HupleDuple: The CRACKin' Fritzbox 4690 Router for Home or Homewicked Hustle!
Potentially Suitable Fritzbox 4690 Router for Exceptional Network Performance
By Klaus Wedekind Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link
Get ready to tackle bandwidth beasts with the patrol-proof Fritzbox 4690! This no-nonsense router plays nice with your existing modem, dishing out lightning-fast data through Wi-Fi 7 or a trusty LAN cable. But will it charm the socks off speed demons or leave users longing for a stronger connection?
AVM routers have a rep for reaching far and wide, and the Fritzbox 4690 holds the torch as the latest to join the gang. The '4' in the name means this baby's a router without a modem built-in, and its price tag of about 320 bucks suggests it's a big-time player in this squad. ntv.de gives it the once-over to see what it's all about.
Tech Talk: DSL, VDSL, Fiber Optic, Cable, Wireless - Which Fritzbox is Your Home's Soulmate? The design ain't revolutionary, and the 4690 looks like many other current Fritzboxes. But the back is where the action's at, featuring five points of interest for network cables.
Three golden LAN connections claim supreme speeds of up to 2.5 Gbit/s, while another shines bright with up to 10 Gbit/s. There's also a pair of phone jacks, and a blue WAN input that's ready to handle the same lightning-fast speeds.
Leapin' into the (Data) Future
This puppy's an awesome match for a fiber optic modem, but you can also team it up with cable or DSL. Even the fastest available fiber connections out there don't come close to the 4690's potential, making it a smart move for the data dashing days ahead.
ntv.de tested it on an FTTB connection, where fiber optic takes a stroll to the house but regular copper cables handle the apartments. Their connection managed around 940 Mbit/s in the Bundesnetzagentur's speed test.
Speeds 'til the Soul Sings
To get an idea of just how fast it can move data wirelessly, we enlisted a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, an Apple MacBook Air M4, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Equipped with Wi-Fi 7 just like the Fritzbox 4690, we measured speeds using each device - all up close and cozy with the router.
In the clear, with no obstructions, all three devices tore through data at download rates of up to 2400 Mbit/s! Ten meters shy of the router, behind a brick wall, speeds reacted like a chickenshit, dropping down to 1000 to 1500 Mbit/s.
Beyond 25 meters, through wet barriers, speeds were meager around 30 to 50 Mbit/s. Closer up, at five meters away, speeds were a respectable 130 Mbit/s.
The Long Goodbye
This isn't a fairytale, and love truly doesn't conquer all. When distances lengthen, the connection switches to an older 2.4 GHz frequency band, and signal strength takes a hit. The 4690 only supports Wi-Fi 6 at this frequency, which maxes out at around 9.6 Gbit/s.
At Amazon.de's shop, you'll find another snag: the new AVM router's hesitant to utilize the 6-GHz frequency band, leaving a chunk of Wi-Fi 7's potential unrealized. This frequency would theoretically double the channel width from 160 to 320 MHz, boosting data rates.
Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 gadgets get the chance to rock the 5- and 6-GHz frequency bands simultaneously or switch flexibly between them for better, faster transmission. But somehow, the big daddy FRITZbox 5690 Pro gets the credit for that awesome feature.
A Fistful of Credits
The Fritzbox 4690 is a solid choice for smaller apartments wanting speedy data with Wi-Fi 7 and a 5 GHz frequency band. But for larger areas with plenty of obstructions, you'll need to add on a WLAN repeater. Unfortunately, AVM's yet to announce release dates for the 1700 and 2700 Fritz repeaters.
As long as the 4690's price maintains its exclusivity, the Fritzbox 5690 Pro with 6 GHz is the boss. Now, the top-dog's price ain't too far from the newcomer's, and any AVM router with a modem can dance with your old modem if a replacement isn't an option.
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- The Fritzbox 4690, a high-performing router, supports vocational training in the form of Wi-Fi 7 for faster data transmission.
- Users looking for a community policy on router usage may find relevant information in the article about the Fritzbox 4690, as it discusses its compatibility with various internet connections, such as DSL, VDSL, fiber optic, and cable.
- For those who are looking for a router that offers vocational training in the 6-GHz frequency band, the Fritzbox 5690 Pro is currently equipped with this feature, as opposed to the Fritzbox 4690, which only supports Wi-Fi 6 at this frequency.
