Livebox 6 and 6+, the two new Orange routers with WiFi 6

All operators are preparing for the next generation of wireless connections. This which may seem futuristic, is actually already among us and is known as WiFi 6 . This has many advantages in terms of coverage or speed, which is why it is key to accompany the gradual increase in average speeds offered in fiber optics. Orange could not be an exception and the Livebox 6 and 6+ , the two new Orange routers with WiFi 6, already appear on its website .

WiFi 6, the new nomenclature for the standard formerly known as 802.11ax , offers better management of multiple devices, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Color BSS (Base Service Station), 9.6 Gbps of theoretical maximum speed, better management of the consumption of power, increased security with WPA3, augmented reality, streaming and IoT enhancements, and increased download speeds in highly congested environments.

Livebox 6+ Router and Livebox 6 Router

In the absence of a new model, Orange will have two WiFi 6 models available to its customers. As we see in the technical characteristics, they are the same models except that the 6 has the ONT integrated inside. According to the Orange website, this is the hardware of the two models:

• ARMv8 B53 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor
• 512MB NAND FLASH and 512MB DDRAM memory
• 4 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) RJ45 LAN ports
• 2 ports (FXS) RJ11 for Fixed Telephony
• 1 high power (1A) USB 3.0 master (Type A) port
• Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ax)
• 5GHz band: 4 × 4, 160 MHz, up to 4.8 Gbps
• 2.4GHz band: 3 × 3, 40 MHz, up to 860 Mbps
• OFDMA, 1024-QAM, MU-MIMO, ZeroWait DFS, TWT, WPA3

In Livebox 6 we have a GPON port (integrated ONT) up to 2.5Gbps / 1.25Gbps while in Livebox 6+ we have a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE) RJ45 WAN port. At the level of LED indicators and connections, this is what the two new routers offer us:

1. Internet light: indicates the status of the Internet connection.
2. Wi-Fi light: Indicates the status of the Wi-Fi network.
3. Telephone light: indicates the status of the landline service.
4. WPS button: allows you to connect your devices via Wi-Fi without entering the password, as long as they are compatible with this protocol (for example, Windows 7/8/10 and Android systems are compatible with WPS).
5. Wi-Fi button: enables or disables the Wi-Fi network.
6. Fixed Telephony Ports: these two ports (blue and purple) allow the connection of up to 2 fixed terminals with an analog connector (RJ11).
7. USB 3.0 port: allows you to connect USB equipment such as external hard drives or printers. It can provide up to 1A of intensity.
8. 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE) WAN port: this port is used to connect to the Fiber Optic ONT.
9. Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports: these four ports allow you to connect computers via Ethernet cable (RJ45 connector) at speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
10. «Reset» button: allows you to restore the equipment to factory settings. For this, it is necessary to press for 5 seconds with a pointed object (pen, paper clip or similar).
11. «ON / OFF» button: allows turning the router on and off.
12. Power supply connection: always connect the power supply included with the Livebox 6+.