August storm season in full swing. How to protect your devices from damage?

Thunderstorms with lightning can cause damage to buildings and nature, as well as damage electronic devices. Lightning strikes can cause voltage spikes of up to 100,000 volts that can destroy sensitive components. We've put together some tips and tricks on how to protect your FRITZ!Box and other devices.

Three ways to protect equipment from lightning strikes

All FRITZ devices!Boxes are protected because each model has built-in surge protection. However, this does not provide 100 percent protection against lightning damage. Here are some tips to help prevent storm damage:

1. Disconnect FRITZ!Box from both power and cable or DSL connection.
2. You should also disconnect the FRITZ devices!Repeater, FRITZ!DECT and FRITZ!Powerline connected to the network, as well as any FRITZ power supplies!Fon.
3. Also, as a precaution, unplug electrical appliances and power strips: simply switching the switch to the off position does not automatically protect you or your equipment during a storm.

Call forwarding to smartphone

When the FRITZ device is disconnected!Box will not be able to use the Internet or make phone calls. To make sure your friends and family can still contact you via your landline number, you can set up call forwarding on your FRITZ in advance!Box. The operator will then automatically forward all calls, for example, to your smartphone (depending on the tariff, additional costs may apply).

Lightning and FRITZ!Box - what to do?

Because surges damage the microelectronic components of the FRITZ!Box, unfortunately they cannot be fixed. However, many homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by violent storms and lightning. We recommend checking whether your insurance also covers damage caused by surges, in which case this would also apply to the FRITZ device!Box.