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Ethernet Router Review
Wednesday 29 August 2012 17:22:34 by Andrew Ferguson

We have published our review of the AVM Fritz!Box Fon WLAN 7390 router, which as well as offering the fairly normal ADSL and ADSL2+ connectivity, can also connect via its built in VDSL modem or as an Ethernet WAN router for use with Virgin Media cable services, and the Openreach FTTC/P products.

AVM Fritz!Box 7390 Router. Click image for larger version.

The list of features does not stop there, IPv6 support, DECT base station, USB storage devices, VoIP phone system and dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless networks. To find out about the myriad of features the router supports then head on over to our review section and have a read.

[ Topic: Hardware | 17 comments | link to this item ]

Comments

Posted by babis3g 9 months ago
Nice piece of kit with very good interface...i was going to be after it but end up with a 2850n for the only reason i have an adsl & VM connection...if i had only one connection 100% this is the one

Posted by strzelecki 9 months ago
There's a newer firmware (84.05.22) than the one used here, you can use the check update function to upgrade and there's more improvements on the way. Don't get much noise on DECT with my Siemens phones myself. Works really well on FTTC.
The only glitch some people have experienced is phantom calls due to voltage fluctuations on the line. I believe there is now a UK specific model that perhaps eliminates this.

Posted by jchamier 9 months ago
Sadly none of the AVM Kit shows up as WiFi certified. Having used non certified kit before you can get a lot of hassles.

see: http://certifications.wi-fi.org/search_products.php

Posted by babis3g 9 months ago
@ jchamier...wifi certified is only from the point that the routers set up is easy so approved by them or according to their criteria ...the supplied VM netgear VMDG480 is also certified and is very well known as the most crappy one ... but the 7390 is well known also not from the best with range but the hit is due to 2,4 & 5 mhz together which works well at the range which can operate the 7390

Posted by kirbyan 9 months ago
Be careful to buy the UK version. The version sold in Germany is locked down and will not load the "international" firmware with English UI and is locked as Annex B (xDSL over ISDN). It is possible to overcome the lock, but it isn't easy and most instructions on the subject are in German.

Overall I am very happy with my 7390 and it works well for me on my BT Infinity VDSL connection. Only minor gripe is poor support for VPN on the Apple Mac - you need a PC and some hackery to set it up.

Posted by wanapoo 9 months ago
Will there ever be an update to the old article "How fast is your broadband router"
[url]http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4144-how-fast-is-your-broadband-router.html[/url]
Would like to see an update comparison test of the latest routers including the ISP provided routers for adsl2+. See what happens to the attenuation/sync speeds between different routers.

Posted by ggremlin 9 months ago
looks good,
a guide price would be helpful

Posted by andrew ( staff member) 9 months ago
Conclusion mentioned a guide price of around £200.

Price seems to vary, and some imports from Germany appear possible, but as Kirbyan pointed out, ensure it is an Annex A device for UK ADSL over PSTN

Posted by professor973 9 months ago
My 7390 works like a charm. So much info it is unreal. Like my Billion 7800N, it shows 3dB higher SNR and is a little slower than my Airport Extreme/Vigor 120 setup. All due to compatibility with my exchange. Luckily, the Fritzbox points to the answer.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/505/exchangej.jpg

Posted by Kr1s69 9 months ago
Andrew, any idea if it can support Sky's annoying authentication via MER?

Posted by otester 9 months ago
DD-WRT?

Posted by bellchambers 9 months ago
Can 2.4 and 5GHz be used simultaniously?

Posted by andrew ( staff member) 9 months ago
Yes they can be used at the same time.

On Sky - given enough hours in the day I can see if it does.

DD-WRT - no idea.

Posted by strzelecki 9 months ago
The router does not support MER at the moment.
There are in fact 3 versions of this router:
The German one, an international one and one specifically for the UK: http://www.avm.de/en/Produkte/FRITZBox/FRITZ_Box_Fon_WLAN_7390/index.php at the bottom (German version not listed).
I'm not sure what the difference is between the international one and the UK one as they both support Annex A and B and both use the same English firmware so I'm guessing it may just be a slight hardware difference (maybe to stop phantom ringing). I have the international one and it been brilliant.

Posted by babis3g 9 months ago
i don't think it supports 3rd party firmware such dd-wrt or tomato usb because is no where mentioned at their specifications and also i am watching few forums about it and no has done it till now

Posted by monkeycoder 9 months ago
Apologies for the pedantry, but it's not MER it needs to support per-se, it's option 0x3d (client identifier) on the DHCP. Given that it's an RFC covered option and given the fact that they are clearly a competent lot, it shouldn't give anyone too much grief.

<vent>Unless of course you're Linksys. Where you try to explain to the support droid, for the millionth time that all they need to do is add said option to their £&#$%*& router and they insist on replacing your router instead.</vent>

Posted by leexgx 9 months ago
ADSL routers are to be assumed that they never have DD-WRT support (if it did only the WAN port would work for VM cable)