Many users access the Internet via routers from the Fritzbox series from the Berlin manufacturer AVM. However, the most popular German WLAN router can do much more than just direct data streams in the right direction – it also serves as a smart home center, for example. With a portfolio of smart components based on secure and advanced DECT technology, the digital home can be built with unimagined comfort and high energy saving potential.
The Fritzbox (theme world) is one of the most popular routers in German offices, home offices and private households – that’s no coincidence. In addition to the stability and functionality in terms of internet connection and WLAN coverage, there are many other strengths hidden under the hood of models such as the Fritzbox 7590 (test report) . A standard Fritzbox can serve as a smart home center (list of the best) – all the necessary functions and software routines are already included in the basic equipment of the box.
In addition to telephones such as the Fritz Fon C6 (test report) , the AVM box can also be connected to smart home components such as switches (guide) , sockets (guide) and radiator thermostats (best list ) via DECT transmission technology (“Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication”) ) record. Interference with WLAN devices that transmit on the 2.4 or 5 GHz band is excluded, since DECT (theme world)operates in the 1880–1900 MHz frequency band. The range is up to 50 m indoors and up to 300 m outdoors, which is easily enough to equip a spacious family home. Thanks to DECT ULE (“Ultra Low Energy”), AVM components are also very economical with batteries, since the maximum consumption is limited to 250 milliamps (0.25 watts) at full transmission power. DECT systems are also characterized by a high level of immunity to interference and eavesdropping.
Getting started: Controlling “dumb” electronic devices with smart sockets
Wireless socket for indoors and outdoors
The quickest and easiest way to enter the world of smart home technology is with the Fritz DECT 200 and Fritz DECT 210 switchable sockets (test report) . The 200 socket is designed exclusively for use in closed rooms, while the 201 can also be used outside on the patio, garden shed or balcony thanks to its splash-proof housing.
“Dumb” electronic devices can be switched on and off via this adapter plug, including standard lamps without smart light bulbs, fans (guide) , fan heaters (up to a maximum of 2,300 W), but also entire groups of devices such as televisions, receivers and soundbars that are connected to a downstream socket strip – in this way high standby costs can be minimized.
Installation takes just a few steps:
- Connect the socket in the immediate vicinity of the Fritzbox to the power supply and press and hold the DECT button for 6 seconds until the DECT LED flashes quickly
- Within two minutes on the Fritzbox, press and hold the DECT button for 6 seconds until the DECT or INFO LED starts flashing
- If the LEDs on both devices are constantly lit, the connection is established
- The Fritz DECT socket can now be brought to the desired location and connected to a wall socket or a power strip
Alternatively, the Fritz DECT 200 or 201 can also be set up via the Fritzbox web interface:
- Plug in the FRITZ DECT 200/201 near the Fritzbox
- 2. Call up the web interface of the Fritzbox in the web browser via the address “fritz.box”.
- In the “Smart Home – Device Management” section, click on the “Register Device” button
- Within 2 minutes on the socket, press and hold the DECT button for 6 seconds
- After the LED lights up continuously, the socket is registered
Fritz DECT sockets can be easily set up via the Fritzbox web interface Image: TechStage.de
Fritz App: Control the smart home with your smartphone
After the socket has been registered, it can be switched on in the Fritzbox menu under “Smart Home – Operation” using the switch symbol (“On” or “Off”) with a mouse click. It’s quicker and more convenient via smartphone with the FritzApp Smart Home (external download) for Android or iOS from the respective App Store. All you have to do is tap on the respective tile and the consumer is switched on and off at the socket.
Regulate the heating with the Fritzbox
The smart thermostats Fritz DECT 301 (test report) expand the smart home with intelligent heating control. The installation of these controllers does not require experts from the heating trade, but only a little skill and a screwdriver.
First, the Fritz DECT 301 is registered with the Fritzbox by pressing the DECT button on the Fritzbox until the DECT LED flashes. Then the protective film on the underside of the battery compartment is removed so that the thermostat (theme world) is supplied with energy and the registration process is automatically started. After a short time, the coupling is complete and the mechanical installation can take place. The old thermostat simply has to be unscrewed and replaced with the new one. Usually only one screw on the valve ring is loosened before the existing controller is removed/unscrewed and smart thermostat (guide)can be placed on the closed valve cap – not even water escapes. Practical: Adapters for different thread sizes are included.
Test AVM thermostat Fritzdect 301: Everything on data protection
As soon as the radiator controller is installed, the valve lift is automatically measured and the smart thermostat is ready for use. It then appears in the menu both in the Fritzbox interface and in the FritzApp Smart Home and can be controlled or set.
Tip: A time switch can be set up quickly and conveniently in the Fritzbox menu. To do this, simply click on the pencil symbol next to the desired radiator controller in the “Smart Home – Device Management” menu, set the comfort and reduced temperature and “color” the desired weekdays and hours in the “Timer” diagram while holding down the mouse button.
The timer allows precise automatic heating control via Fritz DECT thermostat.
Let there be light: replace energy-intensive light bulbs with smart light sources
The Fritz DECT 500 is an LED light source with an output of around 9 watts, which in terms of luminosity is about the same as a 60 watt energy slingshot with a filament. It can be set to any color tone from cold and warm white to green and blue to red and can be conveniently controlled via the FritzApp Smart Home. Setup is easy:
- Turn off the light switch
- Unscrew the old lightbulb from the socket
- Screw the new Fritz DECT 500 into the socket
- Open the “Smart Home – Device Management” menu in the Fritzbox user interface
- Click the “Register Device” button
- Turn on the light switch and wait for the lamp to glow white and appear in the menu
Tip: In the “Smart Home – Device Management” menu and in the Smart Home profile (pencil symbol) of the lamp – or a smart socket – there are several interesting switching options for saving energy and for switching on the “Automatic switching” tab under “Timer”. convenient control ready:
- Weekdays: Daily and hourly diagrams that you can “color in” as in the time program of the Fritz DECT thermostats
- Daily: Direct entry of the time for switching on and off
- Random: Random switching patterns to deter potential intruders
- Countdown: Automatic switch-off after a certain period of time, like basement or garage lighting
- Rhythmic: Switching on and off at specified time intervals that can differ from one another if desired
- One-time: Turn on on a specific date and turn off after a selectable interval
- Astronomical: Switching to sunrise or sunset for a selectable duration
- Calendar: External switching program that is specified by entries in a Google calendar
Convenient switching, measuring and controlling with an external switching unit
With the Fritz DECT 440, all smart home components from AVM can be controlled particularly conveniently. The switching unit has a central display surrounded by four large buttons and a small menu button. The content on the display changes depending on the set functionality. The button can be integrated into the smart home infrastructure just as easily as other Fritz DECT components via the “Smart Home – Device Management – Register Device” menu.
Also in the device management and via the pencil symbol of the button you get to the setup menu. Here, all buttons can be assigned specific functions on three levels – such as switching operations for lamps and sockets or temperature settings for radiator controls. Simply click on the pencil symbol under the desired level and select the desired smart home device via “Add action”. In this way, temperature settings or switching operations can be carried out as naturally as with the light switch or the heating thermostat. Tip: With “Templates” from the “Smart Home” menu, predefined switching processes such as a common temperature for all radiators or switching off several sockets at the same time can be implemented. Such templates can also be placed on the button for quick access.
The smart button can be assigned up to 12 commands on three operating levels.
The Fritz DECT 440 can also be used as an external temperature sensor for the Fritz DECT thermostats to better control the room temperature. The corresponding function can be found in the smart home profile of the thermostat (pencil symbol) under “Temperature deviation (offset)”. Here the option “Automatic offset adjustment using external temperature sensor” can be activated and the desired device – in this case the button – can be selected in the pull-down menu. Tip: Since the Fritz DECT sockets from AVM also have an integrated temperature sensor, these can also be selected and misused as remote sensors.
Control Fritz DECT devices via Alexa and integrate them into other smart home centers
With a small detour, smart home components from AVM can also be controlled via the voice assistant Amazon Echo (guide) . There is a special skill for this called “FB Smart Home” on the Amazon website (link) . A step-by-step guide to setting up the skill can be found on the FB Smart Home homepage (link) . As soon as the setup is complete, the connected Fritz DECT devices can be controlled via commands such as “Alexa, socket on” or “Alexa, set the heating in the living room to 20°”.
The DECT components connected to the Fritzbox can also be integrated into other smart home centers such as Homey Pro.
Most of the components connected to the Fritzbox can also be used with other smart home centers (best list) . This is very easy with Homey Pro (test report) , for example, via the Fritzbox Bridge app , but it is also possible with many open source solutions such as OpenHAB . With this integration, the DECT components are also available for automation with smart home devices that are not supported by the Fritzbox and thus open up complex processes such as controlling the room climate (Ratgber).
Conclusion
Setting up a smart home infrastructure does not have to be complicated: the existing Fritzbox can be used as a control center and expanded with the desired components from the Fritz DECT series. The spectrum ranges from lighting and heating control to switching any electrical device via smart sockets. All components can be set up quickly and conveniently via the DECT coupling with the Fritzbox in the web interface within a few minutes. It is controlled either via the PC, on the smartphone display, with the external button or by voice via Alexa.
More information on intelligent home control is available in our Smart Home topic . For newcomers to the topic, we recommend our Smart Home guide: Success with little money . Also interesting: Elesion as a cheap smart home alternative from Pearl . If you want to heat smartly, you should read the guide to smart thermostats for underfloor heating and see the top 10 best smart radiator thermostats for 2022 . And how you can reduce the standby consumption of devices is explained in the article WLAN sockets in practice: models, purpose, prices . And in the postBetter air: Smart room air sensors for CO₂, radon, ozone, fine dust & co , we
