Motorola SB6141 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (White)

Replaced my older DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem with this one – what a difference! Download speed is over twice as fast now – caps out at 3 MB/s download for files. I have Cox Premier service, so I was under-utilizing my service capabilities using my old SB5101 modem. You definitely need DOCSIS 3.0 if you are paying for higher plans from your ISP.

I purchased this MOTOROLA SB6141 SURFboard modem after receiving a notice from Comcast that I should upgrade my modem to DOCSIS 3.0. I purchased this more expensive white color one instead of the less expensive black color one (of the same model number) after hearing that some black ones were not really new, but had been used by carriers.Anyway, this modem works for Comcast. Activation took about ten minutes with a call to 877-266-2678 (Comcast tech support). With my five-year-old DOCSIS 2.0 RCA modem, Speedtest.net test reported 16.4 Mbps download speed, 0.21 Mbps upload. With this new DOCSIS 3.0 modem, the download speed has been doubled to 38.77 Mbps (but the upload speed is the same).Update (one week later): the modem still works well, never stopping or flipping. The download speed tested via Speedtest.net and via a wired connection is still pretty good, ranging between 30 (5-10-2013) to 40 Mbps (5-9-2013). The upload speed, though, remains 0.21 Mbps on each testing.One user asks if he can use this modem with Comcast phone service. I think not. I believe that will require a different modem with telephony. Check Comcast site for the devices with phone feature: […]. Personally, I use Ooma gadget (Amazon also carries it) to work along with this modem. Other modems will also work with Ooma. As long as you have the Internet working, Ooma will get you all the phone features you want at a much lower rate (basic rate is less than $10). I have been using Ooma for five years now, and it works well.2nd Update (after speaking to Comcast tech): As my low upload speed (0.21 Mbps) caused my outgoing email with attachment to halt a long time, I gave Comcast support a call. They manually entered my MAC ID into their system, and had me reboot the modem AND the router. That really made a big difference, I am getting a download speed of close to 50 Mpbs, and an upload speed of 11 Mbps (vs 0.21 Mbps). Big help from the Comcast tech! (My Comcast Internet service is “Blast” or “Performance”, with “Powerboost”.) So all is really good now.3rd update (one month): the modem still works without any issues. Speedtest.net tests reported download speeds around 60 (Mbps), but upload speeds ranged from 11 (5-12-2013) to 0.97 (6-1-2013), even after powering off and on both the modem and the router. I assume that it was the carrier (Comcast) who is to blame, not the SB6141 modem.4th update (almost two years after the purchase): For about five months now, I am enjoying a super fast download speed of over 120 Mbps and an upload speed of over 12 Mpbs. With the same modem, same carrier (Comcast). Comcast has upgraded their speed in certain areas, and I received a notice to that affect. I only needed to reboot my modem once, and instantly saw my download speed jumped from 50 Mbps to over 120 Mbps.

If you hate how your internet provider charges you a modem lease fee for their crappy secondhand modem, this will be the perfect investment. It used to cost me $6/mo. to lease a weak, ugly, clunky modem from Time Warner, but for $80 flat this SurfBoard will not only pay for itself in 14 months but it also provides terrific, reliable internet in a nice little package.The setup couldn’t be easier. There’s a cable input, ethernet port, and a power jack. Plug in all three, connect the ethernet to your router, and it’s good to go.I have a Time Capsule, and it’s almost as if the SurfBoard was made for it. In terms of seamless installation and sleek looks, both go great together. The modem is surprisingly light and has a very small footprint compared to the ugly, bulky ones I’m used to.If Apple made their own modem, I imagine it would perform and look just like the SurfBoard.

I bought this a year ago. It has been working flawlessly. I have Comcast Cable. It connects easily to the high speed internet. I have all the blue LED lights showing on this meaning it is getting the high speeds. I have it connected to an Apple Airport Extreme router. The two of them together work great. If my power goes out or I have to unplug everything for some reason it boots up fast and I am back in business again within a minute or less. No complaints. The LED lighting is bright though. I had to put some dimmer tape across the front panel. I can still see all the lights but they aren’t blindingly bright anymore with the dim tape on it. Solid modem.9/20/15 update – still running perfectly for over 2 years with no problems encountered.11/12/16 update – nearly 3.5 years of continuous reliable performance.

It stopped working after 10 days. Not good.

Works very well. Easy to set up. I had to call Comcast (my Internet Service Provider) and they activated the modem to my account with them. Although there was in the beginning some kind of conflict between modem and my router, the Comcast tech got everything to work. I’ve had no problems since then. I recommend this cable modem without hesitation.

I’m using this instead of the questionable combo router rented by SuddenLink (Northern California). This modem connects directly to my Apple AirPort Time Capsule (4th Generation). I did indeed have to inform SuddenLink that I have a new modem, which I did over the phone. After a month of operation, I felt like it was a keeper, so I dropped off the rental, which lowered my monthly internet bill.I went from having to restart the rental every day to never having to do any restarts using this product. It also seems like my download speeds have increased as well.

What a great little modem! It does exactly what I want it to with no monthly charges by CrudCa$t. It’s about a third the size of the monster that I was told I would have to have. Well, I don’t need that monster from cable as I do not need their Wi-Fi (have an awesome Asus RT-66U, a year or so old but still rocks) or telephony hook-up (went with the O company, works great for me).The unit was ready in about 10 minutes including a 5 minutes firmware download from cable (at least that’s what was on the screen). All I had to do was log in my cable account and it was detected and updated quick. NO CALLS to cable, yippee! I guess I will have to give one to the cable guys for getting on the ball on activation.The unit is as fast if not a bit faster than cable Co unit but have only tested 2X at same time of day, not enough to give true data on speed in my view. Ping 19ms (about 4 ms higher), DL 59.62 Mbps, UL 6.10 Mbps to Bothell WA. about a 50 mile trip by line.

After looking around for modems for awhile, I finally broke down an purchased this beauty. I opened the un sealed box and connected, after a little fiasco from TWC, it worked like a charm. This thing is blazing fast, couldn’t be happier. The lights are a little much though!

Works perfectly and even gets me 3 MBPS more than the 30 MBPS in my TWC internet plan. Although the internet service works great, the upload and download icon lights are solid blue (instead of green), the world icon is dark and the bottom icon is flashing blue. Maybe because the modem is connected to my router instead of a computer?…

This modem installed easily and is very fast. So, what is the problem then?Blinding and I mean BLINDING blue lights on the front. When we turn our lights down/off in the evening our living room looks like a night club with blue and flashing orange lights, and walking by casts shadows on the walls. Very disturbing and hard on the eyes. :(As described here: http://texyt.com/bright+blue+leds+annoyance+health+risksSee this photo, an Apple express is to the left. This modem is to the right, note even the reflection off a piece of wood is incredibly bright. I have to keep it covered with several layers of masking tape, but that still isn’t enough.

 I love this product but yesterday this started I can’t even get online.. and I wish that I didn’t waist money or at least have support answer me so I can try to get a new modem sent to me.. 🙁 but Comcast came and checked and rewired everything to legitimately check there side thinking it was them… But there side was all good test modem checked out as well…. If anyone had this problem let me know so I can dress this to them or try something. Basically the activity would stop and then all the blue likes (Normal) would then vanish and only the power button would turn green.. and can’t figure it out.. btw it will work for like 10 seconds then turn off.=====================================Updated – I did like the Support. They are sending me a new modem and sending them back the old one.. even though it was a month old.. They sent me the wrong modem the first time around but they are paying and fast shipping the right modem to me so make sure if you ever get something sent from them double check the model number…Otherwise this is still a good product and 2 year warranty can’t complain much more then what I have already about my modem turning off and on by it self etc..

Ok I have Knology out here in grovetown aha and was renting a modem from them.They have bad service and the highest they offered in my area was 4MB/Sec.I figured I’d get a new modem instead of leasing from them especially when I looked up the old as dirt modem they are leasing me on here and saw people complaining just like me and it had 3 stars.So I bought this modem along with white wifi router that is recommended and I’m impressed.I have less internet issues and I did the internet speed test websites and they say my download speed it 18-24mb a second and when I check my connection speed on my Xbox one or PS3 it tells me 24-34mb a sec so I’m ecstatic that the headache is gone

Just got this installed. I will try to come back and add to this review after I have it running a few months. I honestly only bought my own modem because I was tired of the $7/month charge for the one the cable company had given me. I expected some increase in speed, but this was great. The image shows my before (top) and after (bottom) and was taken during the first 15 minutes before they applied the throttle for my tier of service. Since that throttle has hit though I am consistently at the 60MBPS rate that I pay for finally. Very satisfied with the initial performance.

YO!!!!!! I’m so excited right now. For years with Comcast/Xfinity I have been complaining that my rented Comcast modem was not getting me the 25-30 MBPS they stated i’d receive. I never got over 7MBPS. I just setup this ARRIS SURFboard SB6141 modem and BOOM!!!!!! 30.5 MBPS!!!! This Modem is Wonderful!!!!

This modem works well and does modem things as a modem should. That said, it is covered in blue blinking lights and with the white plastic and side perforations the whole thing seems to glow blue. It makes my living room look like a rave. Maybe you like that kind of thing? I don’t. At first I hid it in a desk drawer, then put it in a box, but it heats up in there. I’d try electrical tape, but it would still glow out the sides. Probably buying a new modem even though this works fine.

Great modem for boosting your internet speeds. We have Comcast (unfortunately), and we were paying $10/month for a two in one modem-wifi router that gave us about 22 Mbps on a good day. We have a 75mbps plan with them. This modem (along with the TP-LINK C7 AC1750 router) is now giving us more than 75 Mbps — still don’t know how that’s possible but I’m not complaining.I did run into an issue activating it however, but I’m to believe Comcast is to blame. The modem we received was activated elsewhere (said by Comcast) which is why I couldn’t self activate it. They to take it into a local Comcast store (30 minutes away) to have it deactivated. I called again before I left to be extra sure it would be fixed and I didn’t waste time and gas. If this happens to you, DONT GO TO THE STORE. They told me I should call a representative. I called again and after getting told this modem isn’t a Comcast verified modem, I went off and guess what: they magically fixed it over the phone. Worst people ever I swear.I attached a screenshot of my speed scores (from my iPad might I add, while streaming a movie to my room). I’m sure you can figure out when I switched modems.

It gets two stars instead of one because I’m hoping it’s just my walls that are the problem, and also because I think the design is cute….. However….. They didn’t even last a night. I came downstairs in the morning & they looked like crap, and one tree was totally off. I could tell when I was putting them up that I was going to have the issue, but I stayed hopeful…. I’m happy they were only $8.99 and that I only got two.

Works perfectly. Only complaint is the super bright LEDS on the face that can light up a room. I snapped a picture. Even the white case is lit.

Bye to Comcast $10.00 rental fee. Just received it in the mail today. It was installed with little effort, but I still had to contact Comcast to complete the installation.1. Uninstall the Comcast modem and/or router.2. Plug the cable/coaxial into the SB61413. Connect the power connector to the SB6141 and electrical outlet.4. Wait for the modem to come online.5. Once the modem is online, connect to the modem using an ethernet cable.6. My computer notified me that I need to open a webpage to finshed the activition. I click on the balloon message and it open the browser. I type in […] activate and enter my account information; sign in. It will take you to a new page to finish activting your account…but of course they as you to call to finish the installtion. I was impress because it only took about 5 to 10 mintues for them to activited the modem. They are going to ask if for the MAC and S/N numbers, model (SB6141), product name (Arris). From that point I just wait for them to input the information and I was online.

I really love this modem. Small but works so good..I bought this after thinking and hoping google fiber opening soon in my state, but I think that’s gonna take long time for Google to instal all the cable in all state in US. So I think I will stick with TWC for couple years until I can use google fiber.So last month TWC call me, and offered upgrade new modem since I’m using ultimate Internet and he said upgrade for free, no charge, and about 4 days before He call me I have problem with the modem which the login wifi always drop, can not login to my wifi. And I have to restart the modem.And I went to TWC to switch my modem with new one that they said free. And waalaaaa.. It’s freeeeee….But I’m still thinking something weird. And I check my internet payment and walaaaa.. They increase charge $2 for the modem from $8 to $10. WTH they said free upgrade but they charge it without confirm to me. So mad..So I bought this tiny modem with router.. I instal it.. And..Wohooooo….When I used modem from TWC I just got 27-32mbps internet speed. And already complain couple times and tired complain about speed.But after i have this mighty modem, u guys can see I got 2x speed then I have before..From 24-32mbps BECOME 75-8bps for dlAnd upload from 5mbps BECOME 12mbps.

Wow! What a difference! Before I had this modem, I was running my business internet at only 6mb, and now I’m downloading 50mb download 8mb upload!Granted, speed is entirely dependent on your service provider, but to access those speeds you need to have a good and up to date modem like this one. It’s compact, yet has a nice weight to it so you don’t really have to worry about it falling over during the day to day reorganizing of your desk .Installation was a breeze. I simply hooked up the wires in the back, called my service provider, and within 30 minutes everything was finished. The indicators really look nice and I really like the build quality of this one compared to my old motorola.This modem is compatible with Suddenlink services in WV, so if you’re looking for something to save you $5.00 a month, this is your guy. Suddenlink leases residential customers the modem, so with this it will literally pay for itself after some time.I would definitely recommend this to anyone who can access higher download speeds and would like to save some money on their monthly bill. It works seamlessly and anyone could install it!

First impressions;Super high speed internet connection! I have paid for 150 on Xfinity Comcast and with this modem. Get more than that! So it’s really worth it!

At the time I’m writing this review, I’ve had this modem for about 3 years now. I’m specifically reviewing the Surfboard SB6141, in case this shows up along with other SB model reviews. You don’t need my review to know it’s one of the best 8×4 channel modems you can buy, there are plenty of other reviews here that will give you those details. When I purchased the modem, I specifically wanted a simple and reliable stand-alone modem with a single ethernet port to connect it to my router and this one seemed to fit my requirements perfectly. I have not had any issues with the modem over the 3 years it has been in use. My unit predates the branding changes made after the Arris acquisition, so it’s only branded as a Motorola modem with no mention of Arris.My cable provider is starting to roll out network upgrades in my area and because I’m on a higher service tier, after the upgrades are complete I’ll eventually need to replace this modem with a 16 channel unit to handle their higher speeds. After researching newer options, I realized there was some useful technical information that many modems lack in their reviews, so I hope to provide that here for anyone researching modems in the future. With several potentially good options available that meet my needs, I feel like this type of information can be a useful to consider when you’re left with several options that seem like they would be fine.First up is power consumption. I used a kill-a-watt meter to measure the power consumption of this modem at what I consider to be an idle state. In this case, idle doesn’t mean not using it at all because that’s not a realistic usage scenario, but rather an email client and chat client are running but nothing is actively being streamed or downloaded. For this test, my meter reads 5.9 watts being used by the modem at idle.Next up is external heat. Attached is a photo of the modem taken with a thermal imaging camera. The temperature in the room is about 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest point of the outside of the modem reads as 98 degrees Fahrenheit. To the touch the modem is just warm but not hot. I don’t have the numbers for other modems, but I would consider this to be reasonable. In general devices that run cooler are less likely to suffer from failures due to overheating.I have the modem connected to an uninterruptible power supply (battery backup) so it had been running 24/7 for many months before the photo was taken and power consumption was measured. The power consumption data is useful to me for that reason, as it helps me to maximize the amount of time that the modem remains online during a power outage. (The cable line is still active while the power is out, with backup power I’ve remained online for several hours during outages with this modem.)I hope this data is useful for someone, as it’s something I’ll be trying to look for when I buy future networking hardware.

I finally decided to replace my old SurfBoard DOCSIS 2.0 modem (COX internet) that was dropping connection every time when there was few devices streaming video contents, and I very happy with this upgrade!!! New Modem hasn’t dropped connection once!Before I got this modem, I read that many people were complaining about bright LED on front. And Yes, they are bright!!! You can google it and find lot of ideas how to tone brightness down. But this is what I did. Friend of mine had old peace of window tint for cars ( I believe it is darkest one, I am not sure) that I cut it and tape it over front panel with regular scotch tape. If that is still to bright, apply two layers. For me, one layer works fine. And it does not look bad.If you walk into any windows tinting garage in your neighborhood, I bet they will give you that small peace of tint for free!Hope this was informative and definitely recommend this modem to everyone who is still on DOCSIS 2.0