Arris introduced few models of cable modem router combo, wifi router with built-in cable modem including G18, G20, G34, G36 and the latest G54. Netgear is one of its rival with its products: Netgear cax30 and cax80.
In this article:
- Arris cable modem router combo
- Arris cable modem router comparison
- Arris vs Netgear
- Comparison G20 vs Cax30
Arris cable modem router combo
Arris is a well-known manufacturer of cable modems, best known for its Surfboard series. If you look at the market today, you’ll find several Arris cable modems and cable modem–router combos, with Netgear being one of its main competitors.
One of Arris’s most popular standalone cable modems is the Surfboard S33, which uses the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology and competes closely with the Netgear CM2000. Beyond standalone modems, Arris also offers a range of cable modem–router combo devices. These all-in-one units combine a cable modem and a Wi-Fi router into a single device. Arris’s G-series models – such as the G18, G20, G34, G36, and G54—are all built on DOCSIS 3.1 technology.
Products Comparison
The Arris Surfboard SBG8300 is another DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem–router combo, but it uses the older Wi-Fi 5 (AC2350) standard. In contrast, the newer G-series models support more modern Wi-Fi standards, with most offering Wi-Fi 6 and the latest G54 model stepping up to Wi-Fi 7.
So what sets the Arris G-series apart from one another? Table 1 below outlines the current Arris G lineup using DOCSIS 3.1 technology. The key differences come down to supported internet speeds, built-in Ethernet ports, and the Wi-Fi performance tier.
Table 1 Arris G Series comparison
| Built-in Wifi | Ethernet Ports | Internet Speed | |
| G18 | AX1800 Wifi 6 | 2x 1G | Up to 1Gbps |
| G20 | AX3000 Wifi 6 | 2x 1G | Up to 1Gbps |
| G34 | AX3000 Wifi 6 | 4x 1G | Up to 1Gbps |
| G36 | AX3000 Wifi 6 | 1x 2.5G 4x 1G | Up to 2.5Gbps |
| G54 | BE18000 Wifi 7 | 1x 10G 4x 1G | Up to 10Gbps |
The G18, G20, and G34 come with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with maximum internet speed up to 1Gbps, G36 supports up to 2.5Gbps. While the ultimate G54 series leveraging Wifi 7 standards support up to 10Gbps. You will find that the next generation of DOCSIS 4.0 supports multi-gig Internet speed up to 10Gbps and beyond.
Arris vs Netgear
One of the main rivals for Arris is Netgear. Netgear offers Cax30 and Cax80 that are main competitors for Arris G20, G34 and G36. We’ll focus on Arris G20 and compare it to Netgear Cax30 which the price gap is not much different.
See also comparison between Arris G36 vs Netgear cax80, has been discussed on separate article.
Table 2 below represents spec comparison between Arris Surfboard G20 and Netgear CAX30. Both products come with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem featuring OFDM 2×2 and 32 x 8 Channel bonding. Both support cable internet speed up to 1Gbps, appropriate for home internet need for work and play. You can work from home remotely with your Logitech or Nexigo 4k webcams smoothly, your kids play online games responsively and other family members connect to media social simultaneously with no lagging.
Port interfaces
With home wifi network in place, all the laptops, computer and mobile devices connect wirelessly. However, in some instances you also need wired connection such as game console, printer or other desktop computers and NAS.
Arris G20 allows you to connect up to 2 devices with wired connection. On the other hand Netgear cax30 gives you double number of Ethernet ports for wired connection (4x 1G LAN ports).
Another advantage for Netgear Cax30 is the USB port you can connect USB disk for storage share across the network.
Comparison table
Table 2 Arris G20 vs Netgear cax30
| Model | Surfboard G20 | Netgear Cax30 |
| Wifi technology | Dual band AX3000 | Dual band ax2700 wifi 6 with 6 streams |
| Signal rates | 1,200Mbps @2.4GHz; 1,800Mbps @5GHz | 0.9Gbps @2.4 GHz; 1.8Gbps @5GHz; |
| Modem | Built-in DOCSIS 31 cable modem OFDM 2×2 + 32 x 8 Channel bonding | Built-in DOCSIS 31 cable modem OFDM 2×2 + 32 x 8 Channel bonding |
| Ethernet ports | 2x 1G LAN Ports | 4x 1.0Gbps LAN Ports, dual gigabit Ethernet port aggregation |
| USB port | N/A | 1x USB 3.0 port for share storage |
| Processor | Unspecified | 1.5GHz dual core processor |
| Dimension | 10.87 in x 9.92 in x 3.31 in / (276 mm x 251,9 mm x 84 mm) | 10.0 in x 8.3 in x 4.3 in / (254 mm x 211 mm x 110 mm) |
| Weight | 3.15 pounds / 1043 gram | 2.10 lb / 0.95 kg |
| Price | $297.00 | $282.00 |
Price gap between the two products is not too much, almost the same over the time. Click the product’s link below to learn more details of manufacturer’s descriptions and spec on Amazon.
- Click here to SHOP Arris G20 on Amazon (#Ad)
- Or you may like to see Netgear Cax30 on Amazon (#Ad)
All-in-one or separate devices
An all-in-one product is a compact device, eliminating clutter of devices at home. However, an all-in-one product such as Arris G20 or Netgear Cax30 is a single point of failure product. In case of you need to upgrade your network to the latest wifi 7 standards, you need to get rid of this device and replace it with faster one such as Arris G54. Arrs G54 comes with the latest wifi7 standards.
So if you like to be flexible in the future, a separate modem device plus wifi router is a better solution instead of an all-in-one device like G20 and Cax30. In this case, when you invest for example Arris S33 you can add the wifi router leveraging from previous wifi standards (wifi 5, wifi 6) up to latest wifi 7.
Related products
For large homes with high dens connected devices, you may consider mesh wifi system, consider popular Orbi or eero 7 products, you can select suitable products ranging from the entry level, middle range tier, or high end products.
For standalone routers, you may like to consider either Asus ax3000 or entry level be3600 wifi 7 routers. Click here Asus ax3000 or be3600 wifi 7 routers.