Product test
Mesh Wi-Fi test: TP-Link Deco BE85 only halfway convincing
by Martin Jud
AVM mesh Wi-Fi speed test: Fritz!Box 4060 and Fritz!Repeater 6000
23.6.2022
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
The Fritz!Box 4060 and the Fritz!Repeater 6000 get to prove how much signal strength and speed they deliver in my two-story apartment. Will AVM manage to push the previous test winners by TP-Link and Netgear from their thrones with their Fritzes?
AVM kindly provided me with both products for my test.
CH
DE
One of the Fritz!Box’s special features is the integrated DECT base to make phone calls. It’s also equipped with a media server and network storage function (Fritz!NAS).
Both test products are also available for purchase individually or in other bundles. Find corresponding offers here.
Hardware und features
In a mesh system, each access point sets up its own Wi-Fi. In other words, mesh-enabled repeaters don’t just forward a radio signal like they used to do. This results in greater reach, reduced delays and more data throughput.
The connection between the two mesh network devices is handled by a third band, which is located in the 5 GHz frequency range. To achieve a stable connection, it’s usually enough to place the repeater on the target floor roughly above or below the router. If you want a better connection, some mesh products can also be connected with a long network cable.
The mesh system’s specs:
Setting it up
Setting up the new mesh is simple as always and no different to other manufacturer’s:
The fritz.box URL automatically redirects you to the port of your Fritz!Box. Once you’ve logged in and completed the initial setup, you can let loose in the web interface called Fritz!OS. I find the menu structure and operation of the OS logical and well organised. I’m not missing any features. For example, the automatic port forwarding for my Synology-NAS are created in no time.
Apartment floor plan and router location
Speed, ping and signal strength per room
To test the new mesh system, I use the «NetSpot» software to determine the signal strength. The signal level heatmaps shown below were also generated with the help of this software. To measure latency, I ping my NAS. I determine download speeds by operating my NAS. All measurements are taken at the same 37 points in my flat, as always. They can be seen in the map below.
Results
The Fritz mesh performs as follows:
The response time a signal needs to find its way from a laptop to the NAS and back – ping – is outstanding on the upper floor at 5 GHz and only takes four milliseconds. However, around five milliseconds are lost on the way to the lower floor, which raises the apartment’s average to seven milliseconds. At 2.4 GHz, the latency averages eleven milliseconds.
Visualising the 5 GHz Wi-Fi coverage
Signal strength is measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm). Excellent values are -35 to -50 dBm. Good ones are -60 dBm. Things start to get critical for many devices from -70 dBm. Anything under -80 dBm means it’s game over in most cases.
In the following heatmaps, the signal coverage is visualised in colour. It clearly shows where the signal struggles to reach: all areas that are bluish. The Fritz mesh delivers an average of -56 dBm at 5 GHz. At -80 dBm, there’s only too little reception on the balcony. Apart from this problem zone, the 5 GHz frequency band performs okay on the lower floors and flawlessly on the upper floors – everything is red, yellow or green there.
Visualising the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi coverage
At 2.4 GHz, the average is -53 dBm and reception just about good enough to use the internet on all devices. Even on the balcony. The Fritz!Box 4060’s weaker frequency band performance compared to the Repeater 6000 can be seen quite well on the heatmaps. For example, the entrance area with the repeater is atypically coloured redder than room 3, where the router is located. In room 2 on the upper floor, the signal is also clearly worse than in the 5 GHz frequency band.
Comparing with the competition
In the 2.4 GHz frequency band, the Fritz Mesh is the joint winner with TP-Link’s in terms of signal strength. Having said that, it ends up in last place in the ping measurements. The speed is in the midfield.
The 5 GHz comparison:
The 2.4 GHz comparison:
Verdict: solid mesh system with a large range of features
AVM and its two Fritzes win the bronze medal in this apartment’s mesh test series with an average of 561.52 Mbps in the 5 GHz frequency band. I like that and am also somewhat surprised, given the fact that both devices are on the small side and sport a plain design.
There’s room for improvement when it comes to reception on the balcony. However, this is a common problem in other systems that circumnavigate the 2.4 GHz frequency band. And yet, I still have a bit complaining to do. Apart from the 5 GHz frequency band on the upper floor, the ping measurements yield the lowest I’ve measured so far in both frequency bands. Keep in mind that I’m talking about a few milliseconds of difference, which is only important for pro gamers.
All in all, the Fritz!Box and the repeater offer many features in addition to a good Wi-Fi performance. In addition to the standard router options, there’s also the DECT base, the media server and the Fritz!NAS. I also think the devices are good in terms of value for money and can recommend them.
Want to find out how the Fritz!Box 4060 performed as a standalone device in my colleague Jan Johannsen’s home? Read his review here:
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
