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Motorola MB8611 vs Netgear CM2000: The Better 2.5G Modem?
- Admin
- November 26, 2023
In 2017, Netgear revolutionized the cable modem market by launching CM1000 and continued making upgrades until CM1200. While they have updated this CM-series with the latest offering, CM2000, it’s targeted towards multi-gig internet.
Back to CM1000 and CM1200, the core of the modem stays almost the same. However, the latter brings upgrades in design and ethernet ports. So, is spending extra dollars worth it? How do these gigabit modems perform in long-term usage?
SB8200 vs MB8600: Specifications
|
Traits
|
Arris SB8200
|
Motorola MB8600
|
Winner
|
|---|
| DOCSIS Technology | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.1 | DRAW |
| Channel Bonding | 32 x 8 / 2 x 2 | 32 x 8 / 2 x 2 | DRAW |
| Ports | 1 x Gig Ethernet | 4 x Gig Ethernet | CM1200 |
| Internet Plan Support | Up to 1 Gbps | Up to 1 Gbps | DRAW |
| Modem/Router Combo | No | No | DRAW |
| ISP Compatibility | Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, Suddenlink, WOW!, Mediacom | Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, Suddenlink, WOW!, Mediacom | DRAW |
| RAM | 256MB | 256MB | DRAW |
| Nand Memory | 128MB | 128MB | DRAW |
| Processor | Broadcom BCM3390 | Broadcom BCM3390 | DRAW |
| Price | $229 | $249 | CM1000 |
| Dimensions | 8.8 x 5.4 x 5.9 inches | 6.1 x 3.4 x 10.3 inches | CM1200 |
| Weight | 2.14 pounds | 1.22 pounds | CM1200 |
| Release Date | December 15, 2017 | April 22, 2019 | CM1200 |
Netgear CM1000 vs CM1200: 5 Aspects Compared!
To prepare this comparison, I tested each modem as my go-to networking ally for over a month, only to understand their practical speeds, performances, ISP compatibility, and ease of usage. I now have a clear understanding of their capabilities and performance in different setups.
In the upcoming sub-sections, I will compare SB8200 to MB8600 across multiple aspects.
Speeds & Performance
The 32 x 8 channels and 2 x 2 OFDM/OFDMA support make it one of the fastest modems available. Its raw speed can peak up to 2.5 Gbps. Besides, it’s backward compatible with DOCSIS 3.0, so pairing any lesser speed plans is also fine.
Since Spectrum doesn’t offer any multi-gigabit plans, I paired it with the Internet Gig. The setup involved MB8611 and a Netgear RAXE300 WiFi 6E router, which delivered excellent speeds. At about 15 feet distance, my MacBook Pro experienced download speeds of 846 Mbps and upload speeds of over 36 Mbps.
Adding to it, the AQM (Active Queue Management) functionality is built for better traffic prioritization, which comes in handy in minimizing latency and ping to an extent. I could play most games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Titanfall 2, and Fortnite at 103-108 FPS.
Also, similar to SB8200, the consistency was there, and I enjoyed gaming on PS4, binge-watching shows, and attending video calls. Overall, MB8600 is slightly better in terms of speed and latency,
Overall, Motorola MB8611 is a top-rated cable modem that’s approved by Charter Spectrum. Its 2.5 Gig-E port and powerful processing setup make it my top pick. Check out its in-depth review for more details on hardware, design, etc.
ISP Compatibility
| ISP | ARRIS SB8200 | Motorola MB8600 |
|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | ✅ | ✅ |
| Optimum | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cox | ✅ | ✅ |
| Spectrum | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mediacom | ✅ | ✅ |
| Midco | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sparklight | ✅ | ✅ |
Both MB8600 and SB8200 are approved for use with most major ISPs out there, except the latter misses out on compatibility with Optimum. That gives MB8600 a slight lead over its counterpart.
Besides, none can accommodate DSL or Fiber Optic connections like Verizon FiOS, CenturyLink, and even ones offering bundled plans.
Design & Port Setup
Also, the SB8200 weighs a mere 2 pounds, which is quite acceptable, considering the excellent ventilation on display. Next in line is the Motorola MB8600, which might be a tad spread-out at 7.88 x 7.25 x 2.25 inches but weighs less than the SB8200 at 1.15 pounds. Contradictory, isn’t it?
The MB8600 comes with a bigger array of LEDs, with the front panel accommodating an additional LAN-specific LED, which is missing on the SB8200.
Not exactly, as the black-colored chassis doesn’t exhibit hardened plastic and can be occasionally considered malleable. Port setup is quite straightforward, with Arris offering 2 GigE slots, a power button, and a slot for the coaxial cable.
If you stay in a locality where power surges are common, the MB8600 is a better modem to purchase courtesy of the circuit-protection support.
Installation & Setup
As with most modems out there, setting up SB8200 or MB8600 is very simple. Sliding into the instruction manual with them further eases the process. If you are still scratching your head, here’s a simplified version of it:
Start with plugging in the coax & power cable, connect the router to your computer using the Ethernet port, and follow it by turning on the power. It might take a few seconds to boot up, and as the indicator light turns steady, visit the ISP self-activation page and enter the Mac ID. The overall process took me about 10-15 minutes.
Here’s one thing worth mentioning my SB8200 had some trouble connecting to the internet. But that’s not very concerning, as I solved it by resetting the device twice.
Similarities Between ARRIS SB8200 and Motorola MB8600
- Both are among the most efficient DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems.
- DOCSIS 3.0 fallback is supported for standard internet services
- Each modem supports 2×2 OFDM/OFDMA channel bonding in case DOCSIS 3.1 speeds are sought after
- Full band tuning for improved energy efficiency and speeds
- Easy to configure interface
- Comparable flash memory for storing network details
- IPV6 support
- Broadcom chipsets for quick processing
- Comparable pricing
Who Should Choose ARRIS SB8200?
Investing in the Arris SB8200 makes sense if you prefer:
- Multi-ISP and router compatibility
- Fast streaming performances
- Coverage for multi-gig internet plans
- IoT setups
- Home automation support
Who Should Choose Motorola MB8600?
This modem is a better bet if you are driven by the following:
- AQM support for high-speed gaming
- Multi-device streaming at home
- Setting up a larger network
- Competitive Pricing
- Usage in areas prone to voltage fluctuations and power outages
Frequently Asked Questions
In terms of network performance, the ARRIS SB8200, with a powerful processor paired with 3GB RAM and an additional ethernet port, provides good connectivity throughout the day. But then, Motorola offers slightly better practical speeds and has AQM for low-latency gaming.
With DOCSIS 3.1 tech and plenty of channels, Motorola MB8600 claims to support plans up to 1 Gbps. In my test, the download speed maxed out at 937 Mbps, sufficient for any high-bandwidth tasks like gaming, streaming, etc.
Similar to Motorola MB8600, the ARRIS SB8200 comes with a maximum of 1 Gbps speed support that yields real-time speeds of 924 Mbps. But with better hardware and an additional Ethernet port, connectivity and network stability is great.
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