Subject: Zyxel DX3301 or FRITZ!Box 7690 & VoIP

[#1]

I’m investigating VoIP.

Current product Plusnet FTTC Unlimited Fibre Extra which I understand will at some point have to be changed to their SoGEA product on PSTN shutdown. Meantime I intend to get a VoiP service up, running and tested.

Looking at the hardware options:

1. I’m not that keen to have yet another unit plus its PSU so I’m not inclined to go for an ATA like the Grandstream HT802.
2. I believe that a DECT base station with built in ATA such as the Gigaset N300A or Yealink W70B would require discarding my current Panasonic DECT trio to achieve decent functionality.
3. Ditching my Plusnet Hub1 and replacing it by a router with integrated ATA looks to be the cleanest solution for me.

Pursuing option 3) has focused my attention on the:

• Zyxel DX3301-T0, DSL /WiFi6 /2*phone/
• FRITZ!Box 7690 DSL/WiFi7/2*phone/

My questions:

1. Drawbacks in approach 3)?
2. Has anyone experience of configuring the Zyxel DX3301 or FRITZ!Box 7690 router for Plusnet DSL and setting up its VoIP SIP service?

Thank you.

[#2]

@Auric 

Consider the FritzBox 7530. I say this because it's the current router that Zen Internet use and can be bought on EBay if required.

FritzBox tends to have a good reputation.

Brian

[#3]

@bmc

Thank you. I've downloaded the 7530 AX user manual. It features Wi-Fi6 & 1 analog phone port.

Do you know if it uses a Broadcom DSL chipset?  

Have you set one up for operation on Plusnet?

Configuration of the WAN/DSL port for a router is a task in which I have very little experience. I'm hoping for some community guidance.

[#4]

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@Auric wrote:

Do you know if it uses a Broadcom DSL chipset?  

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I searched for that and came up with this -

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The FRITZ!Box 7530 AX uses a Broadcom DSL chipset. Specifically, it is equipped with a Broadcom BCM63178 System-on-Chip (SoC), which integrates the DSL modem functionality along with other processing capabilities. This chipset supports DSL standards including ADSL, VDSL, and VDSL2 with Supervectoring 35b, enabling speeds up to 300 MBit/s. Broadcom chipsets are known for their robust performance in DSL applications, contrasting with the Lantiq/Intel VRX518 chipset found in some other FRITZ!Box models like the non-AX 7530.

.

[#5]

@jab1  - what Fritz!Box model do you have ?

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[#6]

@Auric 

I have no experience of either the router or VOIP. My suggeston was based on the fact that Zen routers are often available on eBay and have a good reputation.

However, as Zen use them their website will be helpful

https://www.zen.co.uk/help-support/initalsetupbb

Brian

[#7]

@outcast   Thank you. Good to know.

@jab1 I presently use the Plusnet Hub1 . I don't own any of the routers mentioned so far.

Namely Zyxel DX3301-T0 , FRITZ!Box 7690 , & FRITZ!Box 7530 AX

I'm in the process of choosing one. Hence my original post. Thanks.

@bmc Thank you for the Zen link

[#8]

@Auric 

I should have mentioned you'll also find Help on setting up phones on Zen's site. Obviously uses Zen settings but the principals will be the same for whatever VOIP provider you choose.

Brian

[#9]

A & A have setup info for the Fritzbox https://support.aa.net.uk/VoIP_Phones_-_FritzBox

[#10]

I’ve been using a Fritzbox 7530 on Plusnet FTTP for about 15 months. It works faultlessly on broadband and VOIP. It also has a built in DECT base which works great although I don’t use it as a couple of features on my BT big button phones are not supported.

You can get them from CEX for £35 which have a 5 year guarantee (sort of !) but like almost all Fritzbox units available on eBay they are ex ZEN units and have TR069 installed. However, they can easily be restored to the manufacture’s original firmware.

Depends I suppose how much you want to spend. Here is a link to the various Fritzbox models and their features. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Fritz!Box_devices

[#11]

@Auric 

If buying second hand from Ebay, be aware that there are two models. The 7530, which I assume is WiFi 5 and the current WiFi 6 enabled 7530AX

[#12]

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@Baldrick1 wrote:

If buying second hand from Ebay, be aware that there are two models.

Also be aware that Fritz!Box DSL routers are country specific (for differing national landline impedance specifications), so whether buying new or used, make sure that you're not buying a foreign import (typically a German model in this case).

For example -

• Amazon UK : Fritz!Box 7530 AX - UK model
• Amazon UK : Fritz!Box 7530 AX - German model

When I was last buying DrayTek modems, all the cheap used but 'like new' models turned out to be German and Dutch variants that UK early adopters had imported (as UK specific models at the time were expensive and difficult to get hold of).  It turned out that the imported models had really poor performance on Openreach lines (because the line interface electronics were different) and wasn't something that could be fixed with a UK firmware upgrade - hence at the time eBay was flooded with useless devices being resold.

Anyway -

Lowest price used 7530AX on eBay is £52.72+£3.71p&p or 'offer' eBay 7530AX , compared to £139.99 new on Amazon.

[#13]

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@outcast wrote:

@jab1  - what Fritz!Box model do you have ?

.

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7530

[#14]

The 7530AX will be 'expensive' for a while -Zen themselves haven't been using it for much more than 12 months - if that.

[#15]

Thank you to all the contributors who have taken time to provide advice.

My takes are as follows:

1. Option 3), sourcing a router with integrated ATA for VoIP is a reasonable solution.
2. There is no support for the Zyxel router; which is interesting as a few years ago it got frequent positive mentions, and was my first choice when I initiated this thread.
3. FRITZ!Box is well liked and works well [ @Batfrog ]; but ensure the router is UK DSL landline impedance compatible [ @outcast ].
4. From reviewing the 7530AX user manual my understanding is that the Fritz OS seems to negotiate the DSL set-up parameters, & all that is required form me are my Plusnet access credentials.
5. A & A are on my radar for VoIP provision; appreciate the Fritxbox setup support link [ @MisterW ], and for the Zen VoIP info [ @bmc ].

A reliable, quality router, with the right functionality is important to me as I work from home; cost is secondary. I’ll be buying from Amazon. So a Fritzbox it is !

Setting up the router risks DLM banding, What are my time windows to try and avoid this?