connect Comparison Test: FRITZ!Box Is a Nose Ahead

The FRITZ!Box Fon WLAN 7170, which is already established on the market, and a new Siemens router were compared in the March edition of connect. The magazine’s editorial team reached a definite verdict: “FRITZ!Box is the clear winner” because “telephony comfort is AVM’s domain”. With 441 points, the AVM router was classified as “very good” and is way ahead of the new Siemens product with 388 points.

AVM primarily scores points for telephony

The editorial team complains that the Siemens device has no call list at all, they therefore see that the FRITZ!Box has a clear advantage here: “AVM has even provided this list lovingly with graphics. Upon request, the box from Berlin will send the list to its owner by e-mail at adjustable times.” And parallel calls, where the phone rings when a call is made to home and the company at the same time, occasional call forwarding, call blocks with which the FRITZ!Box prevents the selection of expensive 0900 numbers and sleep mode were greeted with enthusiasm. The author stresses that the answering machine now also integrated in the AVM product is a true "milestone" in the consistent further development of FRITZ!Box.

Advanced when it comes to detail

Although the two rivals do show similarities, FRITZ!Box often comes out on top for its level of detail, for example with the WLAN transmitter power: “AVM are going one step further and with the 7170 are adapting the transmitter power automatically to real requirements if necessary. (...) AVM is a nose ahead in this area too and has also given the WLAN transmitter a time control.”

Diversity of USB port

Another point of comparison is the USB port option: “While with Siemens only the straight print function works, AVM customers can access all the printer functions and the ink level display from any network PC. (…) AVM, on the other hand, has integrated a straight Samba Server which can simply be called up in Explorer; customers can access their hard drive at home via FTP over the Internet.”