If you don't buy a system with an upgradeable card, you're stuck with the system you got. For systems like the PS5 that have a wi-fi 6 connection, it's not too bad. If you're looking for the best possible gaming connection, it's just not good enough for an older console.

Arris built the Surfboard Thruster wi-fi 6e gaming acceleration kit to help speed up these older consoles, but since it uses the latest wi-fi 6e tech, its real-world speeds are more often than not better than high-end wi You don't have to use 2.5GbE to use this. This review focused on using the Surfboard Thruster with a PS5 and it resulted in improved performance over the built-in wi-fi.

Arris Surfboard Thruster Wi-Fi 6E W6B review: Price and availability

Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator Wi-Fi 6E sender and receiver

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras)

The Arris Surfboard Thruster wi-fi 6e gaming acceleration kit W6B was released in mid-2022 and will be available in May. It can be found on sale for under $300 and has a suggested retail price of $299. It's compatible with most of the routers that have an open port.

The package includes a sender, receiver, two power supplies, and two Ethernet cables. Most of the waste can be put into the recycle bin if it is packed in a cardboard box with a cardboard tray.

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Arris Surfboard Thruster Wi-Fi 6E W6B review: What I like

Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator Wi-Fi 6E ports single

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The sad fact is that it is still slower and less stable than a copper cable. In the past, I would have said that the best way to avoid spikes in connection speed is to run a lot ofEthernet. 5 GHz is running out of space, even if you have a top-of-the-line gaming system and router.

The Arris Surfboard Thruster tries and succeeds at using the newly available 6 GHz spectrum to deliver performance without long wire runs or crawling under the house. The sender plugs in to your internet connection. If you have a 2.5GbE port, you can use it for the best speeds, but if you don't, you can use gigabit. You will need to plug in the power transformer.

The receiver is the same as the cable that goes to your PC. Depending on the strength of the connection, a 160MHz wi-fi 6e connection will be able to provide up to 4804Mbps.

The setup procedure on the console is to use the wired connection instead of the wireless one. There is a chance that you don't need to do any software setup at all if you have a wired connection.

You can download the app to fine- tune your connection. I only used it to make sure my software was up to date. As the kit came out of the box, I used it.

I was able to see up to 800Mbps using the PS5s connection test tool. This is more than what I saw when I used the internal chip. I had no problem with a couple of large installations and some light online play, even though the downloads seemed to be limited. I didn't notice a huge difference, but I also didn't have any problems.

I didn't have to fiddle with settings or diagnose performance issues since I plugged the Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator. I don't like this phrase, but it works.

You may have seen a similar product from Arris in the Surfboard W6U review. It looks like the same thing, but the Thruster Game Accelerator is black. The black color of the Network upgrade kit looks better than the gray one, and I am happy to keep it in the open so people can see it.

Arris Surfboard Thruster Wi-Fi 6E W6B review: What I don't like

Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator Wi-Fi 6E front and back

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras)

The 6 GHz spectrum is used for the newest and fastest wi-fi out there, but it is also the main weakness of the system. The coverage isn't as strong because the devices have a lower power level. There is a lot of overhead for loss due to the huge 4804Mbps wireless connection. If you're trying to get to the other side of a concrete wall or an older home with plaster walls, think about this.

Automatic channel selection wasn't the right thing to do. The sheer number of available channels with 160MHz support is one of the main features of 6E and I was excited to try it out. There aren't any overlaps for some time because there are seven 160MHz channels. I found that both Arris devices had picked the same channel when I placed them next to each other.

There's no easy way to improve your connection on these devices. There was no change over the course of a day. Power cycling one of the 6 GHz access points caused it to pick a new channel. I would love to have an optimal button.

The price will be the most important issue for many. At its suggested price, the Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Acceleration comes in at over $300. That's the price of a fast and new routers. Since it can improve speeds for all devices instead of just one, it might be a better use of money to get one of the best routers.

In my time testing the Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator, I didn't find a single problem. If you want a quick wireless upgrade for a single device and don't mind spending money, you'll get everything Arris has to offer.

Arris Surfboard Thruster Wi-Fi 6E W6B review: Competition

Asus ZenWiFi ET8 Wi-Fi 6E mesh router review

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras / Android Central)

If you need a fast connection to a couple of rooms away from your router, it would be a good idea to go with the cheaper, faster, and more reliableEthernet option. You need to understand and follow the signal flow when you're trying to solve a problem. That is where the signal begins and ends. The longer it takes to identify any issues, the more complicated the solution will be. A single cable is as simple as it can get and sticks to the principle of KISS that was drilled into my head long ago.

If you're moving between floors or to a detached building, running a cable isn't the right solution. You can get a 50 foot Cat6 or Cat7 cable for less than $30 on Amazon. You can get excellent speeds for less money if you can pass a cable under your floor or find a non-obstructive route along the base of your walls. Any Cat6 or newer should work.

If wireless is your only option and you want to improve connection for all of your devices at the same time, a mesh system like the ASUS ZenWiFi et8 is a good choice. It has a similar 6 GHz connection. It comes with two different bands, a 5 GHz and a 600 GHz band. For the majority of people, it will be more than quick enough, even though it won't be as fast. You can prioritize your device if you have a lot of wireless clients.

I can't recommend a power lineadapter. It doesn't solve the same problem as the Arris kit as interference on power lines can lead to ping spikes and speed fluctuations.

Arris Surfboard Thruster Wi-Fi 6E W6B review: Should you buy it?

Arris Surfboard Thruster Game Accelerator Wi-Fi 6E with router and Switch

(Image credit: Samuel Contreras)

If it's something you should buy it.

  • You need a fast wireless link within your home.
  • You’re stuck using a router provided by your ISP.
  • You only need to improve your connection on a single device.

If you buy it, you should not.

  • You can run Ethernet instead.
  • You’re looking for a cheap internet upgrade.

It is an expensive solution to a common problem. One of the fastest ways to connect a gaming machine to the internet is not cheap. A novice user can set up with four things to plug in. It's a quick and easy upgrade when it comes to the actual implementation of the concept.

If you like to do your own things and don't mind a few scares in your attic or crawl space, running an Ethernet cable is the best solution. If you only have 10 minutes to set it up before your next stream, the Arris solution could be a good investment.