Arris takes a significant leap ahead of other cable modem vendors with the groundbreaking introduction of the Arris Surfboard G54 BE18000 WiFi 7 Router, featuring a built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem.
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WiFi 7 represents the next evolution in wireless technology, supporting three distinct radio bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and the newly introduced 6GHz band. While the 6GHz radio band is present in WiFi 6E products, there hasn’t been a compact DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem product with WiFi 6E technology until now. Arris makes its mark in the WiFi 7 arena with the debut of the Arris G54.
What this Arris G54 does
Similar to its predecessors, the Arris G34 and Arris G36, the Arris G54 stands out as an all-in-one compact device. It is seamlessly integrating a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem and WiFi router. In contrast to the initial two products featuring WiFi 6 technology, this latest iteration, Arris Surfboard G54, is meticulously designed based on the cutting-edge WiFi 7 technology.
Cable modem with quad band wifi
The Arris G54 takes the lead as the first DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with quad-band WiFi, making it the inaugural cable modem-router combo crafted with WiFi 7 technology. While its predecessor, the Arris G36, competed vigorously against the likes of Motorola MG8725 and Netgear C80, the G54 stands unrivaled in its class.
Based on BE18000 wifi 7 technology, this Arris Surfboard G54 delivers total bandwidth of up to 18,000Mbps:
- Up to 11,520 Mbps @6GHz band 1
- Up to 2.880 Mbps @5GHz band 2
- Up to 2.880 Mbps @5GHz band 3
- Up to 574 Mbps @2.4GHz band 4
The extensive bandwidth coverage of the Arris G54’s quad bands ensures a robust signal envelops your entire home, offering solid connectivity across each of its four bands and spanning up to 5,000 sq ft.
Curious about adapters that support the 6GHz radio band? Rest assured, several WiFi 6E adapter models are available in the market today, including options such as the Asus PCE-AXE58T, Archer TX75E, and Fenvi FV-AXE3000 WiFi 6E adapters.
10Gbps Internet Plan
The perennial question arises: Why invest in multi-gigabit speed router products when your internet plan doesn’t support multi-gig speed? This is a valid inquiry, especially considering that the fastest DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems currently feature a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, linking to your multi-gig WiFi routers like the Arris S33 or Netgear CM2000.
The advantageous aspect of the Arris G54 is its compatibility with multi-gig internet plans, supporting speeds of up to 10Gbps if your cable internet provider already facilitates this level of speed. The maximum download speed of DOCSIS 3.1 cable technology is complemented by an upstream speed of up to 1Gbps.
Conversely, CableLabs unveils that the forthcoming generation of DOCSIS 4.0 will usher in support for multi-gig internet speeds up to 10Gbps through its cutting-edge 10G technology, boasting a downstream speed of up to 6Gbps.
Highlights
- Wifi 7 router with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem
- Supports cable internet plan up to 10Gbps downstream
- High speed BE18000 quad band wifi 7 router
- Comes with 1x10Gbps and 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports
Cons
- Doesn’t come equipped with USB ports
Arris G54 vs Arris G36
The previous products of Arris G36 is based on wifi 6 technology, generally the next model should be based on wifi 6e. However, Arris jumps higher from the product with AX3000 segment up to BE18000 with different wifi generation.
Arris G36 supports internet plan up to 2.5Gbps, this is appropriate for most homes with solid AX3000 signal up to 2,500 sq ft. if the requirement of multi-gig internet plan up to 10Gbps, and covering larger homes up to 5,000 sq ft, and connecting higher dense connected devices, you need to invest more bucks to get the newer Arris Surfboard G54 model to support all your network business needs.
Take a look at the following spec comparison table between Arris G54 and G36.
Table 1 Arris G54 vs G36
| Arris Lineup | Arris G54 | Arris G36 |
| Wifi | Quad band BE18000 wifi 7 | Dual band AX3000 wifi 6 |
| Internet Plan | Up to 10Gbps cable internet plan | Up to 2.5Gbps cable internet plan |
| Ethernet Ports | 1x 10Gbps + 4x Gigabit LAN Ports | 1x 2.5Gbps + 4 Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Coverage | Up to 5,000 sq ft | Up to 2,500 sq ft |
| List Price | $599.00 | $339.99 |
Separate Wifi 7 router plus modem
So far you can find few models of wifi 7 routers available in the market today including TP-Link Archer BE800, Netgear RS700S, and Asus RT-BE96U. With cable internet plan, you need to connect to high speed DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem that supports multi-gig internet speed plan, and so far you can find Arris S33, Netgear C2000, or Motorola MB8011 that come equipped with 2.5Gbps Ethernet port.
Let’s see the specs of the three wifi 7 router products in the following spec comparison table below.
Table 2. Wifi 7 routers
| Wifi 7 router | Archer BE85 | Netgear RS700s | Asus RT-BE96U |
| Wifi Segment | Tri-band BE19000 | Tri-band BE19000 | Tri-band BE19000 |
| Ethernet Ports | 1x 10 Gbps WAN/LAN 1x 10 Gbps SFP+/RJ45 Combo WAN/LAN 4x 2.5 Gbps LAN | 1x 10Gbps WAN Port with Link aggregated up to 20Gbps 1x 10Gbps LAN Port 4x 1.0Gbps LAN Ports with aggregated link | 1 x 10Gbps for WAN/LAN 1 x 10Gbps for LAN 1 x RJ45 1Gigabit for WAN/LAN 3 x RJ45 1Gigabit for LAN, |
| USB Port | 1x USB 3.0 | 1x USB 3.0 Type-A for network storage | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 1x USB 2.0 |
| List Price | $599.99 | $699.99 | $699.99 |
When you compare the three wifi 7 router products above, you can find that they come with the same wifi 7 technology, three radio bands and work at the same BE19000 network segment. Arris G54 is designed with BE18000 quad band wifi 7.
Supports up to 10Gbps
To connect to the multi-gig cable internet plan, you need separate DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem that so far only support internet plan up to 2Gbps. In contrast, Arris Surfboard G54 is two devices in one, it come with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem that supports internet plan up to 10Gbps.
It means that Arris Surfboard G54 is preference, lower budget and more advantages as opposed to those three wifi 7 router products plus a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem.
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Related products
For ultimate mesh wifi 7 products offered by netgear, you may consider Orbi 973 quad band mesh wifi 7 system. This ultimate Orbi 970 series delivers speed up to BE27000 with quad bands. Or you may also like to see TP-Link with its Deco BE85 quad band BE33000 mesh wifi 7 system.