AVM Fritz!Box Fon WLAN 7390 review

Get the 7270

This latest router does the additional interest streaming to the DECT handsets and the spotting of noise, but the older 7270 has the three aerials which when set to three different directions gives far better wireless performance and I think these new aerials are the problem according to forums. The older model is still for sale and comes with almost the same features and I've two DECT handsets together with usb hard drive utilising all the features available and can really commend the older version

By francisedwards on 24 Feb 2011

Errr...whut...?

"It may be primarily intended for an ADSL line...but you can also use it for cable connections."

How exactly, please? There doesn't seem to be an ethernet WAN port on it?

By nichomach0 on 24 Feb 2011

Cable connection...

You're quite right nichomach0 - there's no specific WAN port on the 7390.

The Cable connection is in fact achieved by switching the first LAN port into WAN mode using the router's settings pages.

Regards,
Jonathan Bray,
Reviews editor,
PC Pro.

By JonBray on 24 Feb 2011

Thanks!`

All is now clear - thanks Jonathan.

By nichomach0 on 25 Feb 2011

Careful with the Cable style connection!

If you are intending to make use of the VOIP features, beware using the Ethernet based connection. Either the VOIP provider, or the Fritz, doesn't always run smoothly when the VOIP traffic has to use all-Ethernet links.

By Steve_Cassidy on 27 Feb 2011

Wow, a router not like every other.

I've always wondered how you guys mustered the enthusiasm to review wireless routers. Like, there are only two paragraphs to write - how fast is it, and what colour is it. Everything else is just the same-old same-old again, and to be honest, who cares about the colour?
So hats off to AVM for something a bit different.
Right now I'm looking at, beside my PC, a dreary belkin wifi router, a Grandstream VoIP ATA, a Philips DECT ansaphone, and a cable modem, each with associated power brick. If AVM could just go the extra mile and make a cable version (or put in an extra ethernet port or two - what's with the industry limit of four ports?) then I'm a customer.
The ADSL thing is a shame, after all its we cable subscribers, free from the tyranny of a landline rental, who are the most likely VoIP takers. I don't get why cable modem users have to loose a scarce ethernet port - for the want of a dedicated ethernet socket to bypass the ADSL circuit.
Maybe you could also review the cable equivalent - Fritz!box 6360. And do a companion interview with Virgin Media to appraise then of the wisdom of letting their customers connect it to the Virgin network...

By martindaler on 28 Feb 2011

try reading further up the page martindaler...

Jon tells you exactly why/how this IS in fact a cable router as well as an ADSL box....

By mrgwhite on 2 Mar 2011

try taking your own advice mrgwhite...

as Jon points out, if you read his post, you sacrifice one of the precious few LAN ethernet ports if you want to configure the device for cable modem use. Which is exactly what I mentioned in my own post, if you try reading that far down the page.

By martindaler on 4 Mar 2011

Advice please......

I am thinking of purchasing one of these - but also noting comments above about 7270 - so would be grateful for advice on some issues.

1: if I connect a DECT-GAP Siemens phone to this box will I be able to access the answerphone functions or will I need a FON phone?

2: can a connected DECT-GAP contact to a VOIP service via the router. I assume that an IQ capable phone is for WLAN connection outwith the DECT

3: has anyone got experience of connecting a Blackberry Bold 9700 to wifi BIS on these types of router? I currently have a Netgear DGN1000 on loan and I can only get a wifi connection without access to BIS. Conversely, whilst a Netgear DGN3300 also on loan gave me full BIS connectivity on a 'G' band but the router had to be returned because of frequent disconnects from the internet.

4. How stable as these routers; ie, are they good at remaining in sync?

Many thanks.

By HenGus on 13 Mar 2011

Amazing all in one router and DECT hub

This is an amazing router that does sterling service connected to BT Infinity, either through the Cable Modem or through the VDSL modem which is built in to the router (along with a ADSL modem). I have used it to replace a BT HomeHub, Openreach cable modem and Siemens DECT base station. Contrary to the review I haven't found wireless performance to be poor, in fact it's an improvement over the Home Hub and an Apple Time Capsule I also own.

I have also set it up with 5 DECT Handsets (Siemens SL78H) which can access the built in answer phone. I also have the iPhone app to use it as an additional handset.

The best part about the 7390 is its stability, it almost never needs a reset (I think I have done it once and that was as a result of my playing with the VDSL settings).

To answer 1, 2 and 4 of HenGus' questions, I would say yes. I'm afraid I have no idea about 3.

To add my tuppence to the "debate" between mrgwhite and martindaler, they are both right and wrong. There is only a need to lose an ethernet port if you use the device with a cable modem, which you don't have to do as it has one built in.

All in all, a very good purchase.

By sgoldswo on 11 Sep 2011

Bad quality

Beware, I bought both the Fritz!Box 7390 and the FritzFON.

The audio quality of the FON was so bad that I had to send it back (with much difficulty in being refunded, finally was thanks to Visa's help).

The Fritz!Box in itself works fine for the VDSL (though I had to wait for a firmware update first). The phone number recognition stopped working pretty soon though, and the call list gets polluted with fake numbers, which makes the phone functionality (filter, DECT, ...) pretty much useless.

I would avoid buying from this brand yet, it's just not mature enough quality-wise.

By noahfb on 5 Nov 2011

Don't buy this !

Very bad hardware compared to linksys.

1. Very unstable DSL connection
2. FritzFon MT-F has permanent noise and you can't get rid of that

Don't waste your money with this !

It just looks very good on screenshot and in theory, practically, it is a nightmare.

By FritzBoxFonCustomer on 13 Nov 2011

Don't buy this ! #2

I tried all the different parameter for the DSL connection from "stable" to "fastest", updated everything to latest firmware, call the P&T, they came to my place, replace the plug with their own and told me that was fixed and I had to pay because they've modified my plug.

The result was the same, I had to put back myself the plug and finally exceeded, put back my wrt350n an linksys modem to get the stability of before (and honestly that wasn't the best I ever had, but compared to avm fritzbox, it is very good)

By FritzBoxFonCustomer on 13 Nov 2011

Lots of ports?

There aren't many SOHOs which need more than 4 ports in one place.

If you need more than 4, just cascade to a bigger switch, or distribute using powerline networking (this will keep SWMBO happier than running cables around the place anyway...)

By StoatWblr on 18 Jan 2012