Fritz!box 7490 Lab v7.51 firmware

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Fritz!box 7490 Lab v7.51 firmware

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#303311 31-Jan-2023 16:13

If you are still like me and rocking the 7490s there is a lab version available if you want to try.

This version includes Wireguard VPN and a number of other changes.

Have had installed for a day or so and have noticed the following, new UI is better in in my opinion, more streamlined and UI speed is a little better for me but YMMV.

Have noticed better performance and connection in Mesh but again YMMV.

Still working up the courage to try out Wireguard as it means all devices are deleted and you have to start from scratch adding plus rules etc, maybe something I'll do this weekend.

Release notes and lab version can be seen/downloaded from FRITZ! Lab | Fresh from development | AVM International

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#3030012 31-Jan-2023 17:04

The Wireguard VPN works great on the 7490, so much better than the old VPN. I didn't have to delete anything at all to add the WireGuard VPN, from memory I just enabled that feature and set it up.

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#3030182 1-Feb-2023 08:57

Not sure, I'm only following the guide to setup from AVM, which requires adjusting the IP network on the Fritzbox.

VPN with FRITZ!Box | AVM International

Are you using the 7490 or 7590? Maybe setup differences between the two models?

Another thing I have noticed is that reboots and mesh startup seems to take much longer on this lab version on my 7490s.

timmmay

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#3030229 1-Feb-2023 11:02

I didn't want to do that so I skipped the part of the guide, it works fine 🙂

Lally

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Master Geek

#3030383 1-Feb-2023 14:08

Nope can't get it to work by skipping, guess I'll find out this weekend when I have to reconfigure everything.

timmmay

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#3030432 1-Feb-2023 15:25

If you have that default IP range, maybe, I think mine is 192.168.1.0/24. I used steps from this page, it was dead simple.

Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
Click on "Permit Access" in the "Internet" menu.
Click the "VPN (WireGuard)" tab.
Click the "Add Connection" button.
Click "Simplified Setup" and then "Next".
Enter a name for the VPN connection (for example Annas iPhone).
Click "Finish".
If asked to do so, on the FRITZ!Box confirm that the procedure may be executed and click "OK" to complete the procedure.
Open the WireGuard App on your mobile device.
In the WireGuard App, tap the "+" (Plus) and then "Scan from QR Code" or "Create from QR code".
Point the camera at the QR code in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
Enter a name for the VPN connection (for example FRITZ!Box home) and tap "Create Tunnel" or "Save".

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#3030814 2-Feb-2023 10:38

Ok, another issue I've found and I hope there is someone else on GZ who can test or verify this for me please.

One of the new enhancements was enabling Mesh over both bands 2.4 and 5:

FRITZ!Box products in "Mesh Repeater" operating mode could previously only be connected to other FRITZ!Box/FRITZ!Repeaters with one Wi-Fi band (2.4 or 5 GHz) at a time. With the new FRITZ!OS, it's now also possible to use more than one Wi-Fi band for the Wi-Fi uplink. This enables higher data throughputs and stability in the Mesh. When updating a Mesh network that's already been set up with an older FRITZ!OS and consisting of one or more FRITZ!Box products in Mesh Repeater mode, the previously unused Wi-Fi band is automatically connected.

If I do this on the mesh repeater, the 2.4 network disappears from use on the repeater.

wlgspotter

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#3030818 2-Feb-2023 10:45

Lally:

Ok, another issue I've found and I hope there is someone else on GZ who can test or verify this for me please.

One of the new enhancements was enabling Mesh over both bands 2.4 and 5:

FRITZ!Box products in "Mesh Repeater" operating mode could previously only be connected to other FRITZ!Box/FRITZ!Repeaters with one Wi-Fi band (2.4 or 5 GHz) at a time. With the new FRITZ!OS, it's now also possible to use more than one Wi-Fi band for the Wi-Fi uplink. This enables higher data throughputs and stability in the Mesh. When updating a Mesh network that's already been set up with an older FRITZ!OS and consisting of one or more FRITZ!Box products in Mesh Repeater mode, the previously unused Wi-Fi band is automatically connected.

If I do this on the mesh repeater, the 2.4 network disappears from use on the repeater.

In my setup, I have a 7590AX and a 7490. The 7590AX is my main router and Mesh Master, and I used the 7490 as a Mesh Repeater. I've updated the 7490 (and only the 7490) to the Fritz!Lab 7.51 firmware, leaving the 7590AX as the stock 7.31 firmware.

After update the 7490, I've noticed that it indeed used both 2.4 GHZ and 5GHZ for the Mesh uplinks now. And looking throguh my entire Mesh setup, I can see some devices are still connected to the 7490 via 2.4GHz. I also have some other devices that connects to the 7490 via 5GHz as well. So it does appear that the 7490 (as Mesh Repeater) is also able to serve both 2.4GHz and 5GHZ WiFi clients.

[Edit: Fixed grammar/typo]

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Lally

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Master Geek

#3030822 2-Feb-2023 10:49

In my setup, I have a 7590AX and a 7490. The 7590AX is my main router and Mesh Master, and I used the 7490 as a Mesh Repeater. I've updated the 7490 (and only the 7490) to the Fritz!Lab 7.51 firmware, leaving the 7590AX as the stock 7.31 firmware.

After update the 7490, I've noticed that it indeed used both 2.4 GHZ and 5GHZ for the Mesh uplinks now. And looking throguh my entire Mesh setup, I can see some devices are still connected to the 7490 via 2.4GHz. I also have some other devices that connects to the 7490 via 5GHz as well. So it does appear that the 7490 (as Mesh Repeater) is also to serve both 2.4GHz and 5GHZ WiFi clients.

Ok great thanks for the response, looking like I may start from scratch this weekend and reset to factory defaults to see if I can get this to work.

Out of interest, do you also have Guest WiFi enabled? I do, just wondering if this affects the behaviour of the mesh and this setting.

wlgspotter

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#3030832 2-Feb-2023 11:10

Lally:

In my setup, I have a 7590AX and a 7490. The 7590AX is my main router and Mesh Master, and I used the 7490 as a Mesh Repeater. I've updated the 7490 (and only the 7490) to the Fritz!Lab 7.51 firmware, leaving the 7590AX as the stock 7.31 firmware.

After update the 7490, I've noticed that it indeed used both 2.4 GHZ and 5GHZ for the Mesh uplinks now. And looking throguh my entire Mesh setup, I can see some devices are still connected to the 7490 via 2.4GHz. I also have some other devices that connects to the 7490 via 5GHz as well. So it does appear that the 7490 (as Mesh Repeater) is also to serve both 2.4GHz and 5GHZ WiFi clients.

Ok great thanks for the response, looking like I may start from scratch this weekend and reset to factory defaults to see if I can get this to work.

Out of interest, do you also have Guest WiFi enabled? I do, just wondering if this affects the behaviour of the mesh and this setting.

No I don't have Guest WiFi enabled.

-C

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#3030852 2-Feb-2023 11:21

All good thanks, just checked on my repeater, 2.4 is back, but it has disabled the 2.4 channel for use in the mesh uplink

Wombat1

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#3030854 2-Feb-2023 11:22

I have 2 x 7490s in my house setup as mesh repeaters. They currently running 07.29 and have not been updated, even though they have been setup to update automatically. Frankly I would prefer if they just dont upgrade at all, the 7490 does not seem to cope with the newer versions of FritzOS as the main router, the router cpu is so slow. My Mesh Master is only a 7530, and that is running new version and is doing a wonderful job running wireguardvpn too, The 7490's were released nearly 10 years ago now, its amazing we still getting use out of them.

wlgspotter

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#3030855 2-Feb-2023 11:28

Wombat1:

I have 2 x 7490s in my house setup as mesh repeaters. They currently running 07.29 and have not been updated, even though they have been setup to update automatically. Frankly I would prefer if they just dont upgrade at all, the 7490 does not seem to cope with the newer versions of FritzOS as the main router, the router cpu is so slow. My Mesh Master is only a 7530, and that is running new version and is doing a wonderful job running wireguardvpn too, The 7490's were released nearly 10 years ago now, its amazing we still getting use out of them.

I do agree with your sentiments re the 7490s. I've only applied the Fritz!Lab update yesterday, as I'm particularly keen to see what difference, if any, the dual band Mesh uplink does. That was my main purpose of upgrading it.

Will keep an eye out and see how the 7490s (as Mesh Repeaters) perform over the following/days weeks. Also waiting for the final 7.51 to be released for the 7590AX - don't want to muck around my main router running a beta version of Fritz!OS, especially as I'm usually at work during the day but the Mrs works from home so can't afford to have a dead router during the day for her.

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#3030860 2-Feb-2023 11:37

Also agree regarding longevity of the 7490s, I was mulling over upgrading the mesh until I saw the lab for the 7490s. Was keen to see if I could get more out of them and save me some moolah in the meantime.

Wombat1

586 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#3030862 2-Feb-2023 11:41

wlgspotter:

After update the 7490, I've noticed that it indeed used both 2.4 GHZ and 5GHZ for the Mesh uplinks now.

Is this a new feature in the newer FritzOS then? Why would you want the Fritzbox mesh to use 2.4Ghz for the mesh uplink? Surely that will be slowing things down. 5Ghz on its own is ample for the uplink?

Also a question for those that are using 7490's as mesh repeaters, have you set the mesh repeaters to only connect back to the master? Or do you also need to setup the mesh repeaters to be able to connect to themselves? (this is via the wps button thing) I have found that the mesh network does not take the shortest path in the following scenario:

Repeater1 --> Repeater2--> Master

Instead it does this

Repeater1 --> Master

Repeater2 --> Master (Even if Repeater1 is between Master and Repeater 2)

Lally

100 posts

Master Geek

#3030864 2-Feb-2023 11:46

It uses both the 2.4 and 5ghz channels for uplink, as explained by AVM "With the new FRITZ!OS, it's now also possible to use more than one Wi-Fi band for the Wi-Fi uplink. This enables higher data throughputs and stability in the Mesh."

Can't help with your remaining question sorry as I have only the one repeater.

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