TLDR Review: ARRIS Surfboard SB6190 Modem
Verdict
While the ARRIS Surfboard SB6190-RB offers great value and is an excellent option for reducing rental fees, its track record of reliability and customer service issues should give potential buyers pause. If consistent performance and support are top priorities for you, consider exploring other models that don't have chipset-related issues. Overall, it can be a good choice for advanced users seeking a budget-friendly modem, but be prepared for potential troubleshooting and connectivity challenges.
- Top pro:
- Excellent value, offering a budget-friendly alternative to ISP rental modems.
- Top con:
- Frequent daily internet connection drops have been reported within 30 days of use.
Pros
- •Excellent value, offering a budget-friendly alternative to ISP rental modems.
- •Compatible with Xfinity/Comcast, even if not on their recommended list.
- •Easy setup process; essentially plug-and-play with minimal steps required.
- •Ideal for high-demand households, supporting multiple devices and 4K streaming.
- •Successfully replaces older modems, with users noting significant speed improvements.
- •Enhances online gaming experiences by removing NAT restrictions.
- •Encourages cost savings by eliminating rental fees.
- •Speed performance exceeds service bandwidth, ensuring efficient usage.
- •Effective for streaming services like Disney+ and HBOMax without issues.
- •Simple design, ideal for integration with existing mesh router setups.
Cons
- •Frequent daily internet connection drops have been reported within 30 days of use.
- •Customer service has been consistently described as poor and unhelpful.
- •Initial troubleshooting required due to defective units.
- •Modem tends to overheat, raising concerns about reliability.
- •Specific issues with speed reduction over time, dropping as low as 3-17 Mbps.
- •Known Intel Puma chipset issues not addressed by the manufacturer.
- •Limited exchange policy at retailers like BestBuy; poor manufacturer exchange options.
- •Technical support tends to blame ISPs for modem-related issues.
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How we researched this
About this review: it summarizes the professional reviews and customer ratings ShopSavvy collected for this product, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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