ARRIS - SURFboard S33 32 x 8 DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gig Cable Modem with 2.5 Gbps (Renewed)

I picked up this renewed ARRIS SURFboard S33 cable modem to completely remove the bottleneck on my high-speed home network infrastructure. Buying a refurbished networking device can sometimes feel like a gamble, but this unit arrived looking pristine and has worked perfectly without a single drop or hiccup. If you pay for an internet tier over 1,000 Mbps, this DOCSIS 3.1 box is an absolute necessity to unleash your true bandwidth.Why this multi-gig modem is an exceptional tech upgrade:True 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Output: The standout feature of the S33 is its dedicated 2.5 Gbps multi-gig port. I have this hooked directly into my 2.5G unmanaged network switch. Running speed tests on my desktop, it pulls my ISP’s full over-provisioned speed of 1,200+ Mbps effortlessly, which standard 1G Gigabit ports completely throttle.Flawless Renewed Condition: Out of the packaging, the modem looked completely brand new. There were no scratches on the glossy plastic casing, it came with a clean OEM power supply, and it was entirely wiped. Crucially, the MAC address was unlinked from any previous accounts, allowing my ISP to activate it instantly online.Rock-Solid DOCSIS 3.1 Stability: With 32x8 channel bonding and active queue management (AQM), my line latency has plummeted. It handles massive simultaneous data demands—like heavy 3D printing file uploads, local server streams, and intense gaming sessions—with zero packet loss or random reboots.Network Setup & Activation Tips:Activation Trick: When setting up a third-party or renewed modem, don't wait on hold for tech support. Simply connect your coaxial cable, power it on, open a web browser on a hardwired computer, and your ISP's self-activation portal should pop up automatically to register the new MAC ID.Mind the Heat Dissipation: The S33 packs a ton of processing power into a very compact, vertical footprint. Because it is fanless to remain silent, make sure you place it in an open, well-ventilated area rather than shoving it into a cramped, unventilated media cabinet to prevent thermal throttling.The big takeaway:This renewed SURFboard S33 delivers top-tier, future-proof network performance for a fraction of the cost of a brand-new retail unit. It provisions easily, runs cool when properly placed, and unlocks the full multi-gigabit bandwidth your provider gives you. It is a phenomenal value buy for any power user's network stack.

I love these ARRIS SURFboards - I upgraded from the 8200, which was also a dual LAN ports, but maxed out at 1 gig.The S33 features one 2.5gig port, and one 1gig port. I upgraded my internet package to 2gig, so this S33 SURFboard was right up my alley. The dual LAN ports allow me to set up 2 separate networks, where I can have my mission critical and gaming devices on one network, and my IoT devices on another network, both on separate WiFi routers. And both ports are assigned their own IP addresses.Setup couldn’t have been any easier - for those that do the self install, I’m confident that setup only takes a few minutes. I had to call my ISP since I was doing an upgrade. That only took about 5 minutes for the ISP to detect and register the modem on their network.Finally, the S33 is the smallest cable modem I’ve had to date. It is small, but mighty. This is definitely a modem to consider if you are looking to upgrade your current cable modem.

Defective out of the box. I would not suggest buying a refurbished one.

This is a gem of a cable modem! I replaced a 5 year old DOCSIS 3.0 modem (different manufacturer) with this one and the difference in the 3.1 speed is amazing! It was easy to install and connect to my ISP using their self-install instructions. It runs just a little warm to the touch, just as you would expect for a device of this size and power usage. I have the output wired via an ethernet cable on the other side of my house, to a wireless router from a different manufacturer. They work flawlessly together, very compatible. The unit is a little larger than my old modem, but by no means would I call it large. I bought a renewed unit and it was delivered in pristine condition. No issues at all.It does not have the usual row of about 5 LEDs indicating the various stages of connectivity. So if you need those, you might be disappointed. I have not missed them at all. There LED in the front of the base light up in different colors to indicate various things, so consult the manual. There is an LED on the ethernet cable connector that shows activity too.

I used the Arris S33 to replace a very unreliable old tired XB3 modem/router that Xfinity supplied, which would just up and stop working once a day. I have a 100/20Mbps service and with the XB3 router I was getting 80/20Mbps if that most of the time. The Arris S33 was super simple to setup and once connected to Xfinity's service it was downright fast, My through put jumped and during recent speed test I was clocked at 160/23Mbps. The new S33 has been rock solid in operation, and I do not have to use a stupid app to make changes to the modem. I paired the S22 with a 1GB 12 port switch and have plenty of ports for my devices. I have my Asus RT-AX58U WIFI Dual Band Router which gives me WIFI 6 and covers 802.11b, n, a, ac and axIf you are unfortunate to have a XB3 modem/router from Xfinity do yourself a huge favor and buy your own modem & router and ditch their old crap. You won't be sorry.

The cable modem is compact and not that complicated to install once you know what to do! I am getting the download/upload speeds I expect from my service selection from Xfinity. This is a refurbished unit, but it looks brand new and is working fine. I have had good experiences with other refurbished electronic items so decided to save some money and purchase this one.The installation instructions need to be improved though. First, don't waste your time with their mobile phone app. Connect the coax cable, connect your router to the TOP ethernet port (which they call the "First" port), then ask your service provider to activate the modem. I did that through the Xfinity app on my phone so no phone call needed. It took maybe 10 minutes or so for me to be back online. After the modem is activated you probably need to reboot your router to make sure it is talking to the modem. I did end up calling Arris Tech Support because I could not log into the modem. I wanted to see what information was available. Turns out the log in instructions on the Quick Start card were wrong. It said the password was "password" but it the Tech Support agent told me to use the last 8 digits of serial number as the password, and that worked. The Tech Support experience was good. I got connected to an agent right away and he gave me good information. I did use the SURFboard Central mobile app to register my modem, and that worked easily.

Works great and I had my modem for over a year and arris replaced it no questions asked even though it was a renewed item. Great product and great company. Highly recommend and just to lyk arris offers a 2 yrsr warranty on their products for malfunctions.

While the product works as described, the small housing around the electronic components gets extremely hot. I thought it was odd. Had it replaced, however, even the new one runs very hot. I assume this thermal issue will ultimately cause problems, right now it is not. It’s running fine however in my experience devices that run that hot tend to overheat and cause electronic thermal interference. Only time will tell and I’ll be sure to update this order when and if it does.