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.

In reply to a post by Blenheim15:

.............................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.

Interesting. We live in a house that seems to kill 5GHz dead so much of our connectivity is still 2.4Ghz. Am I right in reading what you have said that WiFi 6 will benefit our speed/ coverage?

We currently use the latest Plusnet router which has WiFi 6 so the WiFi 5 Fritzbox 7530 is potentially a step backward.

This latest Plusnet router is a considerable improvement and covers the entire house whilst the previous WiFi 5 version needed a repeater in the lounge.

Edited by chris52 (Thu 22-Feb-24 08:20:01)

In reply to a post by chris52:

We currently use the latest Plusnet router which has WiFi 6 so the WiFi 5 Fritzbox 7530 is potentially a step backward.

Which router is that - I wasn't aware Plusnet were offering a Wifi 6 router? I thought they were still using the Plusnet Hub Two router?

In reply to a post by brookheather:

In reply to a post by chris52:

We currently use the latest Plusnet router which has WiFi 6 so the WiFi 5 Fritzbox 7530 is potentially a step backward.

Which router is that - I wasn't aware Plusnet were offering a Wifi 6 router? I thought they were still using the Plusnet Hub Two router?

You are right! Apologies my mistake. It is WiFi 5 but what I said about it being much better than the Hub One is true.

In reply to a post by chris52:

Interesting. We live in a house that seems to kill 5GHz dead so much of our connectivity is still 2.4Ghz. Am I right in reading what you have said that WiFi 6 will benefit our speed/ coverage?

This latest Plusnet router is a considerable improvement and covers the entire house whilst the previous WiFi 5 version needed a repeater in the lounge.

My parents have the Hub 2, whilst a big improvement as a router over Hub1, it is not WiFi 6. They use the BT Wholehome discs (bought from Amazon) as a mesh which solved all the not-spots around the home.

The improvements in WiFi 6 are here, such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO, are applicable to 2.4, 5 GHz, and if you have 6E hardware even the 6 GHz band.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_6

As the table comments, WiFi 5 didn't change 2.4, it is just WiFi 4 on the 2.4 GHz, all the improvement with 5 (ac) was to the 5 GHz band.

Obviously both your router/AP and the receiving device need to support WiFi 6 (ax) to get any benefits.

Edited by jchamier (Thu 22-Feb-24 10:55:31)

I have been on the Zen 900 FTTP package for the last year at a new build house. When I signed up Zen were sending the AX models to City Fibre connected customers but not Openreach. I noticed recently that they were now supplying the AX model for the higher speed Openreach customers. I asked if I could swap my router to the AX and they immediately facilitated the swap.
I have two laptops and two phones in the house that support Wifi6. I have to admit I wanted the change out of curiosity and to have the newer standard but have recorded higher speeds on my laptops. Nothing dramatic, Just a bit faster. I also have Zen DV with Fritz! phones and find the whole package excellent in all respects. The AVM Fritz!! user interface is very good and I now use the router's USB connection and media server facility to store my entire music library linked to Sonos speakers.
The only this that surprised me was that the USB connection and media server didn't like an SSD but it is perfectly happy with an older re-purposed WD Passport conventional HDD..

In reply to a post by chriswillsher:

The only this that surprised me was that the USB connection and media server didn't like an SSD but it is perfectly happy with an older re-purposed WD Passport conventional HDD..

I think that depends to what extent the router's OS supports USB-attached-SCSI.

For example it is possible it implements generic mass storage but does not know how to enumerate an NVMe device attached by USB, or even just the web interface if a parser only looks for block device names that match /dev/sdX (such as SATA drives) or previously /dev/hdX for even older OSes).

I've only ever plugged old USB sticks since I would not want important directly mounted on my router so I can't say for sure.

Edited by prlzx (Fri 23-Feb-24 01:09:08)

A recent change is that Zen are now offering their WiFi6 router (7530 AX?) for connections with all their speed options.

In reply to a post by cjn:

A recent change is that Zen are now offering their WiFi6 router (7530 AX?) for connections with all their speed options.

Are you sure?

Zen spoke to me Wednesday (two days ago) and were still talking about supplying the WiFi5 7530 & refused any possibility of an upgrade on Superfast packages. They said they only supplied the 7530AX with the fastest full fibre packages.

Edited by chris52 (Fri 01-Mar-24 16:08:05)

I've just had Zen 100 Mbps FTTP installed and was supplied with a 7530 not a 7530AX

Looking at Zen's offering for an address near mine, which will be via CF, not OR ...

https://www.zen.co.uk/broadband/cf/broadband-results

Edited by cjn (Fri 01-Mar-24 18:06:28)

In reply to a post by cjn:

.........................which will be via CF, not OR ...

https://www.zen.co.uk/broadband/cf/broadband-results

I think that the CF bit might be very important here.

In reply to a post by cjn:

A recent change is that Zen are now offering their WiFi6 router (7530 AX?) for connections with all their speed options.

That's only applicable to Cityfibre connections. The 7530 is still handed out for most Openreach connections.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

In reply to a post by cjn:

A recent change is that Zen are now offering their WiFi6 router (7530 AX?) for connections with all their speed options.

That's only applicable to Cityfibre connections. The 7530 is still handed out for most Openreach connections.

I do not believe this is correct. I'm in an OR only area, and all their full fibre products seem to offer the AX. As they all say "Our fastest router with WiFi 6"

In reply to a post by Xuse:

I do not believe this is correct. I'm in an OR only area, and all their full fibre products seem to offer the AX. As they all say "Our fastest router with WiFi 6"

Indeed it isn't correct (now), but I believe it was at the time of posting.

There's literally a user 4 posts up who just got sent a 7530 for the 100Mb Openreach product.

Also, their website only said "Our fastest router with WiFi 6" for every package on the Cityfibre pages.
When you selected their Openreach 100Mb package it said something like "Includes FRITZ!Box 7530 Router"
I checked about 1 minute before I made my post.

It does seem they have now changed their website to show a WiFi 6 router on all the Openreach packages. When any package is selected it now states "Includes FRITZ!Box 7530 AX Wifi 6 Router"

Also interesting (but not surprising) they don't even show Openreach packages where both CF & OR are available.

Fair enough. I didn't consider things may have changed recently. I only checked out this forum as I'm considering switching to Zen from BT.

Now I am confused.

This is the most recent page that I can find on the Zen site:

https://www.zen.co.uk/broadband/broadband-router/

Are we now saying tat this is out of date and I will get a WiFi 6 730AX with a Superfast FTTC package?

[censored], instead of all this trip around the houses, why not just call Zen and ask them?

I did last week and posted what they told me which is different to what is now being said here - hence the confusion.

I can confirm, If I upgrade from Unlimited Fibre 2/line rental on BT to Unlimited Fibre 2 on BT, no chance of any FTTP here for a few years yet if ever, a AVM FRITZ!Box 7530ax Wifi Router is included.
All for £1.01 /month more, £9.99 setup fee a new 18 month contract.

In reply to a post by chris52:

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?

Just to confirm the new Wi-Fi 6 boxes are being sent out on all new contracts