Smart Home: Upgrade your provider’s router to a mesh network

KPN, XS4All, Solcon and Onvi – they all supply the Fritz Box! Despite the somewhat clumsy name (with an exclamation mark in the middle), it’s an impressive device. Or hardware, I should say. Depending on the type of connection (DSL or fiber optic), there are different variations and you can also choose versions with more or less ports. For example, the 5530 has 1 USB port and 2 network ports, while the 5590 has 2x USB and 4x network.

But whichever unit you get, you can easily create a mesh network with it. You can also connect DECT phones to it, set up your own VPN and attach a hard disk to movies and music that you can access over your network. But for now, let’s focus on that mesh network.

Good WiFi mesh network

What? mesh network. If you want good WiFi coverage throughout your home (and maybe your garden), a mesh network is the most convenient solution. Multiple devices send and receive your WiFi signal. They talk to each other on their own channel, so your bandwidth isn’t gobbled up by devices that need to improve your signal. Think of it as a translator who can listen and translate at the same time, without having to wait to continue speaking.

We are big fans of Orbi kits from Netgear, but they are expensive. If you want three terminals in your home, you will have to spend at least 700 euros, and if you want the latest and fastest version, it will already cost 1900 euros. Welcome. You can put this Orbi set behind your router and let it take over the network. You can then turn off the WiFi on your provider’s router and all devices will receive the internet through the Orbi suite.

Wi-Fi 6 repeaters

But with Fritz! box , you actually have the first component of a mesh nested internally. Simply purchase separate repeaters to expand your retina network. We’ve tried three WiFi 6 repeaters from the German brand: Fritz! Repeater 1200AX, 3000AX, and 6000.

You can buy the 1200AX for €75 and it gives you a WiFi 6 signal of up to 2400Mbit/s and one network port. You can use this network port in two ways: You can wire the repeater to your router. This ensures that the signal received by the repeater is always optimal. Even if there are thick concrete floors or metal tanks between them. If possible, I always advise you to do so. But of course it’s easier to install things wirelessly. Then you can use this network port to connect your computer or printer to it.

The 3000AX costs €150, has three transmitters with a maximum speed of 2400Mbit/s, 1200Mbit/s and 600Mbit/s and has two network ports with a maximum speed of 2Gb. This will allow you to connect your computer and printer to the network in the office, for example. Or you use one back channel port with your router and one port for your computer, printer, smart TV, or game console.

The 6000 is similar to the 3000AX, but it has faster wireless connectivity (2 x 2400Mb and 1 x 1200) and one network port has a maximum speed of 2.5Gb. It will cost you 200 euros.

stabilizing

If you buy Fritz! Repeater 6000 twice, you only lose half compared to the cheapest Orbi set. But does it also work?

If you’re a tech geek like me, but don’t see yourself as a hobby sysadmin in your home, ease of installation and reliability are most important. I’m happy to sacrifice a few megabytes more or less for it.

Installing the grid kit is very easy. You click the repeater into the socket, click the red button once, then click the connect button on your router and you’re done. You can then use the handy app to find the perfect spot for your router where the signal remains intact, but you can still reach far into your home or garden with WiFi.

Overview and options

The app clearly shows all your devices and the connections they make. If the device connection is slow, you can tell at a glance. You can also easily disconnect your teen’s phones from the internet at night or prioritize your game console in internet traffic because you want to win Call of Duty Warzone.

Personally, I did not notice much difference between the three repeaters. It must be said that the 1200AX is smaller and therefore less visible, but it should always be visible directly into the socket. The 3000AX and 6000 each have a separate transducer and can therefore be positioned more flexibly. Additional network port is also welcome.

Use your old router as a repeater

If you want a nested grid behind the Fritz! On a limited budget, it is recommended to use the 1200AX. If you want the fastest possible network, I’d go for the 6000. However, I’ve provided your entire home with internet for between €150 and €400.

Sympathetic to the brand is that you can also reuse old routers in your network as a repeater. So I can upgrade the 5530 I got from my provider to a 5590, simply moving the 5530 to another place in the house to improve my network.

Rutger Middendorp