Question for any Fritz!Box 7390 users

mervl · Nov 04, 2011, 18:33:43

Have just set this up successfully on FTTC with good results, but one issue:

I've had problems in the past with IDNet's DNS, but I can't find a way to change from the default to Open DNS which I used on the old IDNet-supplied Netgear. Am I over looking something obvious?

Steve · Nov 04, 2011, 18:37:14

As far as I recall , we had a post on here a while ago re similar I'll see if I can find it . You have I believe got to change this setting via telnet i.e. quick google

http://blog.marc-seeger.de/2009/07/04/change-dns-servers-to-opendns-on-the-fritzbox-7240/

.Griff. · Nov 04, 2011, 18:37:43

It can be done via Telnet apparently mervl.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1659203 (Second post contains link with details)

Edit - Steve posted at same time

Steve · Nov 04, 2011, 18:44:58

Just wonder whether it's just easier to place OpenDNS on the local NIC settings (unless your desperate for the parental controls.)

.Griff. · Nov 04, 2011, 19:22:21

Quote from: Steve on Nov 04, 2011, 18:44:58
Just wonder whether it's just easier to place OpenDNS on the local NIC settings (unless your desperate for the parental controls.)

You could but if there's multiple devices on the network it's easier to do it via the router.

Steve · Nov 04, 2011, 19:33:01

On the majority of routers I would agree.

mervl · Nov 05, 2011, 00:07:31

Thanks .Griff and Steve! Now why didn't I think of that?

No doubt a bit of German conformity instead of our Anglo-Saxon anarchy!

Ardua · Nov 05, 2011, 09:07:02

Quote from: .Griff. on Nov 04, 2011, 18:37:43
It can be done via Telnet apparently mervl.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1659203 (Second post contains link with details)

Edit - Steve posted at same time

Using TelNet will invalidate the 5 year warranty and AVM will decline to offer support. I have the occasional issue with webpages failing to open but the occurrence rate is not frequent enough to make me want to 'hijack' the router settings.

FritzBox · Nov 05, 2011, 13:12:30

Can't understand why they can't let users set their preferred DNS, but hey ho sorted OpenDNS via telnet on mine. From what I remember it was a bit of a struggle, plus you have to use one of their phones to enable it

Using TelNet will invalidate the 5 year warranty and AVM will decline to offer support

Maybe that's why they never reply to my emails regarding the disconnections and the thing randomly Clearing the Connection when it's set not to do so.
If it wasn't for the fact that I've got the VOIP set up I would be going back to a trusty 2700

I'm also sure that the reason I can't seem to set up a DLNA media server such as Mezzmo and get it to see my WDTV Live Hub is something to do with the router

Ardua · Nov 05, 2011, 14:23:31

I have always got a response from AVM to any support issues that I have raised with them: usually, from someone from a UK background. As has been said on other forums, the Fritz!Box is aimed primarily at the German cable market so ADSL and ADSL2 are secondary functions. I confess that the occasional disconnections are both a source of frustration and interest to me. Yesterday, I had 4208 unrecoverable errors at 9 am and the box remained synchronised: it then re-synched an hour later with an unrecoverable error rate of 42. My line settings are hard right: I suspect that I could go for greater stability by moving them to the left but there seems to be no point in doing so given that my box only re-synchs every 5 to 7 days and the synch rate remains between 17.2 and 17.8Mbps. I see that the 7390 is getting some good feedback from FTTC users as a single box VDSL/router. Hopefully, I will be able to test this for myself in the New Year.

mervl · Nov 05, 2011, 16:46:15

I've gone the whole hog with the Fritz!Box 7390 set up both on my FTTC service in lieu of the OR modem and as the router (using the Fritz!Lan N stick when moving the laptop around the house), and also running both the landline through the paired DECT phones around the house and a sipgate VOIP service to my "office" room. Usefully I can time the DECT phones differently, and direct the landline and VOIP service to phones differently.

I was using IDNet's supplied Netgear router which had speeds going up and down, so the average speed was low, up to 14Mbps. With the Fritz!Box the synch speed has gone up from below 27 Mbps to just below 30Mbps, and seems to be holding there for the last several days; average speeds have risen to around 20Mbps. So I'd say its an improvement. Normally wet autumn and winter weather is the enemy of the heavily-jointed underground lines through my estate back to the cab, and the last couple of days have seen the wettest weather since my install in the late summer, so fingers-crossed. (I resynced several times during the set up, due to my disconnecting to change wires around, and whilst the Fritz!Box started at the same 26Mbps profile as reported by the BTW checker it quickly rose and stayed despite a couple of further syncs to just below 30Mbps).

A couple of disadvantages: the higher speed has come at the cost of a small amount of packet loss now being reported on TBQM compared to the OR modem/Netgear set up; there's a few errored seconds being reported and a few thousand corrected errors and a few non-corrected errors per day, but that's less than 10% of what the rubbish local loop gave on ADSL. I can't compare with the OR modem which didn't give this information. And the wireless DECT phones connected through the router don't give CLI - which I gather AVM know about and aren't doing anything about this. Obviously I'm running the newer v84.05.05 firmware, and the most difficult bit of the install was setting it up to run with the OR modem to flash the new firmware (so I could run it as a modem) where the wizard didn't work properly, so I did a manual configuration in expert mode. I've also left the modem on the highest quality setting.

FritzBox · Nov 05, 2011, 17:12:08

How's the 5ghz band with the N stick? Mine virtually never works

My exchange due for FTTC upgrade in March he says positively

mervl · Nov 05, 2011, 17:56:11

Not sure: it only shows up as 2.4GHz band, but shows a maximum throughput of 108M/bits/s (in a range between 81 and 162 during the hour I had it running under a trial in the garden cabin), compared to the usual 54/65; and which would presumably be comparable with the performance of the Cat6E ethernet cable?

Ardua · Nov 05, 2011, 18:38:29

My IMAC will connect to both 2.4 and 5GHz 'N' channels: I cannot say that I notice any difference. I also have Caller ID on my Fritz!Box and I use two Gigaset DECT handsets and 2 Fritz!Fon Fs.

mervl · Nov 11, 2011, 18:11:44

Having got a bit more experience with the 7390, I agree the wireless signal does jump around a bit, but at best is comparable to a wired connection on actual downloads. I've had potential throughputs reported in the range 108- 216Mb/s, out of the 300 max using both channels.

The non-CLI issue seems to be a problem only where the 7390 is used as a VDSL modem, and as far as I can see, it's OK when used just as a router. Could it be an interference issue?

I'm suspecting that on the maximum quality setting the 7390 pushes the line hard: a 10% upload gain over the OR modem synch but with the cost of a continuous up to 10% packet loss reported by TBBQM. Resyncs seem to be about 1 per day with CEC errors reported at 0.6/sec, FEC x00/sec, at the modem: and respectively 0.5 and a couple at most at the DSLAM. NM steady betweeen 10/11db.

As I mentioned elsewhere it seems to have settled down after the move to 17a profile, with a 20% increase in both attainable and sync on the download, but at a cost of a 40% loss on the upload (just off 10 to just over 6 so not fatal). But download sync exceeds the pre-order estimate of 26Mbps by nearly 10 Mbps. I think it could be justified as an all-in-one but not just for the broadband.

Ardua · Nov 13, 2011, 11:48:47

mervl - have a look at the Whirlpool net au website (fritz!Box overseas thread). Phillipe_d is very knowledgeable about the 7390. I am still on an ADSL2+ line which after 3 months with an attainable speed of 17.5Mbps at a downstream SNR of 3 has just jumped to 18.5Mbps. This increase, and the associated instability, seem to have defeated BT's DLM so after taking advice from Phillipe I have used the Intended SNR slider for the first time. Connection stability has returned at 17.2Mbps throughput with a target SNR of 5.

Having ticked the box in the router set up I am now trying to work out why IPv6 isn't working. The log says that it is connected but the TBB test shows an IPv4 connection. Never a dull moment with this excellent piece of kit.

Steve · Nov 13, 2011, 12:14:01

IPv6 has no NAT so TBB will not see the router but the connected client , check at one the IPv6 test sites - google will find one

mervl · Nov 13, 2011, 22:07:08

Thanks Ardua! I'd heard about the Australian forum and actually tried it last night - I recognised your posts, I think. It's confirmed looking at my graphing that I'm still on the 8c profile (in UK apparently the 7390 reports wrongly), so I'm pretty pleased about the 6Mbps increase in throughput over what the BT speedtester reported with the OR modem. On a big download this morning it was reporting actual downloads consistently within 2-3Mbps of the attainable 35 which I reckon is good for my (historically) dodgy line. Though (strangely?) both the BT speedtester (at times) and the Fritz!Box report throughputs in excess of the IP profile shown by the tester.

It's only been up a week and yep, I've played with setting everything up a lot. I read with interest the discussion on the CLI issue: of course Phillipe_d isn't familiar with the UK analogue phone line set up, but the suggestion that perhaps on some lines the carrier signal is weak might be right. Anyway perhaps I can find out if you get the problem when you transfer to a FTTC service in a couple of months (hopefully!). I have a workaround as CLI still works on the phone connected directly to the extension socket (though I've checked and it makes no difference if that phone, and the Sky box connected to the same socket, are disconnected). I've not yet though had any hissing on calls or phantom rings in the early hours, which some of the posters have reported.

As the router is holding the signal I'm not seeing any cause to adjust the line quality slider, which is at full right. I'll wait and see if the TBBQM reported packet loss will disappear when I get the 17a profile being rolled out over the next month, as it did in .griff's case.

All in all I'm chuffed with the kit which is exceeding my expectations.

mervl · Nov 17, 2011, 09:51:03

Quote from: Ardua on Nov 13, 2011, 11:48:47
Never a dull moment with this excellent piece of kit.

True, after I gained 5Mbps download over the OR modem on the introduction of the 17a profile and associated changes (with a loss of just under 4Mbps on upload, due we suspect to crosstalk interference on the jointed local loop to the cab, so the modem is unable to use tones above 8MHz to replace those lost to upload, as shown on the modem's bandwith graphing); it has this morning gained a further 5Mbps. It now shows a download (oops EDIT) sync of 39992, and its speedo shows downloads running at up to 35Mbps.

Hopefully it's now hit the buffers as the line needed a couple of resyncs to recover; and so do I

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 13:05:42

Just a quick question, for running the router via it's modem (mine is still connected via the BT router) is it just a case of switching it to connect via DSL, tick PPPoE then connect the cable to the DSL port?

pctech · Mar 22, 2012, 15:02:16

Glenn, you should see a DSL and WAN port.

The DSL port will be linked to the inbuilt modem so you should use the WAN port.

mervl · Mar 22, 2012, 16:13:54

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 22, 2012, 13:05:42
Just a quick question, for running the router via it's modem (mine is still connected via the BT router) is it just a case of switching it to connect via DSL, tick PPPoE then connect the cable to the DSL port?

Have you downloaded the manual which helps? Yep my recollection is you need to switch it back to the DSL port (as to connect via the OR modem you are using LAN1 I think?) using the supplied y-cable (even if you don't run the analogue phone through the router which you can do). The important bit is you need to set in Internet/Connection Settings (Expert Mode) VLAN101 as well as input your login settings or you won't be able to log on to Idnet's servers (though you should sync anyway with the DSLAM).

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 20:00:42

OK which bit am I doing wrong, attached are the settings I have selected, it connects to the net, but no throughput?

Steve · Mar 22, 2012, 20:03:57

From the post above have you set the VLAN?

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 20:05:30

Is it to 101 though?

Steve · Mar 22, 2012, 20:33:31

From the thread on TBB How to get the Fritzbox working as an fttc modem , the VLAN ID is 101

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 20:40:57

I'm must be doing something very basic wrong, with VLAN set at 101 it's not connecting, without it, it connects but no throughput.

Steve · Mar 22, 2012, 20:55:49

Sorry Glenn , I'm clueless perhaps vlan setup and VLAN ID are completely different , if you haven't plod through that thread on TBB

mervl · Mar 22, 2012, 21:36:37

Yes: you need to check Use VLAN for access and insert the figures 101 against that entry. All should then be good. Without it sync but no registration with IDNet and no internet. It's a unique, secret, BT setting! Good ole UK, different from everyone else as usual.

Also you need to on DSL ATM settings (beneath the VLAN setting) use set manually to PPPoE (NOT to use automatic settings) and use VPI 1 and VCI 32 according to my settings. Hope it now works.

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 22:35:35

Sorted

With the ATM setting on Auto I had no throughput, set manually to 0,38 it works.

Glenn · Mar 22, 2012, 22:38:58

It seems to be a slower connection with the Fritz

Before

After

Steve · Mar 22, 2012, 22:48:00

You should be able to get some stats from the router I believe , I think some lines have done well on the Fritzbox, whether you should choose Annex A or B I've no idea as they both work but one maybe be better than the other.

mervl · Mar 22, 2012, 23:22:22

That'll teach me never to trust German software - mine had defaulted to the wrong 1,32 but it still worked!

I'm on Annex A but it's irrelevant as far as I can see, and Annex B made no difference: I still think they are ADSL not VDSL settings on the Fritz. The stats are under Internet/DSL Info then respectively DSL, Spectrum and Statistics (latter 24 hour) and there are some comparison stats emerging on the FritzForum site, accessible via Momilc (3 of us on VDSL2 1 on ADSL so far).

Either the default or use native IPv6 settings work for IDNet, with dual IPv4/6 use set on the router.

EDIT: after you get used to it, the latest beta firmware appears to be a preview of the new release - due when I don't know, and seems to be stable: the English beta labs site is at http://www.avm.de/en/service/Lab/index.php and I think may at first as a beta have to be installed from a file on the PC, but can then be updated automatically from within the Fritz menu (or the latter might work first time from a full to beta version). Trouble with the beta is it has no help access which is a good facility as the manual is so poor. For heavens sake do a backup first though through the option in the system menu, though I've never had to revert.

Glenn · Mar 23, 2012, 05:40:24

Looks like my line is half way between 40/10 & 80/20

Lance · Mar 23, 2012, 08:30:40

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 22, 2012, 22:38:58
It seems to be a slower connection with the Fritz

Before

After

Could it just be the different server used?

Ardua · Mar 23, 2012, 08:31:17

No PC is needed to load beta firmware. Just load it to the Mac desktop and then open the firmware configuration page in the FB GUI and select the file that you have downloaded. BEWARE - FB firmware updates take an age to load. Prior to any upload, backup your settings - again from the GUI. In the unlikely event that the upgrade fails - and I have never known one to do so - you will need to use a PC to download and run the recovery tool to get back to the last non-beta firmware release. AVM issue about 4 FB firmware updates a year

Steve · Mar 23, 2012, 08:35:22

Quote from: Lance on Mar 23, 2012, 08:30:40
Could it just be the different server used?

Well spotted.

It's difficult to comment without knowing the max attainable rate prior to the swap, keeping an eye on the IP profile maybe helpful.

Glenn · Mar 23, 2012, 08:50:09

Download speedachieved during the test was - 13 Mbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 16 Mbps-30.07 Mbps .
Additional Information:
IP Profile for your line is - 30.07 Mbps

Upload speed achieved during the test was - 5.86Mbps
Additional Information:
Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 20 Mbps

mervl · Mar 23, 2012, 08:58:19

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 23, 2012, 05:40:24
Looks like my line is half way between 40/10 & 80/20

Are you on the 80/20 trial? Anyhow those stats look a bit weird to me - on a higher attenuation (20dB), and apart from the upload, with similar characteristics I get a consistent 39992 sync, and 38.71 IP profile, and the attainable shows as 41500 and can vary by a couple of Meg. I'm not on the trial. Though speedtest.net does from time to time jump about between the usual excellent around 38 down to 25 or lower (and I've too had one case of 5Mbps followed immediately by a 37Mbps) for no apparent reason. The BT speedtester is consistent though showing a throughput of 38/38.71, which also corresponds to the upper limit of my best measured downloads. From my experience you have to do a lot to upset the VDSL DLM, and I haven't managed it yet.

I've always been bewildered by the Fritz! error reporting (and suspicious of the figs detailed accuracy), though the same is true of the unlocked Echolife.

PS Just a bit of pure speculation: but as you couldn't get any local addressing without using the recovery firmware, and now speeds are poor (and unless they improve in sharp order, or perhaps a reboot sorts it out) do you think you might have a returns (and possibly faulty) model, which could be swapped or refunded?

If you wanted to compare my VDSL stats just after a reboot they're in the Comparison Stats thread as User 2 on the FritzForum site accessible via Mom'ilc's (vendors) site.

Glenn · Mar 23, 2012, 09:32:23

Mervl, yes the line is on the 80/20 trial.

BT have reported that the max my line supports on 80/20 is 46mb/20 but on 40/10 I was getting around 35/8

Steve · Mar 23, 2012, 09:33:24

Is that IP profile consistent with previous profiles on the OR Modem? My memory thinks it probably is. I agree throughput is poor , have you managed to measure throughput on the LAN side as there's a throttle somewhere?

Glenn · Mar 23, 2012, 09:40:44

Steve, the profile has been up to 37mb recently, but the resets I have done in the past few days and a outage yesterday morning 1 - 5.30 will have pulled the profile down.

Thursday

mervl · Mar 23, 2012, 09:51:24

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 23, 2012, 09:32:23
Mervl, yes the line is on the 80/20 trial.

BT have reported that the max my line supports on 80/20 is 46mb/20 but on 40/10 I was getting around 35/8

I thought this might have something to do with it, if it takes off some line management (power level restriction) and increases the effect of crosstalk, as the noticeable difference with my line is a restriction to 7.2/10 profile on the max. attainable upload compared with your 16 or so attainable. Though I get around 6Mbps speedtest throughput on the upload, similar to you. However your recent 37Mbps profile, rubbishes that one.

I've never had such a poor result with the Fritz! as you're having. Might be worth comparing tone graphs perhaps - though my poor line can't get any above 8.5KHz. EDIT: Outages and 4 resyncs by me in a day haven't had any effect on my profile.