Arris Surfboard SB6141 vs SB6183 vs SB6121 Review

The Arris Motorola SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 modems are the most popular cable modems on the market today, and with good reason. Of course, as we continue to move away from slower DSL lines, cable modems are becoming more and more popular as time goes on.

Three of the most sought after Arris modems are the SB6141, the SB6121 and the SB6183. We have decided to compare all three of these modems in one article for your convenience.

Arris Motorola SURFboard SB6141

A solid modem and perfectly suitable for Turbo Boost.

SB6141 Features

– This DOCSIS 3.0 modem allows for bonding of 8 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels. That’s up to 300Mbps down and 100Mbps up in Layman’s terms.

– Perfect for multimedia streaming and home and/or business use.

– Can be deployed without service interruption

– Supports IPv4, IPv6 and Advanced Encryption Services (AES)

– Easy-to-read LED on the front for fast monitoring

– Uses an Ethernet port (to connect to router)

Arris Motorola SURFboard SB6183

The SURFboard SB6183 is the newest kid of the group. As such, it is the best spec’d and if you’re a heavy internet user, hardcore gamer or HD streamer, this should be considered first.

SB6183 Features

– Bundle up to 16 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels.

– Up to 686Mbps download speeds

– Plug & play installation

– Supports IPv4 & IPv6…and encryption

– 600MHz Processor to handle heavy traffic loads

Arris Motorola SURFboard SB6121

The SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 modem has been around the longest. It is fine for up to 100Mbps connections.

SB6121 Features

– Supports channel bonding of up to 4 channels in each direction. This provides up to 100Mbps upstream & downstream.

– Simple setup with Plug and Play.

– Has an Ethernet port for internal connectivity. Can auto-negotiate speeds and duplex.

Arris Motorola Modem Comparison – SB6141 vs SB6183 vs SB6121

The Motorola division that manufactures these modems have been sold off to Arris, hence the ‘dual name’ in the title.

Ok, so what about these modems?

Which modem you decide to plump for really is down to personal preference. If you are a very heavy user, it’s probably best to play it safe and opt for the SURFboard SB6183 modem with its 16 downstream channels. This is particularly the case if you are a big online gamer or downloader.

Having said that, the SB6121 is probably going to do the job for most of you out there.

All of these DOCSIS 3.0 modems are backwards compatible with older DOCSIS standards, should you require them for any reason.

It must be noted that it is not possible to make phone calls with these modems. They are for cable modem use only. There is no phone jack available.

Want to learn more? Check out our Best DOCSIS 3.0 Modems list.

We must make it clear that the speeds quoted are theoretical. There are numerous factors for this, including geographical location and network overhead/error checking.