Are you tired of slow internet speeds or buffering videos? Do you feel like a lot of your time goes into finding a good signal in your house? Then look no further, because this Arris Surfboard Modem has you covered!
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Arris launched its first SURFBoard way back in 1997 and aimed to minimize rental costs for customers while providing high-quality internet service. The company is a pioneer of the digital TV and the first cable modem gateway, which provides a loyal customer base and great reputation.
With high-speed connectivity and low costs, the Arris SurfBoard modem series provides lag-free connection to its users anywhere at any time.
PROS
CONS
Main Features
Arris SurfBoard SB6183 is a cable modem that has many impressive functions and capabilities that make it stand out. These include the following:
DOCSIS 3.0 and 16x4 Channels
This modem supports DOCSIS 3.0, which allows cable TV streaming, including high-speed data, to current TV systems. Moreover, the modem has the capability of bonding up to 16 downstream channels and 4 upstream ones. This allows the user to gain the maximum high-speed internet experience without spending a lot of money. The more channels a modem has, the better and more efficient its network traffic will be.
High Compatibility
This modem is also compatible with most U.S. cable internet providers, such as Spectrum, Xfinity, Cox, and many more. It also comes with a two-year warranty and help from technical support, so you can get all the information you need in order to set up the modem or fix any issue that arises. The speed of the internet depends upon your ISP. For Cox and Spectrum, it functions on 300 Mbps or lower. For Xfinity, it works on 250 Mbps or lower.
Great Speeds
The modem comes equipped with data rates of up to 686 Mbps downloading speeds, which makes gaming, online shopping, and all the other daily tasks a breeze. You can also video call your family or friends at high-speed connections and HD quality video. This modem also supports the latest internet protocols and standards, which makes this device faster and more efficient than ever.
Easy setup
There are three very simple steps involved in setting up the modem. You just need to connect the power, coaxial, and Ethernet cables into their correct ports. Then, you can either call up your ISP or connect to the internet through the Arris portal. Lastly, just connect a Wi-Fi router so you can set up the internet on your devices.
Pros
Let’s dive into a few of the benefits of purchasing this modem, so you know all the good features in-depth, and how these qualities make up a reliable unit.
Stability
This modem may be on the low-price side, but it is not short of good quality. One of the best qualities of this modem is its stable internet connection and consistency. Most high-end models don’t even have this feature, but this one does. It can easily power a medium-sized home with high-speed internet connectivity in no time, eliminating any dead zones in the house. Depending on your internet service provider, this modem gives about 250 Mbps of speed easily.
Chipset
One of the biggest pros of this modem is the chipset embedded in this device. It uses the Broadcom BCM33843D chipset, which is one of the most reliable chipsets out there in terms of speed and internet consistency. The Intel PUMA one may have latency issues, but this chip is designed to function flawlessly, without having any bugs or issues like signals dropping drastically at random times. For gaming and other online streaming options, this chip is ideal and works flawlessly.
HD Streaming and Gaming
This modem is the perfect device to fulfill all your internet needs, especially if you are a hardcore gamer. You can play games with your online friends for hours and not have a single latency issue or disconnected signals. Moreover, the lag-free and buffer-free internet speed also allows you to watch movies or shows live, and stream channels online to watch them in HD quality without worrying about any lag or buffer.
Exterior
The design of this model is also of high quality and great finishing. The shiny black coating gives it a very sleek and minimalistic look, and the LED buttons let you know if there is an issue with a cable or power. This makes it very convenient for the user to diagnose the issue and rectify it immediately. It is also very sturdy and durable in terms of its exterior and does not get damaged easily. What’s surprising is that for the price, all the features of this modem are high-end, and the finish and design are also stellar. So, if you’re looking for a modem that will not break the bank, but also contains good quality features, then this is the perfect one for you.
Cons
Now that you’ve gone over the pros of this modem in-depth, let’s take a look at some of the cons attached to this device. Then you can determine whether they are important enough to revoke your buying decision or not.
Brightness of LED Lights
Some users have complained that the LED lights are too bright. While this may seem like an absurd complaint, imagine yourself in a dark, cozy room with the lights turned off for bed. If this modem is placed in your room, with its LED lights constantly blinking, it is bound to make you uncomfortable and uneasy. This makes it hard to fall asleep, which is why it is a drawback.
Compatibility Issues
One of the biggest drawbacks of this modem is its compatibility issue with some of the main internet service providers, such as Verizon, CenturyLink, and AT&T. If any of these ISPs are your cable internet service providers, then this is not the modem for you. So, just in case you were wondering if you should buy this unit or not, take this into consideration so it won't be an issue for you later on.
What is the Arris Surfboard SB6183 Best For?
Let’s now dive into the main uses of this modem and discover which target market would find it most practical and suitable for their internet needs.
Gaming
With its high internet speed of up to 686 Mbps, this modem is an ideal device for gamers. Since this device is equipped with a Broadcom chipset, you can be assured that there will be no latency or bugs in the signals. Your internet speed will stay consistent no matter what happens, and the connection will always be stable and reliable. So, if you’re an enthusiastic gamer looking for a reliable modem, do not hesitate to give this one a shot.
Medium-Sized Homes
If you’re living in a medium-sized home and need to power up the entire house with good quality Wi-Fi, this modem will not disappoint you. It has high-speed internet connectivity that allows you to shop online, play games, stream HD-quality videos, conduct video and voice calls without any interruptions, and do so much more with its 686 Mbps download and 131 Mbps speeds. It’s also great for online streaming and performing live streams because the signals don’t drop and the internet connection remains stable.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?
Before this article gets wrapped up, here are a few of the main features you should consider before buying this modem. This will prevent any buyer’s remorse later on and multiply your satisfaction level. It will also help you keep your expectations about the modem realistic.
Compatibility
As mentioned earlier, you must make sure that this modem is suitable with your current internet service provider. This can be done by calling Arris’ helpline and talking to a technician for further information and guidance or looking online to see if there is any information available. According to a few websites online and the modem's box, this device is unsuitable for Verizon, AT&T, and CenturyLink users.
Modem or Modem/Router?
You must decide whether you want a modem alone or a device that has a modem and router together. While getting a modem and a router separately has its benefits, there is also the con of added cost involved. If you’re trying to stay within a certain budget and not exceed that amount, then you should consider buying a device that functions as both.
Bottom Line
This article was aimed at users who have a strapped budget and are in dire need of an excellent-quality modem that functions brilliantly with most cable service providers. This is also ideal for those users who have a lot of heavy data downloading and internet streaming to do and need a stable connection and internet speed to ensure that the signal doesn’t drop. So, if you fall within any of these categories, this unit is the best solution to your internet issues. Say goodbye to latency and say hello to stability with this all-new Arris SurfBoard SB6183. Pay less, get more!