If your connection isn't up to snuff, you mightn't need to switch NBN plans. Your individual NBN modem and/or router can make a big difference to your internet performance in terms of speed, reliability and WiFi coverage.
There's no perfect way to set up your home network, but the ideal one often depends on the type of NBN technology you have. Some NBN technologies don't need a modem at all because it's built into your NBN connection. These include Fibre to the Premises (FTTP), Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and Fixed Wireless (FW), and Sky Muster Satellite. Even then though, you'll still need to supply the router.
Other technologies do require you to bring your own modem. These include Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Building (FTTB). It also comes down to the difference between a 'modem' and a 'router', plus the common 'modem router' amalgamation of the two.
If you're not sure where to start, read on for our breakdown of the best NBN modem routers, routers, and mesh WiFi systems for your budget.
Our picks
| Product | Price from | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modem routers | |||
| Best overall | Telstra Smart Modem 4 | $288 (standalone) | View Telstra plans |
| Best value | Arcadyan HWG2025 | $200 (standalone) | View NBN plans |
Routers |
|||
| Best overall | Netgear RS600 | $799 (standalone) | View on Amazon |
| Best value | Asus RT-BE58U | $309 (standalone) | View on ASUS |
Mesh WiFi |
|||
| Best overall | Amazon eero Pro 7 | $529.99 (1 pack) | View on Amazon |
| Best value | Amazon eero 7 | $299.99 (1 pack) | View on Amazon |
Best NBN modem routers
We considered all the NBN-compatible modem routers we’ve reviewed in recent times, but none of these impressed us, often due to their needing to be power cycled on a regular basis to maintain proper speeds. Because of this, we chose the best NBN routers and modem routers based on specs, price, and research into user reviews. The best value modem router shortlist included products that were around $200 (or cheaper).
Best overall: Telstra Smart Modem 4
RRP from $288 (standalone)
A fourth-generation modem router that works with every NBN technology and has some great features to boot, including 4G and 5G backup.
- Wireless: Dual-band WiFi 7
- Max WiFi speed: 2,500Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 1Gbps (WAN and LAN)
- Ports: 4x LAN, 1x USB 2.0, 1x DSL, 2x VoIP
If you don’t want to worry about networking device compatibility, consider a Telstra NBN plan. These plans come with a Telstra Smart Modem 4 which, at most, costs $288. The price of this hardware gets cheaper the longer you stick with Telstra, plus the modem router arrives preconfigured for simplified setup and ongoing tech support. This Telstra-branded modem router is compatible with all NBN technologies and Opticomm fibre, fit for purpose for all NBN plans, including NBN 2000.
While not as futureproofed as some of its router peers below, the Telstra Smart Modem 4 has speedy dual-band WiFi 7, four gigabit Ethernet local area network (LAN) ports, plus USB and home phone ports. It also has 4G and 5G backup via the Telstra network if there’s an NBN outage.
If you do decide to change it up later down the line, the Telstra Smart Modem 4 should play nicely with other NBN providers. You'll just have to update the ‘PPP Credential Setting’ details via the web portal first.
You can get the Telstra Smart Modem 4 with any of these Telstra NBN plans:
|
#1
|
Telstra
FTTP, HFC
Premium Internet Only Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Telstra
Premium Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Premium Internet Only Plan
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Telstra
Essential Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$99/mth
Min. cost $99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Telstra
FTTP, HFC
Upfront Internet Plan Premium
$113/mth
Min. cost $113
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Premium (Fixed Wireless)
$113/mth
Min. cost $113
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Telstra
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Upfront Internet Plan Premium
$113/mth
Min. cost $113
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Telstra
Upfront Internet Plan Essential (Fixed Wireless)
$113/mth
Min. cost $113
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Telstra
FTTP, HFC
Ultimate Internet Only Plan
$119/mth
Min. cost $119
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
Telstra
Ultimate Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless)
$119/mth
Min. cost $119
Link not supplied
|
Special mention
The Ultra WiFi Modem Gen 2 from Optus would have been a contender if it had integrated Quality of Service (QoS), which is an important and useful feature for controlling device traffic within your home.
The modem itself offers NBN with 4G backup, while also supporting a good arrangement of ports and features. You can get it for "no extra cost" via an Optus plan, but you need to stick around for 36 months or pay $8.50 per month remaining when you leave.
Best value: Arcadyan HWG2025
RRP from $200 (standalone)
An affordable modem router that’s officially supported by multiple NBN providers, compatible with all technology types and is built to delivers the higher speeds that WiFi 7 is capable of.
- Wireless: Dual-band WiFi 7
- Max WiFi speed: 2,000Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 2.5Gbps (WAN and LAN)
- Ports: 2x LAN, 1x FTTN, 1x WAN, 1x VoIP
The Arcadyan HWG2025 is a great WiFi modem router for those looking to save money as you can snag it for free if you sign up for an NBN plan through Vodafone, iiNet, and TPG. If you move on within two years, you'll have to return it though. If you don't, you'll be hit with a $200 no-return fee.
The Arcadyan HWG2025 is fit for purpose for all NBN plans up to and including NBN 2000. In our review we found it capable of offering fast and reliable download and upload speeds, even with multiple devices connected.
Check out the widgets below for a round-up of internet plans from NBN providers in our database that include the Arcadyan HWG2025.
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Vodafone
All Fixed Line nbn®
Essential+ nbn®
$94/mth
Min. cost $94
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
Vodafone
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Home Fast nbn®
$79/mth
Min. cost $79
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Vodafone
FTTP, HFC
Home Ultrafast nbn®
$94/mth
Min. cost $94
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Vodafone
FTTP, HFC
Home Fast+ nbn®
$79/mth
Min. cost $79
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
Vodafone
All Fixed Line nbn®
Essential nbn®
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Vodafone
FTTP, HFC
Home Superfast nbn®
$84/mth
Min. cost $84
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
iiNet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#2
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn500 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Liimitless
$84.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $94.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn25 Liimitless
$59.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Superfast Liimitless
$74.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $84.99
Link not supplied
|
Best NBN routers
NBN routers can be great standalone purchases for homes that already have a functional modem, either as part of their NBN connection or simply lying around.
We considered speeds, hands-on performance, features (including Quality of Service) and futureproofed versatility when choosing the best router for our two categories. The best value routers shortlist had products around $300 (or cheaper).
Note: If you already own a modem router and need a router upgrade, you can disable the "router" functions of your old modem router and simply use it as a modem, into which you plug in your shiny new router.
Best overall: Netgear Nighthawk RS600
RRP from $899 (standalone)
A single-device router solution for speed-loving homes seeking a future-proofed WiFi 7 networking solution with plenty of performance.
- Wireless: Tri-band WiFi 7
- Max WiFi speed: 18,000Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 10Gbps (WAN and LAN)
- Ports: 4x LAN, 1x USB 3.0
WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E routers are the most commonly supported standard for today’s WiFi devices. But WiFi 7 is already here, and the Netgear RS600 is a comparatively affordable way to get the all-important networking backbone of your home network futureproofed, making it the best router for NBN. And don't worry – WiFi standards are backwards compatible, so your current devices will still work, even if they don't support WiFi 7.
The RS600 is all about speed. For wired connections, your internet is prepped for NBN 2000 and beyond thanks to a 10Gbps wide area network (WAN) port. There’s also a 10Gbps LAN port, plus up to 18Gbps of shared WiFi speeds. That includes the speedy 6GHz wireless band for devices that support WiFi 6E and above, equating to super-fast local file transfers and low latency.
If you have a bigger router budget, consider the TP-Link Archer GE800 ($1,199 RRP) for better speeds in a gamer-centric device. And if you’re after an NBN plan to pair either router with a speedy plan, consider one of these popular NBN 1000 picks from our database:
|
#1
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Ultrafast 1000/100
$76/mth
Min. cost $76
|
|
#2
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Lightspeed nbn1000/100
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
|
|
#3
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN1000
$100/mth
Min. cost $100
|
|
#4
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Ultrafast – Unlimited
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
#5
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Unlimited Plan
$84.99/mth
Min. cost $84.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Plan
$79.99/mth
Min. cost $79.99
|
Best value: Asus RT-BE58U
RRP from $309 (standalone)
A comparatively affordable router with futureproofed tech, including WiFi 7, that’s fast enough for your ’net needs today and tomorrow.
- Wireless: Dual-band WiFi 7
- Max WiFi speed: 3,570Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 2.5Gbps (WAN)
- Ports: 4x LAN, 1x USB 3.2
WiFi 7 routers are typically $400+, and you can expect to pay more for faster, feature-rich alternatives. But there are cheaper picks, which are well worth considering for a good mix of value and features. Take the Asus RT-BE58U, for instance, which is the best NBN router for its price.
Sure, the 3.6Gbps combined dual-band WiFi 7 speeds aren’t as impressive as the Netgear RS600's. But it's more than fast enough for all NBN plans today, plus the incoming NBN 2000 (thanks to a 2.5Gbps WAN port). There are also four one-gigabit LAN ports for priority wired devices. But what impressed me most during testing was the ease of use: from adaptive QoS to a user-friendly web portal and a multipurpose USB port. All of these features add to the overall value of the RT-BE58U.
For a cheaper alternative, consider the D-Link Eagle Pro AI R15 (RRP $200).
If you're after a new plan, you can pair either of these routers with any NBN plan, such as one of the popular NBN 500 plans from our comparison engine.
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Speedy Max NBN 500/50
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#3
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN500
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#4
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Fast – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Family Max nbn500/50
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#6
|
Exetel
FTTP, HFC
One Plan 500/50
$80/mth
Min. cost $80
|
|
#7
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Turbo 500/50
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#8
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
Kogan Internet
FTTP, HFC
Gold Plus Unlimited
$69.90/mth
Min. cost $69.90
|
|
#10
|
Flip
FTTP, HFC
Unlimited Fast Speed nbn500
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
Best NBN routers with mesh WiFi
Mesh can refer to a standalone router (or modem router) with mesh-expansion capabilities or a full-blown mesh WiFi system with two or three units in a single package. For our picks, we favoured mesh WiFi systems that were easy to set up, easy to use (including Quality of Service features), performative, had discrete designs and eliminated typical wireless dead spots, offering whole-home WiFi. The best value mesh WiFi shortlist comprised products that were $650 (or cheaper) for three units.
Best overall: Amazon eero 7 Pro
RRP from $529.99 (1 pack)
Best for existing eero homes, the Amazon eero Pro 7’s premium price offers plenty of premium features and future-proofed connectivity.
- Wireless: Tri-band WiFi 7
- Max WiFi speed: 3,900Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 5Gbps (WAN and LAN)
- Ports: 2x LAN/WAN (per unit)
There are plenty of Amazon eero products to choose from that are a good starting point for a home mesh WiFi network. But the eero Pro 7 is our pick for the best standalone mesh WiFi router for homes in Australia.
Assuming you don’t mind spending $5,00 and up on a single unit, the eero Pro 7 has great features, starting with tri-band WiFi 7 and admirable combined wireless speeds up to 3.9Gbps. On the back, you’ll find two auto-sensing Ethernet ports that support speeds of up to 5Gbps.
The eero Pro 7 is also compatible with all other Amazon eero mesh WiFi products, so you can use it as the heavy-lifter in the main area of your home, and buy a cheaper (less hefty) model for harder-to-reach places that don't need the same high-level connectivity.
While some features are paywalled, the straightforward setup, easy monitoring, and ability to expand your home network using new, old, or identical eero products make the eero Pro 7 a feature-rich foundation for an Amazon-favouring mesh network.
Special mentions
Alternatively, consider the slightly pricier TP-Link Archer GE800 ($1,199 RRP) or the cheaper Synology RT6600ax ($559 RRP) as router foundations for a mesh network. If you want to push further along the frontier of future-proofing, be sure to check out the eero Max 7 as well. It offers even faster wireless and wired speeds, as well as additional ports, but starts at $1,099.
All of these routers work with any NBN speed tier, but here’s a list of popular NBN 100 plans from our database if you're in the market for a new one:
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Editor's Pick
nbn100 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN100
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#3
|
Belong
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
NBN Premium – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#4
|
Superloop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Family nbn100/20
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#5
|
iiNet
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn Home Fast Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Speedy NBN 100/20
$67.90/mth
Min. cost $67.90
|
Best value: Amazon eero 7
RRP from $299.99 (1 pack)
If you're seeking a whole-home WiFi 7 mesh setup that won't break the bank, the eero 7 might be exactly what you're after.
- Wireless: Dual-band WiFi 6
- Max WiFi speed: 1,800Mbps
- Max Ethernet speed: 2.5Gbps (WAN)
- Ports: 2x LAN (per unit)
Even if it isn't equipped to offer the high-end speeds seen in its siblings, the eero 7 is as good as things get for entry-level mesh WiFi systems. With coverage of up to 190 square meters per node and dual-band speeds of up to 2.5Gbps, this mesh WiFi system is easy to configure and just works for everyday tasks.
As with other eero hardware, the eero 7 can act as a built-in smart home hub. If you take advantage of this functionality, you'll be able to control compatible Thread, Zigbee and Matter-enabled devices using Amazon's Alexa voice assistant.
There's also an optional subscription called Eero Plus. Priced at $9.99 per month, this gets you a number of additional features including ad blocking, Parental Controls, a VPN, a build-in password manager and more.
Special mention
For cheap mesh WiFi alternatives, consider the slightly pricier Google Nest WiFi Pro or buy two or three individual units of the noticeably cheaper TP-Link HX510 AX3000.
If you’re looking to pair any of these mesh WiFi systems with an NBN plan, here are some popular NBN 50 picks from our database:
|
#1
|
Dodo
All Fixed Line nbn®
Editor's Pick
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$57.99/mth
Min. cost $57.99
|
|
#2
|
amaysim
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN50
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
#3
|
Belong
All Fixed Line nbn®
NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited
$55/mth
Min. cost $55
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
All Fixed Line nbn®
Value Plus NBN 50/20
$64.90/mth
Min. cost $64.90
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Extra-value nbn50/20
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#6
|
TPG
All Fixed Line nbn®
nbn50 Unlimited Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
Link not supplied
|
Modems vs. routers
A modem is a device that connects directly to the internet, and it needs to be "NBN ready" to work with the NBN. Just about every modem sold in Australia is NBN ready, but do some quick research before buying something from overseas.
While crucial for getting online, modems do have one big flaw: they can only connect to one other device at a time, which is why you also need a router.
A router connects multiple devices to each other by creating its own "local network", then acting as a central hub for everyone on that network. So, if your router is the one device plugged into your modem, voilà – all your devices can access the modem (and thus internet) via the router. There's no need for routers to be NBN-ready because they connect to the modem and your other devices, not to the NBN directly.
Much of the time, you'll get a modem and a router housed in the same product, called a modem router – alternatively a "modem/router", "modem-router", or even "WiFi modem", among other things. These are handy for saving space, but don't always have the best performance when it acting as a router.
The good news is, while modem routers can do both tasks, they don't have to. You can disable either feature and use the unit exclusively as the other – i.e. disable its modem and only use it as a router, or vice versa. This means you don't need to worry about doubling up on anything when shopping for a new modem or router, and it makes them more versatile for future upgrades because you're likely to want to upgrade your router before your modem needs replacing.
What to look for in an NBN modem or router
There are a number of important factors to look for when buying a new NBN modem or router, but the first one to consider is whether the networking hardware you’re considering is NBN-ready or whether it will require additional configuration to play nice with your provider of choice. There’s no point even considering a router that offers faster speeds if you aren’t willing to put in the extra work required to take advantage of them, let alone paying the premium.
If you’re getting a modem or modem-router bundled in as part of your plan, you probably won’t have to worry too much. However, if you’re looking to import hardware that better suits your circumstances from overseas or planning to take your NBN modem or modem-router with you when you move to a new provider, then you may want to do some research into whether you’ll need to tweak any of the settings.
Price is naturally another key consideration. Cheaper modems and modem-routers come with fewer features. More expensive models tend to offer faster speeds. Of course, the recommended retail price isn’t the only factor. Some modems and modem-routers paywall certain features behind a subscription fee. If those features matter to you, then the price of a more expensive modem-router that includes them as standard might end up being less than the cost of a cheaper model that requires you to pay a monthly fee over the long run.
While smaller homes might be able to get by with a single connection point, those looking to cover larger spaces with wireless connectivity are going to require more than a single mesh WiFi router to do so. The costs of these additional nodes can add up quickly, but many manufacturers offer bundles that allow you to save by buying multiple at once. Depending on your circumstances, opting for a more expensive modem-router that covers a wider area might make less sense than buying a mesh-based system that doesn’t cover as much per node but could end up being cheaper while offering better performance.
As with NBN plans writ large, speed is another important thing to look for in an NBN modem or router. Although more speed is usually better, comparing networking gear isn’t as simple as going with the higher number. Speeds are typically measured in gigabits-per-second (Gbps) but often divided into wireless and wired speeds. Depending on your circumstances, one of those might be more important to you than the other.
If you're prioritising wired connections, then the number of ports (and the speeds they offer) in the mix is going to be pretty critical to consider. Meanwhile, when it comes to wireless speeds, NBN modem and router speeds can vary from band to band.
Bands are the frequencies that your networking gear uses to wirelessly send data. A modem-router with two bands is called dual-band, while one with three is called tri-band. The main advantage to having more bands is that your NBN modem or router can do more at once, moving higher-priority tasks onto bands that are capable of faster speeds and less important ones onto the slower bands.
Although the main feature that most consumers are looking for when it comes to NBN modems and routers is usually worry-free wireless internet, there are a few other nice-to-haves that conscious consumers might want to factor in. If you’re worried about NBN outages, then you might want to prioritise products that offer some form of 4G or 5G backup. Meanwhile, those looking to keep their options open when it comes to expanding their home network may want to research the pricing and performance that might be involved.
On top of all the particulars of the networking category, there are also a number of familiar consumer conveniences that you should keep an eye out for when comparing and considering different NBN modems and routers. Whether a given product comes with an especially generous warranty can offer a little bit of extra peace of mind. Having hardware that automatically updates and installs firmware updates can score you even more.
NBN modem router and router troubleshooting
Let's look at three main problems NBN Co has identified people experience with their networking tech: out-of-date firmware, channel interference, and location and placement of your NBN modem router or router.
Out-of-date firmware
One of the main factors that affect speed and connection stability is when modem or router firmware is out of date – and it's very possibly the case for yours. You don't need to worry about the "modems" that are built into the FTTP, HFC, and Sky Muster Satellite connection technologies because they update automatically. But these technologies still require external routers, supplied by you, that can get out of date.
To update your NBN modem or router firmware, there are a couple of common methods, both of which will temporarily cut off your connection while the update does its thing.
The first step is to log in to your modem router or router (instructions for this are usually on the bottom of the device or done via an app). Once you've done this, look for a notification about out-of-date firmware. If that's not present, look for update options in the settings menu and see if anything is pending. Either of these should have an easy-to-select option to download and install.
Another method requires you to find the router's IP address, which is usually found on a sticker on the back or underside of the device. If yours doesn't have a sticker, do a quick web search on how to find it, including the brand and model.
Once you have the IP address, type it into the search bar of your PC or Mac's web browser and hit Enter. You’ll be taken to a login page, the details for which should also be located on your device (side note: change these details while you're here. It's a security risk to leave the defaults as they are).
Once logged in, find the Firmware or Update section and download the latest update. Follow any prompts to install this and then wait for the installation to complete.
Solution: Automatic Updates
Some modems are smarter than others and will automatically download firmware updates, so that’s one less thing you need to think about. Opting for a modem with automatic updates means you will be one step closer to setting up and forgetting about your internet, which is the real goal.
Channel interference
WiFi networks operate over certain frequencies, which are in turn split into 'channels'. Too much traffic on your WiFi channel will create interference and negatively affect your WiFi performance. In these instances, all you might need to do is change the channel (if you can).
Some routers are restricted to certain channels, so there's not much you can do. Others with a spread of channel support, but you can manually change which one your router operates over via its settings. The best routers automatically jump between channels, based on interference.
People living in apartment buildings are the most likely to experience channel interference. According to NBN Co, buildings where a high concentration of dwellings use the same Internet Service Provider (ISP) experience this issue more because a large proportion of these people will have picked up their router from their provider. As such, their hardware might all run on the same channels.
Most modems that come with an NBN plan only have a couple of channels at maximum. If you’re using a provider-supplied modem, you might be stuck in the slow lane.
An option to test if channel interference is an issue is to test your speeds during off-peak times. If you see a significant shift in your speeds, channel interference might be your issue. Unfortunately, this could also be a result of your internet provider not supplying enough bandwidth for peak usage, insufficient NBN capacity in your area, or the wiring in your building not handling the heavier load.
You can get a better idea by connecting a device to your router via Ethernet. If your speeds are still trash when the cable is connected, channel interference isn't the problem.
Solution: Multi-channel routers
Switching from a congested channel to an open one can have a significant impact on your internet performance. While most bundled modems will only have a few channels at best, many mid or high-end modems let you switch channels manually, or can do so automatically.
Location and placement of NBN modem router or modem
Your favourite WiFi router position might be great for you, but that doesn’t mean it provides good signal coverage. High interference spaces such as those bundled with other electronics, or positioning your modem too far from your connected devices, are more likely to cause connection issues. And, please, don't shut your WiFi router away in a cupboard or drawer.
Solution: relocate your router or get a mesh WiFi system
While you often can't choose where your modem plugs into your wall, you have more choice about router placement – just connect your router to your modem via an Ethernet cable. If your modem has a router built in, that's a bit trickier. You can always buy a new router and use your original modem router only as a modem, but this has the downside of costing you extra.
Try moving your router away from major appliances and more centrally in your home. For best results, look for a spot at least 1.5m from the ground with good fields of view. And, please, don't hide it in a cupboard, drawer or behind furniture.
If your home is multi-level, has internal brick walls, or is too big to be services by a single WiFi router, consider switching to a Mesh WiFi system. Mesh works the same as normal WiFi, except it involves multiple mesh points around your home all talking to each other. They pass the signal between them, spreading coverage much further and around corners.
Not all Mesh WiFi systems incorporate a modem router into their mix, so be aware of this if your home's internet technology doesn't have a modem built into it. (Just make sure whatever you buy has the word 'modem' somewhere on the box or in its product description.)
The downside is cost. Because you're buying multiple pieces of more-complex hardware, the price for Mesh WiFi can be much higher than a single modem router.
Nathan Lawrence
Freelance Contributor
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