FRITZ!Box
FRITZ!Box is a series of residential gateway devices from the German company AVM GmbH.
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[edit] Functionality
There are several FRITZ!Box models available, but the most popular are the ones that combine DSL and SIP VoIP. Functionality includes:
- a built-in ADSL modem (most models), or an ADSL/VDSL modem (73xx series), or a cable modem (63xx series), or an LTE modem (68xx series).
- a built-in LAN-WAN router.
- most models also have a built-in network switch. Older models support 10/100Mbit Ethernet while the newer models additionally support Gbit (1000Mbit) Ethernet.
- models with "WLAN" in their product designations can also serve as a wireless access point.
- all 'WLAN' models support 2.4 GHz band IEEE 802.11b (11 Mbit/s) connections. Additionally, all 'WLAN' models since 2003 also support the 2.4 GHz 802.11g (54 Mbit/s) standard.
- several newer models also support the 5 GHz IEEE 802.11a (54 Mbit/s) and 2.4Ghz/5Ghz IEEE 802.11n (54 Mbit/s—300 Mbit/s) standards. The x270 (7270, 3270) models can be configured for either 2.4 GHz b/g/n or 5 GHz a/n, while the x390 (7390, 3390) models have two transceivers and so can be configured to handle both bands simultaneously.
- models with "Fon" in their product designations also support telephones
- they have a PABX for two ISDN and/or analog phones. Several newer models (FRITZ!Box 7270, 7390, 6360, 6840) also have a DECT base station for cordless phones. These models also have a integrated digital answering machine.
- they support Internet telephony (Voice over IP, 'VoIP') connections via SIP. A built-in analog telephony adapter emulates normal ISDN/phone connections for the attached phones.
- most models since 2006 also have a USB port to connect a harddrive, memorystick or printer for local file or printer sharing. The USB port may also be used to connect a second modem, e.g. for UMTS/3GSM/HSPA.
[edit] Versions
Most FRITZ!Box devices come in three versions:
- German version for Germany
- German version for Austria and Switzerland
- International (English) version
Beside the obvious different language on the web interface, they also differ in the fact that the international version is available in two ADSL standards: ITU G.992.1 Annex A and ITU G.992.1 Annex B. The German version is only available as Annex B. This is due to fact that Annex A is not used in Germany (in Germany, both analogue and ISDN line are using Annex-B ADSL while in most of the world Annex-A ADSL is used on analogue lines and Annex B ADSL is used on ISDN lines).
The difference is in the use of the available frequency spectrum of analogue telephone lines (POTS). The Annex-A mode is more efficient since it uses the whole available (ISDN+DSL) spectrum. It allows for longer distances from the central DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) to the subscriber. In Annex-B mode the ISDN range is spared (wasted), even for ADSL-Over-Analog subscribers.
In principle, the Fritz!Box can be changed[2] from German/Annex-B to European/British/Annex-A and vice versa by firmware. However, the German version is shipped with German-specific cables and adaptors for ISDN lines. These are difficult to convert to the more usual ADSL connection found elsewhere in Europe. The 7390 model, for example, includes a proprietary split Y cable which is wired specifically for German ISDN lines, and is terminated in RJ45 plugs which do not fit the standard RJ11 ADSL sockets found elsewhere in Europe. The ADSL/DSL socket on the box is also RJ45, and although an RJ11 cord can in principle be plugged into an RJ45 socket, doing so may damage (bend) the other line pins and will in any case prevent the use of the box for fixed-line telephony. The International version comes with specially wired adapters for this purpose which are not sold separately. There are, furthermore, rumoured hardware differences between the German and International editions which have not been definitively confirmed or denied but which, if true, would prevent even firmware-adapted versions of the German box from synching over all but the most perfect ADSL connections.
