Both SB6138 and SB6190 are manufactured by the Arris which are cable-type modems that do not come with built-in routers.
Here’s whats going on with these modems:
- Both devices could be easily installed in a few easy steps.
- SB6183 is the same in size as its rival but is less heavy and comes with a more reliable chipset.
- SB6190 allows a higher speed of data transfer but with high latency.
- Both are universally compatible with the ISPs.
- They both have power, network, and cable interfaces.
- Both are secured with the DOCSIS security but the unreliable chipset of SB6190 makes it less secure.
- Both of them come with a warranty of two years.
- SB6138 is an inexpensive option to access the internet.
The Arris SB6138 consists of DOCSIS 3.0 providing up to 686 Mbps which are well enough for a medium household setup. It comes with a single ethernet port which is for connecting router and has a very reliable chipset present in it. This modem is universally compatible and has DOCSIS security, preventing any privacy breach.
Arris SB6190, on the other hand, also has DOCSIS 3.0 but can provide higher speed due to the higher number of its upstream and downstream channels. It has three interfaces i.e., cable, graphics, and power.
However, its chipset is new which is known to cause a lot of latency issues due to some bugs present in it. It is secured by DOCSIS security but again lands in a vulnerable spot because of its unsecured chipset.
Side By Side Comparison:
In comparison to SB6138, the Arris SB6190 is faster thanks to the higher number of its downstream and upstream channels, but this speed is achieved at a cost of an unestablished chipset, untightened security, higher weight, and a higher price.
| Specifications | SB6183 | SB6190 |
| DOCSIS | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Downstream channels × Upstream channels | 16×4 | 32×8 |
| Ethernet ports | 1× Gigabit | 1× Gigabit |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Setup and Operation of these devices:
Arris SB6183 can be easily set up following the few simple steps
- Connect all the cables i.e., ethernet, coaxial, and power into the designated ports.
- Activate it through the web via contacting your service provider.
- Connect a router to finally set up your device.
While Arris SB6190 can be set up by:
- Connect one end of the coaxial cable to the cable outlet or the splitter.
- Its other end should be connected to the modem.
- Connect the power cord to energize the modem.
- Now connect it to the router via the ethernet cable.
- Open the web interface to allow internet access from ISP.
Both are equally easy to install and have a similar resistance against extreme conditions but SB6190 has a slightly higher cold storage resistance, giving it an edge over its counterpart.
Differences in their Design:
Arris SB6183 is vertically designed and has only one ethernet port along with the coaxial and power ports. There is no built-in router available in this modem and uses a well-established Broadcom chipset.
On the other hand, Arris SB6190 follows the same vertical design pattern, having one ethernet port. Similarly, there are ports for each power and coaxial cable, but it has no built-in router. This device uses a comparatively newer chipset Intel Puma 6, which is under testing process.
Both these modem devices are very identical to each other, considering that they are made by the same manufacturer. In terms of dimension, both are identical twins but the weight of SB6190 is a little higher than its competitor, and the fact that it uses a lesser established chipset allows its peer to take lead in terms of design and hardware.
| Physical Characteristics | SB6183 | SB6190 |
| Weight (lbs.) | 0.9 | 1.13 |
| Height (inches) | 5 | 5 |
| Width (inches) | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Depth (inches) | 5 | 5 |
Performance
DOCSIS
DOCSIS is short for “Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications” which is a standard adopted by telecommunication companies to provide the data to customers. It simply shows the maximum amount of data a device can transfer to and from IPS providers.
Both Arris SB6183 and SB6190 have DOCSIS 3.0 which restricts their download and upload capacity to 1 Gbps and 200 Mbps respectively.
Channel Bonding
Channel bonding is the bonding of two adjacent channels on the same frequency range to increase the throughput between devices.
Arris SB6183 has 16 downstream channels whereas only 4 upstream channels which reduce its ability to transmit data as the pathway is narrow.
On the other side, Arris SB6190 has 32 downstream channels and 8 upstream channels, allowing a greater data transfer due to a wider pathway.
Arris SB6190 has double the number of downstream and upstream channels as compared to that of its counterpart.
Speed
The main indicator for the performance is speed which is significantly higher in Arris SB6190 due to its higher downstream and upstream channels even though both are DOCSIS 3.0.
The speed offered by SB6190 is almost double compared to its competitor which is in affirmation of its double number of channels.
| Possible Speeds | SB6183 | SB6190 |
| Upload Speeds (Mbps) | 131 | 262 |
| Download Speeds (Mbps) | 686 | 1400 |
Latency
Latency is the measure of delay that occurs before data transfer after a command is given.
In comparison, the Arris SB6190 shows higher latency because of its Intel Puma 6 chipset, which is still under testing and has a bad reputation of causing huge delays in data transfer.
Compatibility
- Internet Standards
Both these modems support the latest internet standards IPV4 and IPV6 which allows them to access an infinite number of addresses.
- Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Similarly, they both are universally compatible with all the ISPs including some famous ones in America which are Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, and many others.
- PC
Both work equally well with window XP, window 7, window 8, UNIX, and Linux connections on a personal computer.
- Macintosh
They are compatible with power PC or later, OS 10 or higher
- Home Networking
They can be connected via a router or ethernet port to your home network.
Security
Both modems have the standard DOCSIS 3.0 security which includes BPI+, EAE, and SSD security systems.
- BPI+
BPI+ is a major requirement in each DOCSIS, it stops hackers from viewing the subscriber’s data by using 56 bits DES encryption.
- EAE
EAE is the “Early Authentication and Encryption” it comes into play when BPI+ is unable to work.
It protects us by blocking unauthorized CMs from accessing IP provisioning servers and provides privacy to the messages between CMs and CMTS.
- SSD
SSD stands for “Secure Software Download” which verifies the download code to the CMs.
The chipsets also play a part in securing your modem but since Intel Puma 6 is relatively newer, therefore, it’s more vulnerable to the attacks of hackers which is found in SB6190.
This makes it a lesser secure device to access the internet.
Warranty They Offer:
Arris provides a two-year warranty for both its devices SB6138 and SB6190 since they are CE-certified products.
European Economic Area (EEA) assesses the product to be highly safe, healthy and fulfill the environmental regulations to grant it a CE certification.
