Arris’ Surfboard S33 is currently their flagship cable modem product. It’s considered one of the best options available in the market and competes closely with the Netgear CM2000. How do these two products stack up against each other?
In this article:
- Arris Surfboard S33
- S33 Doesn’t Support LAC
- When is DOCSIS 4.0 coming?
- Surfboard S33 vs Netgear CM2000
When it comes to online gaming, a fast and reliable internet connection is crucial. Gamers also want to ensure their game console is connected solidly to the Wi-Fi router, without any interference from other devices that could slow down the network or cause latency issues.
To ensure you have fast and reliable internet, it’s important to use a high-speed cable modem and a broadband internet plan with sufficient bandwidth from your cable provider. One option for a high-quality modem is the Surfboard S33 cable modem, which is manufactured by Arris – a leading vendor in this space.
Arris Surfboard S33
The Arris Surfboard S33 is a cable modem that is designed to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to users. Arris is a well-known brand in the networking industry and has been producing modems and other networking equipment for many years. The popularity of the brand can be attributed to its focus on quality, performance, and innovation.
The Surfboard S33 is a popular cable modem model from Arris that has gained a lot of attention from users due to its high performance and advanced features. It is designed to support the latest DOCSIS 3.1 standard, which allows for faster internet speeds and improved stability. The modem also support DOCSIS 3.0 infrastructure with 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels, which further enhances its speed and connectivity.
In terms of competitors, the Surfboard S33 faces stiff competition from other modem models such as the Netgear CM2000 and the Motorola MB8611. These modems offer similar performance and features, and users often choose between them based on personal preferences and pricing. So far, these three products are so popular to allow you subscribe blast internet plan up to 2.5Gbps from your cable providers.
Overall, the Arris Surfboard S33 is a high-quality modem that provides fast and reliable internet connectivity. It is a popular choice among users and competes well with other leading modem models in the market.
When is DOCSIS 4.0 coming?
The DOCSIS 3.1 cable technology is currently the fastest cable technology available in the market. However, the next generation of cable technology, DOCSIS 4.0, is expected to support up to 10Gbps – also known as 10G internet technology. It’s unclear when this technology will become available, but it could be in the next few months or years.
In the meantime, there are already a few high-speed WiFi 6E products on the market that come with a multi-gig 10Gbps WAN port. This port is designed to be ready for the future release of DOCSIS 4.0, which will support even higher internet speeds. For example, the Netgear Orbi rbke963 axe11000 and TP-Link Deco Xe200 Axe11000 are both equipped with this multi-gig 10Gbps WAN port.
The next generation of WiFi technology, WiFi 7, is just around the corner and has already been applied to a few models of WiFi 7 products. One example is the TP-Link Deco Be95 Be33000, which is showcased on Amazon and is based on this future WiFi 7 technology.
If you require a high bandwidth internet plan, it’s essential to have a high-speed DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. The Arris Surfboard S33 and its competitor, the Nighthawk CM2000, both offer high-speed cable modem options that are compatible with DOCSIS 3.1 and can support fast and reliable internet connectivity.
Stylist Design
The Surfboard S33 has a stylish design that features a beautiful model with smooth curves and no sharp corners. The body of the modem has vents on the upper side, as well as on the lower left and right sides, with deep grooves that give it an artistic appearance.
In comparison, the Nighthawk CM2000 from Netgear has a solid and sturdy body without the graceful curves offered by the S33. While it may not be as visually appealing as the Surfboard S33, the Nighthawk CM2000 is designed to be robust and durable, ensuring that it can withstand regular use without any issues.
Multi Gigabit Ethernet port
There are many WiFi 6 routers available today that come equipped with a multi-gigabit Ethernet WAN port, allowing them to take full advantage of the multi-gigabit Ethernet port of the DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. One example is the TP-Link Archer ax11000, which comes with a 1×2.5Gbps WAN port.
Both the Nighthawk CM2000 and the Arris Surfboard S33 are equipped with a 1×2.5Gbps Ethernet port. However, the Surfboard S33 also comes with an additional 1x Gigabit Ethernet port that can be used as a separate network. This port can be used to connect to other WiFi 6 routers with a gigabit WAN port, such as the Asus rt-ax55 ax1800 router. This allows for even greater flexibility and control over your home network setup.
Doesn’t support LAC
It’s worth noting that while the Surfboard S33 comes with two Ethernet ports, it does not feature link aggregation. If you plan to use the second Ethernet port as a separate network, you would need two separate public IP addresses if you want to create two separate networks from a single Arris S33 modem. This is because each network would need its own unique public IP address to communicate with the internet.
Normally, internet service providers (ISPs) only provide one public IP address per residential account. However, some ISPs may provide additional public IP addresses for an additional fee or for business accounts. Without a second public IP address, it may be possible to create a second network using Network Address Translation (NAT) or a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) setup, but this can be more complex to configure and may not be suitable for all network setups.
The Surfboard S33 sets itself apart from other cable modems that have link aggregation between their two Ethernet ports, such as the Netgear CM1100. While there are several models of WiFi routers that come with a WAN port that supports aggregated link, which combines the WAN port and one of the LAN ports (usually the first LAN port), the S33 does not offer this feature.
For example, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX78 comes equipped with 1x Gigabit WAN port and 4x Gigabit LAN port. You can take advantage of the WAN port and the first LAN port (located next to the WAN port) to activate the aggregated link WAN port and connect to the Netgear CM1100 cable modem. However, this feature is not available with the Surfboard S33.
If your current WiFi router only has a 1 Gigabit WAN port and supports an aggregated WAN port with a LAN port, it may be a good idea to invest in the Netgear CM1100 cable modem. This modem is equipped with two Ethernet ports that support an aggregated WAN port, allowing you to take advantage of the faster speeds offered by a multi-gig Ethernet port.
Highlights
- High speed DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem for high speed Internet up to 2.5Gbps
- 1x Multi gigabit 2.5Gbps for new high speed Multi gigabit Wifi router and 1x Gigabit Ethernet port for separate second network
- 2×2 OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels and 32 x 8 channels bounded DOCSIS 3.0
- Compatible with major US cable providers including Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity and still more.
- Modern and stylist style looks nice in your room
Cons
- comes with two ports but doesn’t support link aggregation
The Arris Surfboard S33 DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem is currently priced at around $170 on Amazon. If you’re looking for a comparison, the competing product Nighthawk CM2000 is priced higher at around $350 on Amazon.
Additionally, if you’re interested in other Surfboard series modems that come with an AC3200 wifi-5 router, you can compare the Surfboard Sbg8300 vs Nighthawk X4s by clicking here. However, if you would like to invest the recent DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with wifi combo, check here most popular cable modem router combo 2023.
Surfboard S33 vs Netgear CM2000
The Arris Surfboard S33 is available at a much lower price compared to its competitor, the Nighthawk CM2000. Although both products are technically similar, the Surfboard S33 has an added advantage of having two Ethernet ports, while the CM2000 only has one.
Ethernet Port
Notably, the Surfboard S33 comes equipped with two Ethernet ports, which allows for the creation of two separate networks. If you have two different wifi routers, you can establish two distinct wifi networks. However, as mentioned earlier, a second public IP address is necessary to create the second network.
A premium wifi-6 router that features a multi-Gigabit WAN port, such as the TP-link Archer ax11000 wifi-6 gaming router, can maximize the 2.5Gbps multi-Gigabit Ethernet port of the Surfboard S33.
Take a look at table 1 below which shows technically a comparison table between Arris Surfboard s33 and Netgear Nighthawk cm2000.
Table 1 Surfboard s33 vs Netgear CM2000
| Model | Arris Surfboard S33 | Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 |
| Cable modem | DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem | DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem |
| Speed | 2×2 OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 up to 2.5Gbps and 32×8 channel bonding DOCSIS 3.0 up to 1Gbps | 2×2 OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 up to 2.5Gbps and 32×8 channel bonding DOCSIS 3.0 up to 1Gbps |
| Ethernet ports | 1x 2.5Gbps high speed Internet port 1x Gigabit Ethernet port | 1x 2.5Gbps |
| Price in Amazon (Jan 2023) | $199.00 | $219.99 |
Currently, the price difference between the Arris S33 and Netgear CM2000 is not as significant as when they were first released to the market. In fact, the prices for both modems have decreased significantly since last year. However, the prices on online stores like Amazon and Best Buy are fluctuating over time, and frequently they over best deals. Click the product links below to learn more details the product in Amazon (#ads).
- Click here to SHOP Surfboard S33 DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem
- Or you may like to Click here to SHOP Nighthawk CM2000 in Amazon, Or Click here to in Best Buy
Related products
With high speed cable modem up to 2.5Gbps, you may deploy to support your business offices wireless access point such as Ubiquiti Unifi 6 Lite and LR access point products, or other vendor such as TP-link with its Omada eap660 HD wifi-6 AP series or the lower model Omada eap265 HD series.