Looking for new modem / router / gateway recommendations

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Looking for new modem / router / gateway recommendations

steve98

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#289946 11-Oct-2021 13:03

For the last 7 years I've been using a Fritzbox 7390 which I got from 2degrees (then Snap) but am now using it on Spark. It's been a beast and still goes well but I've just upgraded to a gigabit plan and I believe the 7390 can only do ~200Mbps throughput. If I'm wrong on that I will be gladly corrected!

So I'm looking for a replacement, and here are the things I can on the Fritz that I need to maintain:

Similar-ish form factor so that it can fit in to my existing metal cabinet in the garage
VOIP port (currently use a 2talk VOIP connection for my house alarm)
VPN (as in the ability to VPN back to your home connection when out and about)
Parental controls (Fritz allows you to build profiles with different rules / schedules and allow you to apply different profiles to different MAC addresses)
Ability to change DNS server (I know some ISP-provided ones make this difficult if not impossible)
DynDNS support (I currently use NoIP to get around not having a static IP address)

Note I do not use its built-in WiFi and instead use a Ubiquiti Unifi AC Lite, so wifi performance is not important to me - in fact I will be turning it off.

I do have a Unifi Controller so something from Ubiquiti would be great, but I don't know that they have anything small that does all of this.

Otherwise if any of the later Fritzbox models support gig speed I would be more than happy to buy another one of those.

Any thoughts?

nztim

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#2793119 11-Oct-2021 13:11

Just a later model fritz 7590 ? buy a generic one that's not meddled with by your RSP with generic firmware stay away from UI routers, their PPPoE handling is terrible

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

wlgspotter

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#2793238 11-Oct-2021 13:42

nztim:

Just a later model fritz 7590 ? buy a generic one that's not meddled with by your RSP with generic firmware stay away from UI routers, their PPPoE handling is terrible

Watching this topic with interest, as I too am in an almost similar situation as OP, although I am *still* with 2degress (have been with then since the Snap days) and currently have a 7490. I am keen to get a 7590, but really only want the 7590 AX model which unfortunately 2degress weren't able to confirm the exact model that have as to whether it is the 7590 AX or the standard 7590 (AC) model. In any case the 7590 would cost me $299 plus $15 shipping.

Looking at the open market for the 7590 AX it seemed GoWiFi have it but it's going to cost me more than $500. So I guess I'll hold onto my 7490 for now - there really isn't any wrong with it per-se, just more like looking for an excuse for some new toys LOL.

corksta

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#2793255 11-Oct-2021 14:06

What about using Spark's routers they supply? It looks like they've just released a new one with Wi-Fi 6 too. I don't actually know if it supports what you're looking for, but might be worth checking it out.

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/spark-smart-modem/

steve98

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#2793259 11-Oct-2021 14:15

corksta:

What about using Spark's router they supply? It looks like they've just released a new one with Wi-Fi 6.

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/internet/spark-smart-modem/

I briefly used the "old" smart modem which was a world of pain and I returned it. This new one looks like it wouldn't fit in my cabinet and don't believe it ticks all the boxes I had as requirements in the original post.

timmmay

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#2793260 11-Oct-2021 14:17

I'd probably use the ISP provided and supported modem unless there was a good reason it wasn't suitable.

7590 is a better router than the 7390, WiFi is better and it's generally a bit faster. I can't say if it works with gigabit, I have 100Mbps internet.

DeepBlueSky

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#2793317 11-Oct-2021 16:37

wlgspotter:

nztim:

Just a later model fritz 7590 ? buy a generic one that's not meddled with by your RSP with generic firmware stay away from UI routers, their PPPoE handling is terrible

Watching this topic with interest, as I too am in an almost similar situation as OP, although I am *still* with 2degress (have been with then since the Snap days) and currently have a 7490. I am keen to get a 7590, but really only want the 7590 AX model which unfortunately 2degress weren't able to confirm the exact model that have as to whether it is the 7590 AX or the standard 7590 (AC) model. In any case the 7590 would cost me $299 plus $15 shipping.

Looking at the open market for the 7590 AX it seemed GoWiFi have it but it's going to cost me more than $500. So I guess I'll hold onto my 7490 for now - there really isn't any wrong with it per-se, just more like looking for an excuse for some new toys LOL.

Just as an FYI, received a 7590 as my 2Degrees free rental router, its the AC version but is a good unit from what I have seen so far, had to hook up an external SIP phone after going through German Forums got this working well.

Also has 1Gbit WAN Connection so yes it can work with that.

wlgspotter

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#2793321 11-Oct-2021 16:41

DeepBlueSky:

Just as an FYI, received a 7590 as my 2Degrees free rental router, its the AC version but is a good unit from what I have seen so far, had to hook up an external SIP phone after going through German Forums got thsi working well.

Cheers for the confirmation @DeepBlueSky. I've no doubt that the Fritz!Boxes are solid units - it is the case in point with my 7490 which is still pretty rock solid almost 5 years on. Just that it would be nice to get my hands on a WiFi-6 (AX) unit, and would also be nice if Fritz!Box considers allowing more customizations on the wireless settings of the Fritz!Boxes, but it does work and work pretty well actually. Guess I'll hold onto my 7490 for now.

Edit: Fixed typos!

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steve98

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#2793363 11-Oct-2021 18:17

Ok so the 7490 is good enough for gigabit? Guess I’ll keep an eye out for a second hand one of those as tbh I loved the 7390 and am not moving on from it out of choice.

As an aside, does anyone know if I saved a backup of my 7390 config could I just restore it to a 7490?

steve98

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#2794269 12-Oct-2021 20:54

Anyone know if the 7530 is good enough?

Edit: bought the 7530. For $200 it’s great. Only thing different between it and the 7590 that I can tell is only 1 USB port and 1 VOIP port, neither of which are an issue to me. Very happy with the speeds on the gig plan.