The latest cable modem products introduced by Motorola are Motorola MB8600 and Motorola MB8611 DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, while for the latest DOCSIS 3.1 gateway products are Motorola MG8702, Motorola MG8725, and MG8733.
In This Article:
- Motorola vs Arris Surfboard
- Arris DOCSIS 3.1
- Motorola vs Arris DOCSIS 3.1
- Motorola vs Arris Surfboard Gateway
- Upcoming Docsis 4.0
ARRIS acquired Motorola home in 2013, its popular Motorola surfboard cable modem products line is now under arris surfboard. How does Motorola cable modem products line compete with Arris?
Motorola vs Arris Surfboard
Both Motorola and Arris introduce two types of DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem devices, the native cable modem (without NAT, network address translator) and the gateway model (the wifi router with built-in cable modem).
Motorola DOCSIS 3.1
There are two types of DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem products offered by Motorola, the Motorola MB8600 and MB8611 DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, while the gateway models are Motorola mg8702, Motorola mg8725 and mg8733. The last three products are wifi routers with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem in one compact device.
What is the difference between Motorola mb8600 and mb8611?
Motorola MB8600 vs MB8611
Both Motorola MB8600 and the latest one is MB8611 are DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems with 2×2 downstream / upstream OFDM, compliant to 32×8 Channel bonding DOCSIS 3.0. Technically, these two modems can support downstream internet up to 4.8Gbps from your cable provider. However, the maximum that can be supported depends on your cable modem.
Table 1 Motorola Mb8600 vs MB8611
| Cable modem | Motorola MB8600 | Motorola MB8611 |
| DOCSIS download speed | Up to 1,0Gbps internet plan | Up to 2.5Gbps |
| Ethernet Ports | 1x 1Gbps Ethernet Port | 1×2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) LAN port (supports 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps) |
| Internet Plan up to | 1,000Mbps | 2,500Mbps |
| Dimension | 7.8 in x 2.5 in x 7.25 in (200 mm x 57 mm x 184 mm) | 7.25 in x 2.25 in x 7.88 in (184.1 x 57.1 x 200,1) mm |
| Weight | 1.15 lb (523 grams) | 1.1 lb / 498.9 grams |
| Price | $129.99 | $169.99 |
If you compare these two series with the latest two products offered by Arris, you can find that Motorola mb8600 is comparable with Arris Surfboard sb8200, and the Motorola mb8611 is comparable with Arris Surfboard s33.
See also Netgear cm2000 vs Motorola mb8611
Let’s see what Arris offers to the market recently.
Arris DOCSIS 3.1
So far Arris released two models of DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem; the Surfboard SB8200 and Surfboard S33. While the gateway products released are arris surfboard SBG8300, arris surfboard gn34 and arris 36. Let me take each of them and compare them to Motorola.
Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem
There two series of DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem model offered by Arris; the Surfboard Sb8200 and the latest one is Surfboard S33. What are the main differences between these two models? Take a look at the following spec comparison table 1 to help you understand the differences.
Both of the two models support multi network, you can create two separate networks when you subscribe two separate cable internet services for load balance or a kind of failback & failover system. The Arris Surfboard S33 comes with 1x 1Gigabit Ethernet and 1×2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, while the sb8200 comes with 2x 1Gigabit Ethernet ports.
Table 1 Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem
| Model | Arris Surfboard SB8200 | Arris Surfboard S33 |
| Cable technology | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Downstream / upstream channels | 2×2 Downstream / Upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels Compatible with 32×8 DOCSIS 3.0 | 2×2 Downstream / Upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels; Compatible with 32×8 DOCSIS 3.0 |
| DOCSIS download speed | Up to 2 Gbps download | Up to 3.5 Gbps download |
| Ethernet Ports | 2x 1Gigabit Ethernet Ports | 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet Port 1x 1Gigabit Ethernet Port |
| Multi network support | Yes | Yes |
| Dimension | 5.13 x 1.7 x 5.25 in (130.1 x 43.2 x 133.3) mm | 5.14 x 1.8 x 4.74 in (130.55 x 45.7 x 120.4) mm |
| Weight | 1.59 pounds / 712 grams | 0.9lb / 408.2 Grams |
| Price | $149.99 | $199.99 |
Today you can find few premium models of wifi 6 routers that come with 2.5Gbps WAN port such as D-link ax6000 wifi 6 router, the new wifi 6e routers such as Asus gt-axe11000 wifi-6e router and the newer models of mesh wifi 6 systems such as Orbi rbk850 and Asus xt8.
How those products are compared to help you choose which one is suitable to meet your business needs?
Motorola vs Arris DOCSIS 3.1
We see that both Motorola and Arris offer three models of devices based on DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem and available in the market. Let’s see how they are compared.
Motorola MB8600 vs Arris SB8200
Both Motorola mb8600 and Arris sb8200 are DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem you can use for internet plan up to 1Gbps from your cable provider. The main difference between them is sb8200 comes with 2x 1Gbps Ethernet ports but mb8600 only one. Should you like to create two separate private networks, sb8200 is ideal to support your business need.
Take a look at the following table 3 below, both mb8600 and arris sb8200 are docsis 3.1 cable modems delivering upstream 2×2 ofdm and are compatible to 32×8 docsis 3.0 cable modem infrastructure, so do all docsis 3.1 cable modems.
Table 3 Motorola mb8600 vs Arris sb8200 Docsis 3.1
| Cable modem | Motorola MB8600 | Arris Surfboard SB8200 |
| Docsis 3.1 Cable technology | Yes | Yes |
| download speed | Up to 1Gbps | Up to 2 Gbps download |
| Ethernet Ports | 1x 1.0 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) LAN port (supports 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps) | 2x 1Gigabit Ethernet Ports |
| Multi network support | No | Yes |
| Dimension | 7.8 in x 2.5 in x 7.25 in (200 mm x 57 mm x 184 mm) | 5.13 x 1.7 x 5.25 in (130.1 x 43.2 x 133.3) mm |
| Weight | 1.15 lb (523 grams) | 1.59 pounds / 712 grams |
| Price | $129.99 | $149.99 |
The price difference is around $20, Motorola is cheaper than Arris.
Motorola MB8611 vs Arris Surfboard S33
If you’ve already had wifi 6 routers or mesh wifi 6 systems in place with multi-gig 2.5Gbps WAN port, while currently your cable modem is still equipped with 1.0Gbps Ethernet port, you need to replace it with the one that comes with 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. This will deliver maximum data rate throughput between modem and the router only if you subscribe multi-gig internet plan up to 2.5Gbps from your internet provider.
Which one is suitable to meet your homes need, Motorola MB8611 or Surfboard S33? If you only need to build one single network, Motorola mb8611 is appropriate. However, with Surfboard s33 you can create two separate internet network in homes.
Please note that arris s33 with two ethernet ports doesn’t support link aggregation wan like the one offered by Netgear cm1100 or cm1200. You can find few models of wifi 6 routers support wan aggregation by combining one wan port and one lan port into a teaming port. You cannot use arris s33 for link aggregation, but you can use netgear cm1100 or cm1200 cable modem.
Table 4 below shows you spec comparison table between MB8611 and S33 cable modem.
Table 4 Motorola vs Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem
| Cable modem | Motorola MB8611 | Arris Surfboard S33 |
| Docsis 3.1 Cable technology | Yes | Yes |
| Download speed | Up to 2.5Gbps | Up to 3.5 Gbps download |
| Ethernet Ports | 1×2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) LAN port (supports 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps) | 1x 2.5Gbps Ethernet Port 1x 1Gigabit Ethernet Port |
| Multi network support | No | Yes, but not link aggregation |
| Dimension | 7.25 x 2.25 x 7.88 in (184.1 x 57.1 x 200,1) mm | 5.14 x 1.8 x 4.74 in (130.55 x 45.7 x 120.4) mm |
| Weight | 1.1 lb / 498.9 grams | 0.9lb / 408.2 Grams |
| Price | $169.99 | $199.99 |
See here that the only main difference is the inclusion of another 1x Gigabit Ethernet port in addition of 2.5Gbps one for s33. Since the price difference is not too much, Surfboard s33 is ideal to choose in case you need separate network for experiment or other technical tasks. Read more details for further discussion, see current price and best deals in Amazon (#ads).
- Click here to SHOP Motorola MB8611 (#ad)
- Or Click here for Arris Surfboard s33 (#ad) Or see this product in Best Buy (#ad)
Motorola vs Arris Surfboard Gateway
For folks that prefer all-in-one model of cable modem gateway, which is a wifi router that comes with built-in cable modem they may consider one of these DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with wifi products. Motorola and Arris both introduce two models either based on legacy wifi 5 or wifi 6 standards.
Motorola offers Motorola mg8702 with legacy wifi5, while Motorola mg8725 is wifi 6-based product. On the other hand arris offers arris surfboard sbg8300 wifi 5 and the recent series are arris surfboard g34 and g36 which are based on latest wifi 6 technology.
Motorola Mg8702 vs Arris Sbg8300
Both of these two products are still based on legacy wifi 5 standards that are still worth purchasing for homes with bunch of legacy wifi 5 devices (wireless ac devices). Even those wifi 6 devices are compatible in connecting to legacy wifi 5 routers, however not as fast as connecting to wifi 6 ones.
Please refer to table 5 below for spec comparison between Motorola mg8702 and arris surfboard sbg8300, both come with built-in docsis 3.1 cable modem.
Table 5 Motorola Mg8702 vs Arris Surfboard Sbg8300
| Cable Gateway model | Motorola MG8702 | Arris Surfboard SBG8300 |
| Built-in Docsis 3.1 Cable modem | Yes | Yes |
| Wifi technology | Simultaneous dual band AC3200 wave 2 | Simultaneous dual band AC2350 Wave 2 |
| Wifi speeds | Up to 2167Mbps @5GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO Up to 1,000Mbps @2.4GHz 4×4 MU-MIMO | Up to 1733Mbps @5GHz 4×4 MIMO; Up to 600Mbps @.4GHz 3×3 MIMO |
| SSIDs | 4x SSIDs / 2x each band | Primary, secondary and guest SSIDs |
| Antennas | 4x dual band internal antennas | 3×3 and 4×4 MIMO antenna arrays |
| Ethernet Ports | 4x 1Gigabit LAN Ports with Auto-MDI/MDIX | 4 x 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) MDI /MDI-X |
| USB Port | 1x USB 3.0 with DLNA | N/A |
| Dimension | 9.5 x 2.8 x 8.8 in (241 x 225 x 71) mm | 2.87 x 8.0 x 9.33 in (72.9 x 71.1 x 236.9) mm |
| Weight | 30.43 ounces / 862 grams | 1.94 lbs / 0.88 kg |
| Works with Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Price in Amazon (Jul 2021) | $249.99 | $280.44 |
Motorola MG8702 offers more advantages over Surfboard sbg8300 considering mg8702 is designed with higher speed AC3200 wifi and the inclusion of 1x USB 3.0 for USB disk storage. Moreover Motorola mg8702 is tagged with lower price, not too much actually.
Click the link below to read more details, current price and deals in Amazon (#ads), and other different products.
- SHOP Motorola MG8702 in Amazon (#ad)
- Or you may like to SHOP Surfboard SBG8300 (#ad)
These two products are still based on legacy wifi 5 standards with cable modem, what about the products with recent wifi 6 technology?
Motorola Mg8725 vs Arris G34 / G36
With the emerging of wifi 6 products in the market, both vendors Motorola and Arris release the latest product based on this recent wifi technology. Motorola released mg8725 and mg8733 ax6000 wifi 6 products. The difference between the two series is the inclusion of two voice phone ports for mg8733, but mg8725 isn’t.
What about arris wifi 6 product? The latest products released by arris are arris surfboard g34 and surfboard g36. Both of these two series are the same except g36 is equipped with 2.5Gbps, but g34 is not.
Please note that Arris just released its ultimate product, cable modem with router product based on the next generation of wifi 7 technology. Click here to read Arris G54 BE18000 cable modem router. This product supports multi-gig 10Gbps internet plan and 10Gbps LAN port.
So what is the difference between Motorola Mg8725 and arris surfboard g36? We can use table 6 below to get a better insight between the two product series.
Both products are wifi 6 products with built-in docsis 3.1 cable modem. See that the main difference is the network segment each the product works at. Mg8725 delivers double bandwidth as high as Arris g36, and both are equipped with one multi-gig 2.5Gbps lan port to allow you connect to high speed NAS device for example. However, g36 comes with one more gigabit lan port than mg8725.
If you don’t require multi-gig 2.5gbps port you may consider arris g34, the price is few bucks cheaper than g36. You can refer to the following spec comparison table between mg8725 / mg8733 (with two phone ports) and arris g36.
Table 6 Motorola Mg827 vs Arris G36
| Cable Gateway Model | Motorola Mg8725 | Arris Surfboard G36 |
| Built-in Docsis 3.1 Cable modem | Yes | Yes |
| Wifi technology | Simultaneous dual band ax600 wifi 6 | Simultaneous dual band ax3000 wifi 6 |
| Wifi speeds | Up to 1200Mbps @2.4GHz 4×4; Up to 4800Mbps @5GHz 4×4; | 1,200Mbps @2.4GHz; 4×4 1,800Mbps @5GHz 3×3 |
| SSIDs | 4x SSIDs (2 SSIDs / radio band ) | One network name or each band |
| Ethernet Ports | 1x 2.5Gbps LAN; 3x Gigabit LAN ports ; with Auto-MDI/MDIX | 1x 2.5Gbps LAN Port; 4x Gigabit LAN ports |
| USB Port | N/A | N/A |
| Dimension | 8.8 in x 5.7 in x 3.5 in (223.5 mm x 144.8 mm x 88.9 mm) | 10.87 in x 9.92 in x 3.31 in (276 mm x 251,9 mm x 84 mm) |
| Weight | 32 Ounces / 907 grams | 3.15 pounds / 1043 gram |
| Works with Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $399.99 | $329.99 |
With double bandwidth, mg8725 is more costly than arris g36. To learn more details, click the link below to learn more details the product, see current price and best deals in Amazon (#ads).
Click here Arris g36 in Amazon Or click here to see in Best Buy
Upcoming Docsis 4.0
Today you may find few models of premium products introduced to the market with multi-gig 10Gbps Ethernet port, you can name it new deco xe200 or orbi rbk963. As far as I concerned many people may find it too much having 10Gbps wan port since today the high speed cable modem comes with only 2.5Gbps port. However, you can find fiber optic internet services such as Sonic offers you up to 10Gbps internet service.
Basically this 10gbps wan port is to wellcome the upcoming future of docsis 4.0 cable internet with 10G internet technology that will come soon probably in couple of years.
Related products
For small to medium homes need for mesh wifi system, you may consider affordable TP-link Deco x68 ax3600 mesh wifi, or you may try new Orbi rbk763 or deco xe75 pro.