The ARRIS Surfboard S34 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem is a solid choice for anyone looking to maximize their internet performance. I upgraded to this modem to handle faster speeds from my ISP, and it delivers consistently strong and stable connections, even during peak usage times.Setup was straightforward. I connected it to my ISP (Comcast Xfinity in my case), followed the activation steps, and was online in minutes. The modem supports multi-gig speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, which means it’s ready for future internet upgrades without needing another replacement anytime soon.What stands out is its reliability. Streaming, gaming, and video calls run smoothly without buffering or lag. The compact design also fits neatly on my desk without taking up too much space.One small consideration is that this modem doesn’t include a built-in router, so you’ll need a separate one for Wi-Fi. However, that’s standard for high-performance modems like this.And here’s a quick tech joke: Why did the modem break up with the router? Because they just couldn’t connect anymore!Overall, the ARRIS Surfboard S34 is a top-notch modem for anyone who needs high speeds, stable performance, and a device that’s ready for the next generation of internet plans. It’s a smart investment for fast and reliable connectivity.

First, make sure you are selecting the right modem as this Amazon listing has two totally different modems for no apparent reason. One is the fast one (S34) and the other is a completely different slower modem.I have the Xfinity 2GB internet plan and have tried no less than six different modems with poor results until now. The screenshot posted in this review was taken this morning. It was on my laptop, connected wirelessly over Wi-Fi 6e using this S34 modem and the Asus AXE11000 router.Plugged directly into the modem via ethernet I can get 2.2Gbps and as you can see in the screenshot wirelessly I can get 1.6.There are a lot of negative reviews here on Amazon for this modem, but I believe it is people either not setting up their router properly or they have bought the cheaper slower modem on the same listing as every other review on every other website for the S34 is mostly positive.While today is only day one of having this modem, I have not yet experienced any issues . I was shocked by the tiny size of the modem. It is approximately 50% the size of the old surfboard modems and about 20% the size of the Xfinity XB8 gateways.Give this modem a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

The ratings on here are very confusing because it’s showing ratings for two totally separate devices! The S34 has been awesome so far and we’ve gotten amazing Wi-Fi results combining it with the TP-Link deco AXE5300 mesh routers.I just replaced our Netgear CM1100 modem and Orbi routers after years of consistent and reliable service. We weren’t having any issues at all but we’re paying for a higher tier Internet service and wanted to take advantage of the speeds along with the 6e WiFi on so many newer devices.It does run a little warmer than our old modem and is much smaller than it looks in the pictures.The speed test pictured is Wi-Fi speeds not direct ethernet connected.You can see the test with the old router/modem combination and the new one below and above that red line in the picture.No issues so far, I will update this if we have any connection issues moving forward.

Solid and very compact DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem.Note this is a cable modem/cable-ethernet bridge only and does not include wireless connectivity and is not a router. You will need other devices that have a compatible twisted pair copper ethernet port to make use of it, such as a "wifi router" or other layer 3 device.Works perfectly with Cox Business cable plans, including the gigabit and higher options available as of March 2025.The ethernet port is mGig capable so you can actually utilize the higher speeds if the CPE you attach to it is also mGig capable.Three minor pain points lost a star for me (really 1.5 but we can't do half stars and it's not a 3):1. Most importantly, there is only the one status light on it, which you can see on the front in the product image. It is multi-colored, so it indicates its status via the color and whether or not it is blinking in whatever color it is at the time.What are the colors? What do they mean? Apparently Arris doesnt thonk its important enough to make permanently obvious on the unit. What the various states that light can be in are not indicated anywhere on the unit and they're not exactly intuitively obvious, so you have to look it up in the manual just to know what it's telling you. Since that is kiiiiind of an important part of the setup process, it makes the first use experience a bit annoying. And that is especially true since you'll be on the phome.with your ISP when they need to know what state it's in, but they don't know the meaning due to what I'm about to say on point 2, and you probably already threw the box outside for tomorrow's pick-up, didn't you? Go get that manual or find it online (which isn't easy, so go get the paper one) before you call them. You're welcome. And then what happens the next time there's a problem and you call tech support? Yeah. If you do nothing else with the manual, tear out that page and tape it to the bottom of the unit or on your router or something.2. This is inexcusable for a product that is on the shelves and should have been done before then: Cox and Arris need to do whatever they do to "certify" this model and list it on their internal and public support knowledge bases as a supported model. It's been out more than long enough for that and the process to get an unlisted but still perfectly compatible unit (like this one) is anything but smooth, and will take a hot minute or 20.3. WHY can't anyone include the MAC address(es) and serial number on a sticker you can place somewhere convenient like in the manual or on the front of the device? If it's not in a convenient spot (and let's face it - your cable modem is crammed in a dark and barely reachable nook isn't it?), you'll want to be sure to take a picture of the label on the back of the unit before you call to activate it with your ISP, since they're going to want those. And every ISP does, because thats how they know what account it's for. So this should seriously just be standard by now. 😆Overall, a great little unit. Just the paper cut issues above make it less plug-and-play than it could have easily been.

I had the SB8200 for many years, then I decided to upgrade to the S33, just to see if it would make a difference, it did, but it was underwhelming and probably not worth it, except that I was able to help a friend with the SB8200. But then the S34 finally came along. BOOM! Instant upgrade from 1.2gbps (1200mbps) download to 2.0gbps (2000Mbps) download and the upload speeds are now 300+mbps with the S34, up from 40mbps with the S33! Practically exactly as advertised by the ISP! This is all thanks to the OFDM channel on the upload signal. Good stuff. Arris has typically been very reliable and even though this cable modem gets very hot because of where it is located and it’s lack of additional ventilation, it is still handling nicely. Definately place it in an open area if you can, it will get very warm/hot. I have the LED off under normal conditions, which is great because you can easily tell if something is going on because you’ll see lights flashing instead of nothing. If it’s powered down, that will be obvious because the network will be down. There will be some growing pains with the new equipment and getting the ISP to adapt and create better automated systems, but it did get detected and connected automatically in just a matter of a few minutes. It was just an issue with the ISP when it came to getting a separate router connected and back online. They had to learn how to send a proper configuration to the cable modem, which they did, so that was good. But you can easily connect directly from the back port of the cable modem to check for a good connection, then it’s just a matter of having the proper settings on the cable modem (which the ISP controls) and on the router (which you control, and sold separately). That’s where they (the ISP) need to learn, so that they know an external device/router will always be connected to this cable modem. All good though, the instant upgrade was VERY noticeable, files upload MUCH faster than before, video conferencing is very smooth and reliable. Its great. Excellent, would recommend. Definately buy this instead of the S33, get the S34 instead!