I have always been a big fan of AVM and its products in the consumer sector. I thought their philosophy was spot on: sophisticated hardware and long-term, high-quality software support. Almost like Synology and Apple. Plus a really well-equipped ecosystem.
Over the last three years, there have been increasing reports of defects in some Fritzboxes, with the Wi-Fi failing but still showing as active according to FRITZ!OS. Almost always the 2.4 GHz band first, often both bands later (5 GHz as well). The former flagship FritzBox 7590, which we have been using since its release, was also affected, shortly before the expiry of the 5-year warranty voluntarily granted by AVM.
It took me a while to figure out why only some Wi-Fi devices were still working. If I didn’t use a separate, hidden SSID for each band, I would probably have spent even longer searching (the default setting sends the same SSID for both bands). In addition, we run everything we can via Ethernet.
AVM replaced our unit some time ago, i thank them for the excellent service. It only took a few days and in the meantime I used my old FritzBox, a venerable 7390. Shortly afterwards, I heard about a similar case among my friends. Same defect, also replaced under warranty.
This topic came up again for me because I have another case to complain about in my family. Similar symptoms – this time, both Wi-Fi bands are gone, while the software says they should be there. This unit is just too old to be replaced by AVM and will soon have to be replaced by a FritzBox 7590 AX V2*.
Possibilities
Günter Born reported on this problem some time ago. His blog post also contains lots of useful tips on repairs and companies that deal with the problem. Heise also picked up on the topic later.
The fault can be repaired but many Fritzboxes will probably end up as electronic waste anyway. This is annoying, especially since 90% of the device continues to function without any problems. Alternatively, the WLAN can be bypassed in tandem with a repeater from AVM*, which is connected to the Fritzbox via a LAN bridge. Not ideal, but practical.
Consequences
Mistakes can happen, but what matters is how they are dealt with. AVM is making every effort to replace affected units. To be honest, I have to say that my confidence in the products has been somewhat shaken. I had never had any problems with AVM products before and the company had long been my standard recommendation in my private sphere.
The fact that Imker Capital Partners is now managing the company’s fortunes does not bode well for the future.