AVM FRITZ!Box 7590 (A/CH Version)
Question about AVM FRITZ!Box 7590 (A/CH Version)
Are there any technical differences between the A/CH and D versions, or would one of them not work in the other country?
Annex A uses the frequency range from 25 kHz to 138 kHz for the upstream (138-2.2GHz for the downstream).
Annex B uses the frequency range of 138 kHz and 276 kHz for the upstream (276-2.2GHz for the downstream). The bandwidth for Annex B is therefore less for the downstream.
Annex A can only be used for analogue telephone connections, Annex B can be used for analogue as well as digital (ISDN).
In Switzerland, Annex A is used for analogue, Annex B for ISDN. In Germany, ONLY Annex B exists.
So the D firmware will only support Annex B, which is not used in Switzerland today (because we now have IP telephony and therefore use the larger bandwidth).
I hope this helps to clarify the use of Annex A and B. You can find more detailed information at https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki...
If you only need the Fritzbox as a router, you are better off with the D version, as software updates come faster. The DSL modem part does not work in Switzerland with the D version.
The A/CH firmware is always delayed. I was often told by support that there were delays with the 3-language firmwares.
My new Fritz!Box was then a D model, the old Fritz!Box (7270) I have then recorded with the German firmware (unsupported) because the official support (only for A/CH models!) has now been discontinued.
For the latest software version "junkies", the A/CH versions are nothing, unless you need exactly the special VDSL config or don't value long-term support if you're upgrading again next year anyway.
Just as mentioned, for direct use on the DSL connection, CH version is necessary.
There may be differences in the firmware. Maybe the German version is pre-configured for Germany and the Swiss version for Switzerland. But the hardware part is identical. It is important that you buy the right VDSL modem/router. There is always talk of VDSL and VDSL 2. In our latitudes, however, this means the same thing. What is important is the transmission type. If it is an analogue line, then you need a modem type Annex A. If it is an ISDN line, then you need the type Annex B.
During my research before buying my FritzBox, I found out that there is Annex A and -B. So the D version is different from the international version (A/CH/Intl). As I said, I read this somewhere and did not have to experience it myself.
The firmware images for the "Germany" version and the "International" version of the 7590 are bit-identical:
German firmware: https://download.avm.de/fritzbox...
'Other' firmware: https://download.avm.de/fritzbox...
This was different with the Fritz!Box 7390 ! There were also two different firmware images for the two 7390 versions (you can see for yourself at https://download.avm.de/fritzbox).
Back in the days of the 7390, AVM justified this with the limited flash memory: The international version has a multilingual UI - and that simply needs flash memory. The "Samba-Share" function was sacrificed for this (yes, it is indeed missing in the international 7390).
Other differences were, for example, a different list of radio stations or VoIP providers.
Perhaps also adjusted 'tuning' parameters for the xDSL modem, so that the box harmonises better with the respective DSL providers (but this is speculation).