ARRIS(SB8200) - Cable Modem - Fast DOCSIS 3.1 32x8 Gigabit Cable Modem , Approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, Charter Spectrum, & more | 1 Gbps Max Internet Speed, 4 OFDM Channels - (No Built-in Wifi)

This is a review of the ARRIS (SB8200) - Cable Modem.Tip: Before selecting a new cable modem, go to the website of your ISP and review their list of "approved" cable modems. You could also call your ISP to find an "approved" modem. Your ISP may prefer that you to use one of their modems. Sometimes their modems are provided at no additional cost, so you might be able to save some money. I verified that this Arris SB8200 cable modem was on the "approved" list for my local ISP (Spectrum). While I am very happy with the Arris SB8200, you might consider finding an "approved" modem that has come out more recently (a newer model).Short review: I recently replaced my 10-year-old cable modem with the Arris SB8200 modem. I am on a 400 Mbps (megabit per second) plan with Spectrum, but I was only getting 90 Mbps. With the new modem, internet speed more than quadrupled (to 480 Mbps). I am quite pleased. I have read reviews by people who claimed to have had bad experiences using this modem on a Sprectrum system, but I had no problem whatsoever. Installation and activation were very easy and quick. The self-installation via the web did not work for me, but I easily activated the new modem with a quick phone call with Spectrum (no wait on phone; less than 10 minutes to activate). I discovered some problems with my home network that I discuss below, but these were completely unrelated to the new Arris modemHave MAC ID (from box or modem label) before you activate: You must report the MAC ID for the new modem to your ISP to activate, so have it handy before you start.Important Tip: The rest of this review concerns internet speed issues from causes other than the modem. The most important lesson learned: Make sure you replace all your old-style Cat5 Ethernet cables with newer Cat5e or Cat6 cables. Cat5 cables are limited to 100 Mbps (megabits per second) and may be “bottlenecking” your system.My system: My home was built with an Ethernet system that supplies at least one Ethernet outlet in every room. I have been using Ethernet instead of WiFi. The Cat5e Ethernet cables supplying this system come together in a central distribution box, which houses the cable modem and a router. In some rooms, Ethernet switches (splitters) are used to share an Ethernet outlet among several devices. Of course, internet speed may drop due to any of these components.Before installation:-- Studied the Quick Start/Installation guide (available online) before modem arrived.-- Watched a 4-minute Sprectrum video on how to install a new cable modem.-- Learned what the various lights on the modem mean (including solid and flashing lights).Cable modem installation with Spectrum:Note: For this installation, Spectrum service was already established (on old modem).-- Turned off computer-- Connected modem directly to computer with a new Ethernet cable (Cat5e), bypassing router and home Ethernet system-- Turned on modem: Based on behavior of lights, modem appeared to update its firmware (automatically). After about 6 minutes, lights indicated modem was ready.-- Turned on computer: Opened web browser and attempted to go to the Spectrum self-install web page. Would not connect.-- Called Sprectrum to activate modem: Gave the MAC ID of new modem to pleasant costumer service rep. After updating the MAC ID, rep remotely reset modem.-- Ran speed test: Speed had been 90 Mbps with old modem, it was over 400 Mbps with new modem. (Glory be!)Lessons learned about home’s Ethernet system:-- After the modem had been activated, I moved it into the Ethernet cable distribution box and hooked it up to the old router. Ethernet speed was only 90 Mbps, just like when using the old modem. Hmmm.-- Installed the new router, Ethernet speed was still only 90 Mbps. Hmmm.-- Turned on WiFi and connected computer via WiFi: Speed jumped to over 400 Mbps. Great!-- Turned off WiFi to test Ethernet system. The switches/splitters are gigabit rated, so I hoped they were not the cause of the "bottlenecking."-- Replaced all the Ethernet cables with new Cat5e cables: Ethernet speed jumped to 480 Mbps. Problem solved!-- Besides higher internet speeds for the computers, Youtube videos on the television are much, much improved. Very pleased.Summary: Your new Arris modem may (by itself) enable you to get much higher internet speeds. However, make sure all of your network gear (router, switches/splitters, and cables) can support 1 Gbps (gigabit per second). For example, if you have Cat5 cable anywhere in your system, your speed will be limited to 100 Mbps, so replace them with Cat5e or higher cables.

works great with COMCAST BUSINESS account use at our FAMILY HOME OFFICE in NorCal ... last one burned out after 10+ years of reliable use ... and our older BACK UP uits are no longer *supported* by COMCAST despite being DOCSYS 3 ... shame on COMCAST (!!!) .... but still a good idea, to buy an extra one as HOT SPARE so you can swap it in when/if yours fails .. a quick call to COMCAST business class support and in 10-20 minutes they "provision" the update download and add your serial #/MAC address into their system and you are up and running ... note I said "Comcast Business", not "Comcast Residential" which as we all know is a horrific,painful and often useless expereience to call about anything ... pay just a little bit more and get COMCAST BUSINESS (they are actually separate companies with separate tech support/ngineering) ... and YES you can get COMCAST BUSINESS installed at your home address

The modem itself works fine. I am unhappy that I expected a new modem and got a returned item.Modem has a strange quirk. If I use my internet browser to configure the modem, the Wi-Fi password MUST contain special characters (@#$%^&*), however when I use the Arris app, I can configure a password without special characters. Therefore, I configured most of the settings in my browser, which is easier, and set the password in the app.This replaced a Cox Panoramic Wifi modem. It should have twice the wifi range. However, I lose the wifi connection at the same location when I walk to the mailbox. No big deal, just an observation, it works great in my 1,800 SF house.

I made a mistake just about 2 years, 3.5 months ago, and one that I never intend to make again. I was an idiot, because in 2015, I purchased an ARRIS surfboard, and were it not for the updated tech inside, one would never know the difference between that one, and the one on which I made this mistake. That one DIED in approximately 2 years' time as well, and while I could go find out exactly how long it lasted, I won't. ARRIS isn't worth any more of my time. BTW, I might add that I am an IT professional in the industry for about 25 years, so I know what I'm talking about.So, 2 years, 3.5 months ago almost to the day, I purchased this modem - my existing modem at the time, a different brand, the one I had purchased to replace the PREVIOUS ARRIS that DIED way too soon - was still working, but I discovered quite by accident that my 7 letter internet provider had quietly upgraded my access, charging me more, and I needed a DocSys 3.1 to take advantage of those new speeds that I was already paying for. So, I checked the reviews at multiple sites, like I imagine most of us do, and went ahead and ordered this ARRIS, forgetting the past temporarily.Over the past couple of months, I've had my internet access go down suddenly, and considering I require my access for work, that was no bueno! Fast forward to this evening, and after more frequent outages, tonight this ARRIS DIED. So, I grabbed one of the two older modems that I had lying around there (see, told you, IT industry) and hooked the first one up... but, I couldn't restore my service. THAT was the previous ARRIS Surfboard that I had replaced. Then, I grabbed the other one - NOT an ARRIS - plugged it in, reconfigured my provider's access info yet again, and bam! 15 minutes later, I'm back online. Mind you, It's a DocSys 3.0 modem, so my speeds are slower, but, that replacement modem STILL WORKS. OH! BTW, I used it for 4 years! It was also in the same price point as the ARRIS modems when I purchased them.The moral of the story? Take it from an IT guy - DO NOT BUY ARRIS MODEMS! EVEN IF ALL THE REVIEWS TELL YOU THEY ARE THE "best" - because they are clearly INFERIOR, with PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE! They appear to me, to be DESIGNED, to DIE JUST FAR ENOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY that you can't contact them and say "This device JUST went out of warranty and I want it replaced!" Look for a more reliable brand. Even if it takes a little longer to arrive, or costs a little bit more. It's HIGH TIME we consumers show companies like ARRIS, that we're not going to tolerate their crap, and we're not going to be forced to purchase "extended warranty" coverage, when the device should normally last much longer than the warranty period. It's better for our planet, better for our pocketbook, and we need to combat the "planned obsolescence" that so many companies want to bake into their products because they're greedy and want to force us to purchase new products from them more frequently.The two old ARRIS modems that I now have are going to the recycling center, and I will make myself a note in my master list of brand names to avoid, NEVER to purchase an ARRIS again!