FRITZ!Box 6860 5G Review
Even today, there are still many “white spots” in this country, meaning regions where no sufficiently fast broadband connection is available—not to mention fiber optics. The new FRITZ!Box 6860 5G provides the ideal solution to bring fast internet home. The powerful mobile router from AVM is equally suitable for private and business users. The special feature of the compact router, which offers mobile internet with WLAN hotspot and telephony, lies in its robust, weather-resistant design, making it usable not only indoors but also outdoors.
The 5G router is not only interesting for residents of rural areas who do not have stable broadband connections available but also for urban users looking for an alternative to traditional DSL or cable connections, as well as for camping vacationers who don’t want to miss out on reliable WLAN while on the go.
The new FRITZ!Box enables download speeds of up to 1.3 Gbit/s via 5G. It also has a WiFi 6 module and an integrated DECT base for up to six cordless phones and smart home. On the PoE adapter, there is also a 1-gigabit LAN port. Our detailed test report shows how to set up the mobile router, available for $489, whether there are limitations with mobile providers or the usable SIM cards, how the router performs in normal home use, what operating options are available to users, and what other special features distinguish it.
Did you know, …that AVM also offers another 5G router with the FRITZ!Box 6850 5G, which, however, features the classic flat Fritzbox design and was developed only for indoor operation? The 6850 model technically offers, besides the mobile standards 3G/4G/5G, also WiFi 5, a DECT base for telephony and smart home, as well as mesh functionality. In addition, the router includes, among other things, four gigabit LAN interfaces and a USB 3.0 port for printers or USB storage devices. The FRITZ!Box 6850 5G is available from various retailers starting at around $500.
With the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G from AVM, you have a very flexible WLAN/5G router that, thanks to IP54 certification, can be used not only indoors but also outdoors. For both scenarios, a suitable housing adapter in red (indoor) or white (outdoor) is included in the delivery, specially designed for the corresponding location. The well-crafted router is made of robust plastic and has a flat, compact, almost cuboid shape with rounded corners.
On the smooth front side, there are three LED indicators that light up or blink in white, red, orange, yellow, green, or blue depending on the operating status. Two narrow strips indicate the WLAN status and the status of the power supply and mobile connection, while a third, three-stage display shows the signal strength. Exactly there, on the right side, there’s also a Connect button, which can be used to start the WPS function, activate mesh, and register cordless phones as well as smart home devices.
At the bottom of the back, there’s a small recess where the slot for the nano SIM card of any mobile provider is located. However, the router does not have an eSIM card. Also located there are a LAN connection for the included PoE power adapter and the FRITZ!Box password. One of two available housing adapters for indoor or outdoor use can be inserted into the recess. Furthermore, two 2.5-meter-long Ethernet cables, various mounting accessories for placement indoors or outdoors, and a quick start guide are included in the delivery.
AVM FRITZ!App WLAN
With the WLAN app from AVM, users can measure the connection speed of their smartphone or tablet at any time. In addition, the application provides useful information about the existing WLAN connection, including the signal strength.
Features and Installation
As a mobile router, the Fritzbox supports both 5G Stand Alone (SA) and 5G Non Standalone (NSA), as well as the common mobile technologies 4G and 3G. Additionally, 4×4 MIMO is available on all 5G and 4G mobile bands. Via 5G connection, download speeds of up to 1.3 Gbit/s and upload speeds of up to 900 Mbit/s are possible. Equally supported is the WiFi 6 standard, including backward compatibility to older standards like WiFi 5. This includes dual-band WLAN with 2×2 MIMO and the frequency bands 2.4 and 5 GHz, allowing the AVM router to reach a theoretical maximum of a total of 3,000 Mbit/s (2,400 + 600 Mbit/s). Additionally, the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G offers extensive telephony functions. Up to six cordless phones and another ten IP phones can be used. Telephony takes place via the mobile number of the selected SIM card. Furthermore, thanks to the integrated DECT base, up to 50 smart home devices such as the smart door/window contact AVM FRITZ!DECT 350 (Test SAT VISION issue 03/2024) can be connected to the router. For network encryption, both the WPA2 and the modern WPA3 standard are available. The package is rounded off by mesh functionality, which is perfect for seamless coverage of larger indoor and outdoor areas.
PRO
3G/4G/5G compatibility, WiFi 6, Mesh WLAN, compact, weather-resistant design, DECT base for telephony and smart home, PoE power supply with 1-gigabit LAN port, nano SIM card slot, simple setup, WPA3 encryption, app control, web interface
CONTRA
no power switch, no USB port, no eSIM, no battery
Web Interface
The Fritzbox user interface is accessible by entering your own IP address or alternatively via the web address http://fritz.box. The prerequisite is an active LAN or WLAN connection between the router and the end device. On the overview page, users gain insight into the current connections and connected devices. Through the menu bar on the left side, users can navigate to the other sub-areas to, for example, manage smart home devices, perform a system update, set up a guest WLAN access, or establish a time schedule.
Regarding physical connections, the mobile router is rather reduced to the essentials. For example, there’s no USB port, and the built-in LAN interface serves only for power supply. For this purpose, the included LAN cable is connected to the PoE power adapter, to which a conventional power cable is then connected.
However, this at least has an additional 1-gigabit LAN port, to which network-capable devices like a computer, game console, set-top box, or smart TV can be connected to the internet without interference. Thanks to this clever connection solution, users can, for example, mount the router on the outer wall, lay the flat LAN cable through an open or clamped in a closed window to the inside, and use the LAN port of the power adapter there. Since it’s a mobile device, an integrated battery would have been useful to achieve a higher degree of flexibility in use.
Housing Adapter
AVM has included two housing adapters for indoor and outdoor use in the delivery. The adapter for indoor use can function both as a stand and wall mount, as there’s also a keyhole opening on its back. The red coloration of the adapter gives the router the typical AVM two-tone design. The insert for outdoor use, also made of plastic, is entirely white and can be firmly screwed to the router. Additionally, the mounting surface is oriented towards the front side.
Router
The compact FRITZ!Box 6860 5G comes in a smooth rectangular plastic housing, which is entirely matte white. On the front side, you’ll find the Fritzbox logo and several LED indicators that provide information about the network status and signal strength, among other things. On the right side of the housing, there’s also a trapezoidal Connect button.
Thus, we have reached the installation, which can be completed in a few steps. The basic requirement is an active nano SIM card, which is inserted into the intended slot at the bottom of the router, which can be managed with some dexterity. Next is the connection of the power supply, where a LAN cable must be led from the power adapter to the router. In this context, it’s also necessary to decide which of the two housing adapters should be attached to the device, as the LAN cable should be passed through it before attachment to facilitate the connection process. After these preparatory steps, the actual initial setup follows, for which a smartphone, tablet, or computer is required.
The simplest way is to scan the QR code on the “FRITZ!-Note” included in the delivery, after which users can follow the further installation instructions. In this context, the system queries the PIN code of the SIM card, determines the mobile provider, and provides the possibility to set up phone numbers, adjust the WLAN data, and perform a system update.
After these steps, which took no more than five minutes in our test, the Fritzbox is basically ready for use. Using the predefined or modified WLAN access data during the setup process, further network devices like the laptop, smart TV, or network-enabled music system can now be connected to the WLAN of the AVM router. Those who wish can subsequently also pair up to six cordless phones as well as various smart home devices with the router.
Installation, Operation, and Smart Home
The Fritzbox router from AVM offers various placement and mounting solutions, making it usable for a range of scenarios. For indoor use, the red adapter is intended, with which the device can be placed standing, e.g., on a table or shelf, or hung on a wall or window, as there’s a keyhole opening on its back. For the latter variant, one of the two adhesive pads can be used, which is attached to the back of the adapter. Those who prefer wall mounting need a screw and a suitable dowel, neither of which is included. Outdoor mounting works basically in the same way.
However, there’s also a mounting screw included, with which the outdoor housing adapter can be firmly screwed to the router, making it better protected against theft. Additionally, the mounting surface of the outdoor adapter is sensibly directed towards the front side, so that the LED indicators remain visible from the inside when mounted externally on a window. In our test scenario, the router could be easily attached outside on a window using the adhesive pad, while the LAN and power cables were long and flat enough to be laid through the closed window or to the next socket.
Generally, it’s important to choose a position for the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G that promises the highest reception strength. For this purpose, there’s a three-stage LED indicator on the top front of the mobile router, which informs about the signal strength level based on the number of bars.
Once the basic settings on the router are completed after the initial setup, it’s generally usable without further operation. Nevertheless, it may be necessary in everyday life to access certain areas of the device. For this purpose, various AVM apps are available, especially the MyFRITZ!App, which provides full access to your own Fritzbox from anywhere, and the FRITZ!App WLAN, which allows you to measure the WLAN speed or precisely position a repeater in the home network.
However, the web user interface offers significantly more options, which is most easily accessed via the URL http://fritz.box. This is protected with a password, which is noted on the FRITZ!-Note or on the underside of the router. In the extremely clear user interface, users are offered numerous settings and monitoring options. These include, for example, the ability to set up a WLAN guest access or a time schedule.
Additionally, information about the internet connection can be viewed, or a joint WLAN mesh network can be built with other AVM products. Users who have suitable smart home products can register, set up, edit, and control them via the corresponding menu item. Compatible devices include AVM radiator controllers like the AVM FRITZ!DECT 302, FRITZ!DECT sockets and LED lamps, buttons and door/window contacts, as well as devices from other manufacturers that support the DECT-ULE or HAN-FUN standard. The router allows the registration of up to 50 smart home devices, which can be doubled to 100 with a second Fritzbox like the FRITZ!BOX 7690 or the FRITZ!Smart Gateway. It’s important to note that the registration of sockets and LED lamps is limited to a total of 20, and smart home devices that use the HAN-FUN standard are limited to 30.
Performance
The AVM router can be operated not only in mobile mode but also in WLAN mode. Here, the Fritzbox uses the WLAN of another router and creates its own access point with its own access data and sets up an individual IP network. How to create such an internet access is shown in our workshop below. For our practical performance test, we first used the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G in exactly this operating mode and compared the range and speed with that of the base router, an ASUS model with WiFi 5. In the 2.4 GHz band, the AVM model was clearly ahead, achieving constant download values of over 60 Mbit/s in immediate proximity.
The connection remained sufficiently stable even at a distance of about 20 meters, with values of approximately 11 Mbit/s. In the WLAN network of the ASUS router, the corresponding figures were lower, with around 40 Mbit/s in immediate proximity and just under 1 Mbit/s at greater distances. The situation was different in the 5 GHz band. Here, we achieved up to 300 Mbit/s in our speed tests with the ASUS router, while the Fritzbox didn’t exceed 130 Mbit/s. However, at a distance of 15 to 20 meters, this reversed, as the speed with our test candidate remained at 90 to 100 Mbit/s without significant drop, whereas the values with the second test object decreased significantly to an average of 65 Mbit/s.
After this WLAN test, we focused on the mobile scenario, where the data volume of a SIM card is used, which can come from a contract or be prepaid. After we found a position with the highest possible reception strength using the three-stage LED signal strength indicator, we also tested the internet speed here, using a Vodafone 5G connection with a maximum speed of 50 Mbit/s. In direct proximity, our speed test showed values that were exactly in this range or just below at at least 45 Mbit/s. Even outdoors at a distance of more than 15 meters, this bandwidth remained, with over 40 Mbit/s, so that complex activities like VoD streaming or video calls would be smoothly possible.
35.1 °C Thermal Image
After about three hours of operation, the back remained without noticeable warming, while a larger hotspot formed in the upper area of the front. Our thermal imaging camera registered peak temperatures of up to 35.1 degrees Celsius at this point. Similar values were only found at the lower connections, where maximum temperatures of 32.0 degrees Celsius were reached.
Conclusion
The FRITZ!Box 6860 5G from AVM is perfect for those who are looking for a flexible and powerful solution to ensure the best internet reception both at home and on the go. With a theoretical download speed of up to 1.3 Gbit/s over 5G and support for WiFi 6 with a maximum of 3,000 Mbit/s, the router delivers high speeds and stable performance. This is complemented by extensive features with comprehensive telephony functions, a DECT base for up to 50 smart home devices, and the ability to establish a mesh network.
Another highlight is the weather-resistant design of the FRITZ!Box 6860 5G, which allows not only classic indoor use but also outdoor deployment, with corresponding adapters included for both scenarios. Additionally, the installation is as simple as usual, which also applies to the user-friendly interface that offers numerous configuration options. In practice, the router showed reliable performance both in WLAN and mobile mode. The speed and especially the range were convincing during our test series, so that, given an appropriate tariff, demanding internet activities like home office, online gaming, or VoD streaming are easily possible. Accordingly, our test candidate achieves a strong overall rating of 9.3 out of 10 and thus the top grade “very good”. The average market price is currently around $480
T. Metzger
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