Reviews of ARRIS SURFboard mAX™ Manager

By: VANTIVA USA LLC

List of user reviews and ratings for ARRIS SURFboard mAX™ Manager

Total ratings

2.58 (Rating count: 50)

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Review summary

Users report that while the hardware provides fast Wi-Fi when properly connected, the ARRIS SURFboard mAX Manager app is unreliable and buggy. Common issues include being logged out frequently, inability to detect satellites and connected devices, and loss of connection requiring frequent resets. The app lacks a web interface, limiting troubleshooting and control. Additionally, ARRIS has replaced this app with SURFboard Central, which users find worse, leading to frustration. Some users experienced improvement after firmware updates, and initial setup is generally easy and fast when successful.

Pros

Easy and fast setup process for router and satellites when it works.
Once set up, Wi-Fi and internet speeds are fast and reliable.
Firmware updates can improve functionality and stability.
The product hardware works well in terms of speed when connected properly.

Cons

App frequently fails to connect or log in, often logging users out when exiting.
App often does not detect or show satellite units and connected devices reliably.
Lack of a web interface forces reliance on a buggy app with limited features and poor troubleshooting options.
App and system have bugs causing regular loss of connection between main router and satellite units, requiring frequent resets.
App replaced by a new app that is considered worse, and users are forced to discontinue using this app despite its previous effectiveness.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 1.40

All time rating average: 2.58

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90% (18)

Date	Author	Comment
2022-09-17	Ab*****	How do you make an app this bad? It logs me out every time I exit the app, it can't connect to the net and is slower then slow.
How do you make an app this bad? It logs me out every time I exit the app, it can't connect to the net and is slower then slow.
2022-08-22	Se*****	The app used to work amazing but sometimes during the last couple do months I haven't been able to connect to the app. It keeps asking to setup even though I had been using it for over a year beforehand. It tries to connect via Bluetooth while I'm literally using the wifi so I can't setup to use the options or remotely reset my router which what I mainly use this app for.
The app used to work amazing but sometimes during the last couple do months I haven't been able to connect to the app. It keeps asking to setup even though I had been using it for over a year beforehand. It tries to connect via Bluetooth while I'm literally using the wifi so I can't setup to use the options or remotely reset my router which what I mainly use this app for.
2022-05-03	Ge*****	Why is this app still here? It has been superseded by ARRIS SURFboard Central. When you run this app after download, it puts up a screen that tells you to download SURFboard Central and doesn't run. Too bad, cause it was a pretty good app. SURFboard Central is garbage!
Why is this app still here? It has been superseded by ARRIS SURFboard Central. When you run this app after download, it puts up a screen that tells you to download SURFboard Central and doesn't run. Too bad, cause it was a pretty good app. SURFboard Central is garbage!
2020-08-25	Sa*****	Arris replaced this app with SURFboard Central, but that app doesn't work well, and they disallow users from being able to continue to use this one (if they so choose). I can understand needing to deprecate old apps, but they should at least update SURFboard Central, which they never do...it hadn't been touched since May! Arris is ruining perfectly good routers with their abysmal software. What a shame.
Arris replaced this app with SURFboard Central, but that app doesn't work well, and they disallow users from being able to continue to use this one (if they so choose). I can understand needing to deprecate old apps, but they should at least update SURFboard Central, which they never do...it hadn't been touched since May! Arris is ruining perfectly good routers with their abysmal software. What a shame.
2020-06-08	Ku*****	Now that I have a Arris SURFboard MAX Plus set up, I'm having problems with Google Home network. Speakers get setup fine and work with music services fine, but after about a day the music services get dropped and I only get the message "Sorry, something went wrong. When you are ready, give it another try". I have reset the devices many times now and the same thing happens. This did not happen before I installed this router.
Now that I have a Arris SURFboard MAX Plus set up, I'm having problems with Google Home network. Speakers get setup fine and work with music services fine, but after about a day the music services get dropped and I only get the message "Sorry, something went wrong. When you are ready, give it another try". I have reset the devices many times now and the same thing happens. This did not happen before I installed this router.
2020-05-25	Mo*****	mAX Garbage. No way to enable web interface, no control over individual connections, no way to kick a user.... This app is the only interface for the Arris W31 WiFi 6 routers which work well, just the interface is junk. I suppose it's my fault for expecting more features for $650. I'll be returning mine and deleting this app.
mAX Garbage. No way to enable web interface, no control over individual connections, no way to kick a user.... This app is the only interface for the Arris W31 WiFi 6 routers which work well, just the interface is junk. I suppose it's my fault for expecting more features for $650. I'll be returning mine and deleting this app.
2020-05-23	Ro*****	The app is extremely flakey. The Arris website says you can access the router without an internet connection but this is false. If your system stops working it tells you to make sure you're connected to the surfboard network. I'm not one to usually complain but I can't understand why so many features are limited. Stuck with a double NAT on my network because I can put the system in access point mode. Trying to set a static IP makes the internet connection go down and then the app stops working.
The app is extremely flakey. The Arris website says you can access the router without an internet connection but this is false. If your system stops working it tells you to make sure you're connected to the surfboard network. I'm not one to usually complain but I can't understand why so many features are limited. Stuck with a double NAT on my network because I can put the system in access point mode. Trying to set a static IP makes the internet connection go down and then the app stops working.
2020-05-10	Ru*****	* UPDATE * Prior to completing the return, I saw that there was a firmware update. I went through the process of setting up the units again. This time the setup took me 10 mins and not 4 to 5 hours. I did this on Friday and as of today Sunday, it's still working. I have changed my review from 1 star 🌟 to 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. My only suggestion is to let your CS reps know that a f/w update is coming to avoid a bad CS situation. Please don't break it again.
* UPDATE * Prior to completing the return, I saw that there was a firmware update. I went through the process of setting up the units again. This time the setup took me 10 mins and not 4 to 5 hours. I did this on Friday and as of today Sunday, it's still working. I have changed my review from 1 star 🌟 to 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. My only suggestion is to let your CS reps know that a f/w update is coming to avoid a bad CS situation. Please don't break it again.
2020-05-09	A *****	Product is broken. Support couldn't even resolve the problem and was told they would contact me at a later date to walk me through it some more. Don't buy this product save your $500 and purchase something else.
Product is broken. Support couldn't even resolve the problem and was told they would contact me at a later date to walk me through it some more. Don't buy this product save your $500 and purchase something else.
2020-04-28	A *****	Main router loses connection to the satellite every 2 days. Had to do a factory reset multiple times, until finally the main router and satellite unit will not even talk to one another. Placed 6" apart, it can not find the satellite. Very very disappointed in a $650.00 system, i'll be returning mine. When it does work, great speeds via wi-fi, but irrelevant if you can't connect the second level of your house. App is very lacking, loses connection with router name and devices on router disappear.
Main router loses connection to the satellite every 2 days. Had to do a factory reset multiple times, until finally the main router and satellite unit will not even talk to one another. Placed 6" apart, it can not find the satellite. Very very disappointed in a $650.00 system, i'll be returning mine. When it does work, great speeds via wi-fi, but irrelevant if you can't connect the second level of your house. App is very lacking, loses connection with router name and devices on router disappear.