Zen Fritz!box 7530 or 7530 AX

Zen offer the Fritz!Box 7530 to customers buying packages less than 500Mb and the 7530 AX to all customers buying above 500mb.

The 7530 is Wi-Fi 5 whilst the 7530 AX is Wi-Fi 6.

As mentioned in my other question we do not have FTTP available to buy so they would supply the Wi-Fi 5 7530.

I have discussed buying an upgrade to the 7530 AX with Zen but they say that there is no upgrade route. I find this remafkable so has anybody managed to persuade them to supply a 7530AX with a lower speed package?

Also interested in this, as I'm in the same situation and was about to ask Zen the same question. I'd assumed that I'd just be able to pay a surcharge for the 7530 AX.

Try it & see if you get a different answer.

It is strange that they offer both versions, although the higher price of the AX version is presumably a factor. For anyone who really must have the WiFi 6 version, you can always import one. Two perfectly respectable suppliers who will ship to the UK are Amazon DE (£160) and Senetic (£140). Amazon UK rarely has them, and usually at a much higher price. You need the 20002944 International model.

Just an aside: I have compared the Speedest app on my iPhone (WiFi 6) with my wife's iPhone (WiFi 5) and the results were pretty close:
WiFi 6 = 680/565
WiFi 5 = 660/555
Maybe it's not terribly important?

Edited by cjn (Wed 21-Feb-24 11:22:39)

In reply to a post by cjn:

Just an aside: I have compared the Speedest app on my iPhone (WiFi 6) with my wife's iPhone (WiFi 5) and the results were pretty close:
WiFi 6 = 680/565
WiFi 5 = 660/555
Maybe it's not terribly important?

That's interesting, thanks. I've started to acquire WiFi 6 enabled devices, and had assumed that connecting them to a WiFi 6 capable router would have a significant performance / speed difference. Maybe not so much.

In reply to a post by Blenheim15:

That's interesting, thanks. I've started to acquire WiFi 6 enabled devices, and had assumed that connecting them to a WiFi 6 capable router would have a significant performance / speed difference. Maybe not so much.

There CAN be a difference, depending on the device. Most WiFi 6 routers/access points have 4 antenna, for 4T4R but most devices (laptops, phones, etc) have only 2 antenna, for 2T2R. With more antenna on a laptop or desktop computer you can achieve _real world_ speeds over 1500 Mbps, but even very expensive MacBook or Alienware hardware only has 2T2R .... older MacBooks from 2012 were at least 3T3R....

Where 6 helps is when you have a lot more users on WiFi, and it improves the 2.4 GHz, whereas 5 (AC) only really improved the 5 GHz band.

The only variable in my quick test was the actual phone. Both connected to the same 7530 AX, with no other WiFi or Ethernet activity. Router connected to 900/900 fibre.

Another quick test, with both phones connecting to my Fritz Repeater 6000, then Ethernet to router:
WiFi 6 = 700/625
WiFi 5 = 660/510
Again, not a great difference.

Edited by cjn (Wed 21-Feb-24 13:48:36)

In reply to a post by cjn:

Again, not a great difference.

Yes, the small benefit you saw was the enhanced processing with 2 antenna. Some Android (e.g. Samsung) handsets may have more antenna, you'd have to check their detailed technical spec.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Where 6 helps is when you have a lot more users on WiFi, and it improves the 2.4 GHz, whereas 5 (AC) only really improved the 5 GHz band.

Also interesting, thank you. When you say 'a lot more' would you think that 6 would be of benefit in a household of 5+ users with 60+ connected devices, or would you expect that a router like the Fritzbox 7530 would be sufficient, presumably performing better than those provided by the mainstream ISP's?

In reply to a post by Blenheim15:

Also interesting, thank you. When you say 'a lot more' would you think that 6 would be of benefit in a household of 5+ users with 60+ connected devices, or would you expect that a router like the Fritzbox 7530 would be sufficient, presumably performing better than those provided by the mainstream ISP's?

With that many devices it could do, but depends on the physicals (e.g. walls, how the house is built etc).

I don't know the Fritz boxes, but they are a reputable make.