Arris Sbg8300 is a wireless cable modem gateway with legacy wifi 6, a wireless ac2350 router with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. How does Arris sbg8300 vs Netgear c7800 perform?
In this article:
- Legacy Cable Modem Gateway
- Arris Cable Modem Gateway
- Distinguishing factors
- Arris Sbg8300 vs Netgear C7800
Legacy Cable Modem Gateway
Arris enters the WiFi-6 arena with the release of the Surfboard G36 wireless gateway, following the success of its predecessor, the Surfboard SBG8300, which relied on legacy WiFi-5 technology. And Arris just unveiled its ultimate product with the flavored of next generation wifi 7 technology – the Arris Surfboard G54.
The question arises: is it still a wise choice to invest in the Arris SBG8300, or is the new Arris G36 a more compelling option?
See also Netgear CM2000 and Motorolla MB8611 DOCSIS 3.11 cable modem, native cable modem you may add to wifi router such as Deco X95, or connect to new eero 7.
Similarly, Netgear introduces the CAX80 and CAX30 with WiFi-6 technology after the triumph of the Netgear C7800, a device based on legacy WiFi-5 technology. In a dilemma between Arris SBG8300 and Netgear C7800, especially if you’re sticking with a legacy WiFi-5 network, which one offers a more economical solution?
Arris Cable Modem Gateway
So far Arris introduced few numbers of cable modem gateway products – the compact device that integrates wifi router and cable modem for simple installation and reduce network cable cluttering, ranging from legacy wifi-5, wifi-6 and the latest one is wifi 7.
- Arris SBG7400
- Arris SBG7600
- Arris SBG8300
- Arris G34 / G36
- Arris G54
Before the Surfboard SBG8300 series, Arris had already unveiled cable modem wireless router products that were popular at that time including Surfboard SBG7400 and SBG7600 series. These cable modem gateway products, with varying speeds, shared a commonality – an integrated wireless router boasting wave 2 WiFi AC2350 simultaneous dual-band capabilities. Technically, each model promises WiFi speeds of up to 1733Mbps @5GHz and up to 600Mbps @2.4GHz.
Distinguishing factors
The primary distinctions lie in the cable modem types and speeds integrated into the wireless router. Refer to the following table for a detailed breakdown. While both Surfboard SBG7400 and SBG7600 operate on DOCSIS 3.0, the Arris SBG8300 steps into the DOCSIS 3.1 realm, offering speeds ten times faster than its predecessor.
The second differentiation is in the downstream internet speed, particularly in the number of channel bonding. The SBG7600 boasts 32x channel bonding with speeds up to 1.23Gbps, a notable difference compared to the 24x channel bonding of the SBG7400. Given the backward compatibility of the DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem with existing DOCSIS 3.0 infrastructure, investing in the SBG8300 proves worthwhile for those seeking blazing internet speeds of up to 4Gbps. As a reference, the ultimate Arris G54 supports double blasting internet speed of up to 10Gbps.
Spec comparison table Surfboard Series
Table 1 Surfboard Sbg8300 vs Sbg7600 vs Sbg7400
| Surfboard sbg7400 | Surfboard sbg7600 | Surfboard sbg8300 | |
| Cable modem | DOCSIS 3.0 | DOCSIS 3.0 | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Channel bonding | 24 x 8 | 32 x 8 | 2×2 OFDMA / 32 x 8 DOCSIS 3.0 |
| Downstream Internet speed | 1.0Gbps | 1.23Gbps | 4Gbps |
| Upstream speed | 240Mbps | 240Mbps | 1Gbps |
As the Arris SBG8300 hits the market, its primary contender emerges in the form of the Netgear C7800 (aka Nighthawk X4s), which debuted a few months before the SBG8300 release. The competition between these two products sets the stage for a comprehensive comparison.
With the advent of WiFi 7 technology, Arris expands its lineup by introducing the ultimate Arris Surfboard G54 alongside the popular Arris G34 and Arris G36, both still grounded in WiFi 6 technology with built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems. The Arris G54 boasts two multi-gig 10Gbps Ethernet ports and two additional 2.5Gbps ports. To delve into further details about the Arris Surfboard G54, click here Arris Surfboard G54.
To learn more details about Arris G34 and G36, click here Motorola Mg8725 which discusses those two Arris g34 and g36 cable modem gateway which are still based on wifi 6 standards.
Now let’s discuss which of the arris sbg8300 and Netgear C7800 is worth buying if you don’t want to switch to wifi-6 network or super fast wifi 7 technologies.
Arris Sbg8300 vs Netgear C7800
Upon its initial release, the Arris SBG8300 was competitively priced at around $100 less than the Netgear C7800, strategically positioning itself as a more economical alternative. This pricing strategy aimed to capture the attention of customers seeking a similar product at a more budget-friendly rate, despite a few technical specification differences.
So, what sets these two products apart? The spec comparison table below outlines the primary distinctions between the Arris SBG8300 and Netgear C7800, aiding you in identifying the main differences, if any.
See also comparison Motorola DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem vs Arris, both native DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem and gateway.
Cable modem
Both products share a commonality in featuring a built-in DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, offering speeds up to 10Gbps. This ensures compatibility with cable providers employing DOCSIS 3.1 infrastructure, such as Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, and other US cable providers. The backward interoperability with DOCSIS 3.0 infrastructure provides added flexibility and peace of mind.
Wifi router
While both devices utilize simultaneous dual-band technology, they operate in different network segments. The Surfboard SBG8300 employs wave-2 AC2350 technology with a total aggregated bandwidth of up to 2,350Mbps. In contrast, the Netgear C7800 utilizes wave 1 AC3200 technology, delivering a total aggregated bandwidth of up to 3,200Mbps.
Port interfaces
And one more physical difference is the existence of two USB 3.0 ports on the Nighthawk X4s (Netgear C7800) that is absent on the Arris Sbg8300. This USB port is typically used for sharing printer or hard disk storage. However, when you use Windows PC platform at home you can utilize printer and file sharing feature offered by Windows series as well as Mac platform.
Table 2 Arris Sbg8300 vs Netgear C7800
| Model | Arris Surfboard SBG8300 | Netgear C7800 (aka Nighthawk X4s) |
| Cable modem | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.1 |
| Cable speeds | 10Gbps download speed (2 x 2) OFDM 32 x 8 Modem Channel , up to 1Gbps downstream | 2×2 OFDM ready up to 9Gbps / 32 x 8 channel bonding speeds of up to 1Gbps internet downstream |
| Wifi technology | Dual band AC2350 wave 2 | Dual band AC3200 wave 1 |
| Wifi speeds | 1,733Mbps @5GHZ 600Mbps @2.4GHz | 2,200 Mbps @5GHz 1,000 Mbps @2.4GHz |
| Antenna | 3 x 3 and 4 x 4 MIMO antenna arrays | Four (4) high performance active antennas |
| Ethernet ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector) MDI /MDI-X | Four (4) Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports |
| USB ports | N/A | Two (2) USB 3.0 ports |
| Processor | Unspecified | Dual core 1.5GHz processor with 128MB Flash and 256MB RAM |
| Price | $249.00 | $199.99 |
Which One to choose
With few technical advantages on Netgear C7800 Nighthawk x4s cable modem wireless router, you can choose between Netgear c7800 with better technical features, however this products has been marked as discontinued. So, it’s much better to choose Arris SBG8300, or you also like to opt Arris G36.
To learn more spec details and manufacturer’s description, click the product link below to shop in Amazon (#ads).
Related products
To taste the next generation of wifi 7 technology, you may start with lower level wifi 7 network segment product, try this Archer BE550 BE10000, instead of Asus Rog Rapture AXE11000.