AVM FRITZ!Box 6670 - WiFi 7 in the middle class

AVM will launch a new cable box in mid-2023 presentedAt the end of March 2024 the time had come: the new FRITZ!Box 6670 went on sale and was the first to adopt the new “WiFi 7” standard. The manufacturer kindly provided me with the box for a test. However, everything I write is my personal experience and opinion with the cable router.

FRITZ!Box 6670

The technical data in detail:

DOCSIS 3.1 router for Internet via cable connection
Channel bundling with 2×2 OFDM(A) and 32×8 SC-QAM
WiFi Mesh, 2×2, Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6
WLAN speeds: 2.4 GHz: up to 720 Mbit/s, 5 GHz: up to 2,880 Mbit/s,
1x 2.5 Gigabit LAN/WAN port and 4 LAN ports with 1 GBit/s
Telephony via DECT, IP/SIP and 1 analogue telephone connection (FXS)
Integrated TV tuner for streaming the TV signal in the home network, e.g. via FRITZ!App TV
Smart Home via DECT ULE and Zigbee, Matter in preparation
FRITZ!OS with parental controls, media server, FRITZ!NAS, WLAN guest access and much more
1x USB 2.0 for mobile sticks (5G/4G) as well as storage media and printers

The packaging contents:

1x FRITZ!Box 6670
1x coaxial cable
1x LAN cable
1x power supply
1x information material

The FRITZ!Box 6670 contains the usual packaging contents that you would expect from other boxes from the manufacturer. What is new in this case is the power supply. This has been optimized and now has a more compact design.

First setup:

If you have never used a cable box before, you should consider a few things before using it for the first time. Whether it's Vodafone, o2, etc.: All providers require online registration in order to be able to use the box on your own connection. The process is extremely simple. Screw the box to the connection box with the coaxial cable and connect the power supply to the box itself. Then connect to the WiFi using the access data on the bottom of the box. After connecting, a window from the Internet provider opens automatically. There you enter the registration code from the order confirmation. Then you restart the box and you are online.

A quick look at the user interface:

First tests in speed:

In the first test, I connected my computer directly to the FRITZ!Box 6670 via LAN connection. The box is conveniently equipped with a 2.5 Gbit LAN port. The line booked is Gigabit cable fiber optic from Vodafone. Because cable fiber optic is a shared medium, the bandwidth can vary depending on the load in the neighborhood. In general, however, I am satisfied with the speed.

Speed with WLAN 7 Client:

New in the box is the “Wi-Fi 7” standard. This ensures improvements in stability and speed over longer distances through various optimizations such as frequency bundling. However, the range is not fundamentally increased as a result. This is not due to the box, but rather to the regulation of frequencies in the laws. Here are a few advantages of the new WLAN generation:

320 MHz channel width
Multi-Link Operation (simultaneous use of radio bands)
Target Wake Time (Optimizes data exchange to minimize delays)
Enhanced MU-MIMO (Improves simultaneous data transfer to multiple devices)
Adaptive Interference Puncturing (Detects and circumvents interference to ensure a stable connection.)
OFDMA (Splits channels into smaller sub-channels to support more devices simultaneously.)
Dynamic Bandwidth Management (dynamically adjusts bandwidth as needed, improving energy efficiency)

In summary, it can be said that Wi-Fi 7 has some advantages. However, it should be noted that these can only be used if such devices are already in the home network. Given the current situation, however, it may take a few months or years before it becomes established among the general public.

ZigBee and Matter:

The FRITZ!Box 6670 was the first device, alongside the Smart Gateway, to have direct ZigBee support. In addition to the usual DECT-ULE standard, a wide range of smart home devices can now be connected directly via the FRITZ!Box without the need for external devices or hubs. The box thus becomes the control center of the home network. The box is also prepared for Matter – a smart home standard of the future. When I asked AVM about integrating Matter into the router, I received the following answer:

Matter is integrated into the FRITZ!Box using IP. No additional hardware chip is required. In principle, it can be made available on any box with a software update. After integration, the FRITZ! Smart Gateway and the FRITZ!Box act as bridges. Devices from external providers (such as Apple TV, Google Nest or Amazon Alexa) act as hubs.

AVM itself has also published a help article on the topic on its website, where it mentions, among other things, the following: “With the help of Matter, smart home devices can be controlled centrally and independently of the manufacturer in the future – whether via automation rules, manually in just one app or conveniently via the preferred voice control.”

Further information including help articles for integration into the apps of the various manufacturers can be found here.

What else is there to say:

The FRITZ!Box 6670 is the manufacturer's first WiFi 7 box alongside the FRITZ!Box 7690. Even though a rock-solid product has been launched, there are also things that can be viewed critically. The premiere for the new standard is a rather cautious start. The latest wireless technology is used, but the 6 GHz frequency band is completely missing. This means that it is not possible to use the full functionality, including 320 MHz channel bandwidth. Personally, I also miss a second 2.5 GBit LAN port. In 2024, it is simply no longer up to date to rely on Gigabit LAN ports when higher speeds have long been established. With WiFi 7 and DOCSIS 3.1 with speeds of up to 6 Gbit, LAN ports should no longer be a bottleneck.

Conclusion:

The FRITZ!Box 6670 is available with a recommended retail price of 289 euros, but current providers are already offering the box for under 240 euros. If you can do without WiFi 7, you can find the 6690 with a longer range for a similar price. In general, the box is a good all-rounder and a solid box for many cable users, with which you are also well prepared for the future of smart homes thanks to ZigBee integration.