CommScope recently announced its entry the retail Wi-Fi 6E market with its offering of two new ARRIS SURFboard kits designed to accelerate home network connectivity and improve overall gaming experiences.
As noted by the manufacturer, Wi-Fi 6E technology enables the 6 GHz band with nearly 3 times more available channels than what is currently available. More channels provide less interference, higher speeds and overall better performance for devices that utilize Wi-Fi 6E.
The new ARRIS products enable customers to upgrade their networks quickly and easily without replacing any existing equipment. They are as follows:
ARRIS SURFboard THRUSTER Gaming Acceleration Kit (Model W6B)
Available in the United States, the ARRIS SURFboard THRUSTER is designed specifically for gamers who require high performance from their home network and don’t want to upgrade their entire existing Wi-Fi network. The unit's 4x4 6 GHz connection provides maximum speed of 4.8 Gbps between the two access points without the hassle of running additional wires. The kit enables superior gaming experiences without interference from other Wi-Fi connected devices. It also reduces latency to increase connection speed and reduce connection slowdowns and pauses. The simple plug-and-play kit comes pre-paired and connects directly into the existing Wi-Fi router and the gaming console via its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. This allows gaming to commence in a matter of minutes. Available at Amazon and SURFboard.com, the ARRIS SURFboard THRUSTER Gaming Acceleration Kit (Model W6B) has a $309.99 MSRP and includes 1-year limited warranty. It is designed to be compatible with any existing Wi-Fi router or gateway, and all internet service provider plans.
ARRIS SURFboard Wi-Fi 6E Network Upgrade Kit (Model W6U)
Also available in the Unites States, the ARRIS SURFboard Wi-Fi 6E Network Upgrade Kit is designed for the “digitally connected” consumer who demands a Wi-Fi network that can keep up with their smart home. It upgrades a home's existing wireless internet to 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E capability without the need to upgrade the entire existing home network. Moreover, the company notes it can simultaneously support 6 GHz-capable smartphone, tablets, smart home devices, and even 8K TV, substantially reducing network slow-downs. Set up is as simple as plugging the new upgrade adapter to the customer’s existing Wi-Fi router through the unit's 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. Available at Amazon and SURFboard.com, the ARRIS SURFboard Wi-Fi 6E Network Upgrade Adapter Kit (Model W6U) has a $189.99 MSRP and includes a 1-year limited warranty. It too is designed to be compatible with any existing Wi-Fi router or gateway, and all internet service provider plans.
“Augmented reality, virtual reality, and gaming consoles are establishing baselines of latency and jitter performance that are driving consumers to upgrade their home networks and improve their overall connectivity performance,” points out Evan Groat, SVP, Smart Home Solutions and Retail Products, CommScope.
Groat concludes, “One way to accomplish this is by upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E technology, which is exactly what these two new ARRIS SURFboard solutions achieve. Each allows consumers to connect more devices to their home network simultaneously with consistent speed and reliability, while also improving their gaming and streaming performance."