normal use without any hiccups. This also enables the product to be used for streaming and gaming by more than one user (2-3 users) in a household.
Compatibility
It is compatible with all the major U.S. internet service providers such as Cox, Xfinity, etc. Moreover, it is IPv4 and IPv6 compatible, which makes it incredibly versatile and accessible to a much larger audience than most of its counterparts. It carries an Ethernet port capable of supporting one Gbps link speeds, which is incredible.
Durability and Ease of Use
The product carries a two-year limited warranty, which allows it to be highly durable, reliable, and a great investment in the long run. It comes with an app that has a very user-friendly interface and is easy to navigate to allow easy access to the settings of your network from the convenience of your phone.
Pros
The ARRIS SB1690 is one of the most well-built modems in the market. It has been packed with features to provide high functionality. You may, however, wonder what exactly makes this a worthy purchase. Let’s take a look at some of these pros which make this unit better than its counterparts:
Offers DOCSIS 3.0
One often comes around this term when looking for a modem. It is a very commonly used acronym, however, not everyone knows what it stands for or what its importance is in your modem. It stands for "Data Over Cable Service Internet Specification". It is basically just an indication of the fact that your modem is capable of providing broadband internet. The version is 3.0. It is the most commonly used version in a modem and is capable of providing high-speed internet.
Versatile
It’s crucial to have a unit that is compatible with a wide range of internet service providers. This unit is compatible with all the major U.S. internet service providers, which includes Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, etc. This enables this unit to be highly versatile and accessible to a wider audience. Thus, you no longer have to worry about your modem not being compatible with your internet service provider. Furthermore, it is compatible with both IPv4 and IPv6. This enables it to work for both web addresses, as both are commonly used these days.
Download Channels
This modem has 32 download channels and 8 upload channels. A lot of people don’t quite understand the significance of download and upload channels. To simplify it, the greater the number of download channels you have, the more highly capable your modem is of fast streaming. This also enables a fast and smooth gaming experience.
Internet Speed
This unit is capable of handling internet speeds of 300 Mbps and above. This enables it to work well in the future, as well without posing any hiccups. Furthermore, it offers high download and upload speeds, which allow more people in your home to easily stream HD videos and play games on the internet effortlessly.
Easy Management
This unit comes with the ARRIS SURFboard Manager app, which allows you to manage the settings of your network, from the comfort of your phone. The interface of this app is incredibly simple and user-friendly, making it easy for people to access the settings. A lot of times, people who aren’t tech-savvy find it very hard to update user settings or set their internet access. However, this app breaks it down to the simple basics, enabling people to do so successfully.
Two-Year Warranty and Great Customer Service
When looking for a product, it’s very important to choose one which is warrantied. Fortunately, this unit is warrantied for two years from purchase, which is incredible, as not a lot of brands offer this generous assurance of reliability. Furthermore, ARRIS is known to have incredible customer service. This is important so you can get assistance regarding any issues you have with the product.
Cons
There are certain things worth mentioning that may be troublesome for some of you. Let’s take a look at some of this product's cons.
Features an Intel Puma 6 Chipset
This model features an Intel Puma 6 chipset, and the reason why this is a problem is that many buyers noticed that the chipset was seriously flawed. This causes serious latency and other issues. However, immediately taking note of the situation, some firmware updates were issued to resolve the issue. It has been a hotly-debated topic, as some buyers seem to have benefited from the update, whereas some haven’t.
It’s safe to say that for those of you who only use internet connectivity for regular use such as light streaming, web surfing, checking emails, using social media, etc., the modem works perfectly fine. However, if you are an avid online gamer, you may notice the shortcomings very clearly.
Gets Pretty Warm
This isn’t solely the case with this modem but often occurs with most cable modems, and is barely noticeable. A very easy fix for the situation is to make sure the ventilation of the unit isn’t hindered by any object and you’re good to go!
What is the Arris SB6190 Best For?
You may be wondering what exactly is it that the ARRIS SB6190 excels at? Let’s take a look at all the functions of this unit, so you have a better understanding of its performance:
Everyday Use
Everyday use comprises of light streaming, web surfing, using Facebook, YouTube, checking emails, etc. If all of this seems like what you use the internet for, then this modem is perfect for you. It is equipped with all the features needed for seamless browsing and net surfing.
Online Gaming
A lot of times, modems don’t seem to be able to measure up to the speed requirements of online gamers, you need a very consistent and reliable network. This unit, fortunately, has both of those qualities. Due to the DOCSIS speeds of up to 1.4 GB, you can enjoy seamless gaming without experiencing any lag. This is any gamer’s dream!
HD Video Streaming
Video streaming might be pretty important for some of you. Fortunately, the ARRIS SB6190 enables buffering-free HD video streaming. This can be attributed to its DOCSIS 3.0 protocols and other advanced specifications, such as the 32 download channels.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?
There are certain factors that need to be considered when buying a modem. These simplify the buying process for you. Let’s take a look at these so you can get a better understanding of the product and the experience you will have with it:
Compatibility
Often times, compatibility is a factor that is shrugged off by people, as they are too involved in looking at the features the modem offers. This results in people buying a modem that isn’t compatible with their internet service provider, then having to go through the extensive process of returning the product and getting on hour-long calls with the customer service. The SB6190 is compatible with all the major U.S. ISPs, however, it is always a good practice to double-check the compatibility of your ISP against the modem from the brand’s official website.
Price Point
People are often confused about whether or not they should spend money on a modem or lease one from their internet service provider. However, if you consider the price point, it is beneficial in the long run to buy a modem instead of leasing one. It may not seem so, but the $10 to $12 per month contract with your ISP for two years would total up to about $240, whereas buying a modem once will cost you a lot less. Fortunately, the ARRIS SB6910 is one of the most affordable modems in the market.
Ease of Use
The ARRIS SB6190 comes with an app which enables the user to easily manage all the Wi-Fi settings from anywhere, through their phone. The settings are further simplified and easy to understand for even those who aren’t tech-savvy. This enables the modem to be easy to use.
Bottom Line
There are an array of modems in the market, which makes it tough for a consumer to decide which one to invest in. The ARRIS SB6190 makes it a very easy choice for you. This unit is equipped with all that is needed for a seamless, smooth, and fast internet connection. It maximizes the speed by your ISP to provide incredible internet connectivity.
The brand has, over the years, gathered great global recognition for making incredible products. The SB6190 gained a lot of recognition, as well. This unit is equipped with advanced features such as DOCSIS 3.0, a 1-Gigabit Ethernet port, etc. which is responsible for its high functionality.
It is highly versatile, which is what makes it work for so many different people. It is compatible with all the major U.S. internet service providers and can be used for gaming, HD video streaming, as well as regular use. All of these features enable it to be a great investment for everyone.
