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Modems, routers & WiFi

The best modem for NBN, and the best router, picked by your type of connection

The best modem for NBN depends on what plugs into your wall: a VDSL2 modem router with a DSL port if you only have a phone socket, or a router with a WAN port if you have an NBN box. There is a pick here for every type of NBN, then what to look for.

Illustration: the back of a router with four ports, a gap, one port filled blue and a power port, and a hand holding a cable plug aimed at the blue port
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Our picks

We have sorted these by what plugs into your wall. If you only have a phone socket (fibre to the node or fibre to the building), you need a modem router with a DSL port. If you have an NBN box on the wall (fibre to the premises, HFC, fibre to the curb, Fixed Wireless or Satellite), you need a router with a WAN port. Every pick says which it is. If the real trouble is WiFi that will not reach the far rooms, see what a WiFi technician checks first before you spend.

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Which NBN have you got?

I only have a phone socketFTTN, FTTB I have an NBN box on the wallFTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite Show all

Not sure which? Check your address on NBN Co's map.

Illustration: the back of a router with a narrow DSL phone port and a wider WAN network port side by side DSL phone socket WAN NBN box
Quick comparison. Every pick, by what plugs into the wall. The model name jumps to its card.
Model and kindWorks onWiFiFastest internet portPhone portTierAmazon
TP-Link Archer VR400DSL modem router All NBN types WiFi 5 1 gigabit No Budget Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer VR400 (AC1200) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Archer VX1800vDSL modem router All NBN types WiFi 6 1 gigabit Yes, 1 Mid-range Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer VX1800v (AX1800) (opens in a new tab)
D-Link DSL-X3052EDSL modem router All NBN types WiFi 6 1 gigabit Yes, up to 2 Mid-range Check the price on Amazon for the D-Link DSL-X3052E (AX3000) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Deco X50-DSLDSL mesh All NBN types WiFi 6 1 gigabit No Mid-range Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Deco X50-DSL (AX3000, 1-pack) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Archer AX10Router FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 6 1 gigabit No Budget Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Archer AX55Router FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 6 1 gigabit No Budget Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer AX55 (AX3000) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Archer AX72Router FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 6 1 gigabit No Mid-range Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer AX72 (AX5400) (opens in a new tab)
NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100Router FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 7 2.5 gigabit No Mid-range Check the price on Amazon for the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 (WiFi 7, BE3600) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Archer BE550Router FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 7 2.5 gigabit No Premium Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Archer BE550 (BE9300) (opens in a new tab)
ASUS RT-BE88URouter FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 7 10 gigabit No Top of the range Check the price on Amazon for the ASUS RT-BE88U (BE7200) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Deco X55Mesh FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 6 1 gigabit No Premium Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Deco X55 (AX3000, 3-pack) (opens in a new tab)
TP-Link Deco BE65Mesh FTTP, HFC, FTTC, Fixed Wireless, Satellite WiFi 7 2.5 gigabit No Top of the range Check the price on Amazon for the TP-Link Deco BE65 (BE11000, 2-pack) (opens in a new tab)

The best modem for NBN fibre to the node and fibre to the building

Modem routers with a DSL port, for a home with a phone socket and no NBN box. All four also have a WAN port, so they keep working after an upgrade to fibre.

The best router for NBN fibre to the premises, HFC and fibre to the curb

Routers with a WAN port only, for a home where the NBN box on the wall is the modem. None of these has a DSL port, so none of them works on fibre to the node or fibre to the building.

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 WiFi 7 router, an upright unit
Image: NETGEAR

Mid-range Router with a WAN port

NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 (WiFi 7, BE3600)

Works on FTTPHFCFTTCFixed WirelessSatellite

No DSL port: not for FTTN or FTTB

Best for: The simplest way into WiFi 7, ready for the 2 Gbps plans.

Why we pick it

WiFi 7 with a 2.5 gigabit internet port, so it will not hold back the fastest fibre and HFC plans, on a quad-core processor, in a compact upright unit.

WiFi
WiFi 7 (BE3600), dual band (2.4 and 5 GHz, no 6 GHz)
DSL port
None
Internet (WAN) port
1 x 2.5 gigabit
Network ports
4 gigabit
Phone port
None
USB
None
Coverage
NETGEAR lists up to 185 square metres and 50 devices

What to know

  • Dual band: no 6 GHz radio, which the premium WiFi 7 models have.
  • NETGEAR Armor security is a paid subscription after the trial. The router works without it.
  • Set up and managed through the Nighthawk app.
Check the price on Amazon for the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS100 (WiFi 7, BE3600) (opens in a new tab)
ASUS RT-BE88U WiFi 7 router with four antennas
Image: ASUS

Top of the range Router with a WAN port

ASUS RT-BE88U (BE7200)

Works on FTTPHFCFTTCFixed WirelessSatellite

No DSL port: not for FTTN or FTTB

Best for: The fastest fibre plans, a home office or a heavily cabled house.

Why we pick it

More ports than anything else here: a 10 gigabit port that can be the internet port, a 10 gigabit SFP+ port, four 2.5 gigabit and four gigabit ports, on a 2.6 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of memory. ASUS's AiProtection Pro security is built in, and it can anchor an ASUS AiMesh system.

WiFi
WiFi 7 (BE7200), dual band, four streams on each band (no 6 GHz)
DSL port
None
Internet (WAN) port
1 x 10 gigabit (or one of the 2.5 gigabit ports)
Network ports
1 x 10 gigabit SFP+, 3 x 2.5 gigabit, 4 x gigabit
Phone port
None
USB
1 x USB 3.2
Mesh
ASUS AiMesh

What to know

  • Dual band with no 6 GHz: it is a router for wired speed more than a WiFi 7 showcase.
  • More than most homes need. It pays off with a lot of cabling or a 2 Gbps plan.
  • Large, with four external antennas.
Check the price on Amazon for the ASUS RT-BE88U (BE7200) (opens in a new tab)

Mesh WiFi for bigger homes

Mesh systems for a home that one router cannot cover. WAN port only, so the same NBN types as the routers above.

Picks last checked: . Listings change, so a pick is re-checked and swapped out when its listing goes.

The best modem for NBN depends on which NBN you have

There is no single best modem for the NBN, because the five types of NBN connection need two different kinds of box. Get that part right first and the rest is about your house, not the brand.

Which NBN do you have?
  • DSL port for a phone socket
  • WAN port for an NBN box

Pick your type of NBN and the port it plugs into lights up.

Fibre to the premises (FTTP). On the wall: an NBN box. You need a router, with an internet (WAN) port as fast as your plan. Its WAN port plugs into the NBN box. The routers with a WAN port

HFC. On the wall: an NBN box on a round cable socket. You need a router, with an internet (WAN) port as fast as your plan. Its WAN port plugs into the NBN box. The routers with a WAN port

Fibre to the curb (FTTC). On the wall: a small NBN box on a phone socket. You need a router, with a gigabit internet (WAN) port. Its WAN port plugs into the NBN box. The routers with a WAN port

Fibre to the node (FTTN). On the wall: a phone socket only. You need a VDSL2 modem router, with a DSL port, and VDSL2 with vectoring. Its DSL port plugs into the phone socket. The modem routers with a DSL port

Fibre to the building (FTTB). On the wall: a phone socket only. You need a VDSL2 modem router, with a DSL port, and VDSL2 with vectoring. Its DSL port plugs into the phone socket. The modem routers with a DSL port

Not sure? How to tell which NBN you have, or look your address up on NBN Co's rollout map.

What each type of NBN needs you to plug in
Your NBN typeWhat is on the wallWhat you needWhat to check on the box
Fibre to the premises (FTTP)An NBN boxA routerAn internet (WAN) port as fast as your plan
HFCAn NBN box on a round cable socketA routerAn internet (WAN) port as fast as your plan
Fibre to the curb (FTTC)A small NBN box on a phone socketA routerA gigabit internet (WAN) port
Fibre to the node (FTTN)A phone socket onlyA VDSL2 modem routerA DSL port, and VDSL2 with vectoring
Fibre to the building (FTTB)A phone socket onlyA VDSL2 modem routerA DSL port, and VDSL2 with vectoring

Not sure which you have? See which NBN connection you have, or put your address into NBN’s address checker.

Modem, router or modem router?

The word “modem” gets used for every box with lights on it, so it helps to be clear about what you are shopping for.

  • A modem connects to the line coming into your home.
  • A router shares that connection with your devices and makes the WiFi.
  • A modem router does both in one box.

On fibre to the premises, HFC and fibre to the curb, NBN’s own box is the modem. Whatever you plug into it is working as a router, even if the label says modem. On fibre to the node and fibre to the building there is no NBN box, so the modem is inside your own box, and it has to be the right kind.

A modem router sold as “NBN ready” usually covers every type: it has a DSL port for the phone line types and a WAN port for the others. There is more on the two devices in the difference between a modem and a router.

Is the modem from your provider good enough?

Often, yes. The modem router a provider sends is set up for their service, they support it, and in a unit or a small house it will do the job.

Where they tend to fall short is WiFi. One modest box in the corner where the line comes in will not cover a long house, a second storey or solid brick walls, and it may struggle once a few dozen devices are connected. Most of the complaints we hear about “the internet” in a home with a healthy line are really complaints about WiFi coverage.

So before you buy anything, work out which problem you have.

Check your speed first Plug a laptop into the modem with a cable and test. Then test on WiFi in the room that is slow. If the cable result is close to your plan, the line and the modem are fine, and it is WiFi coverage you are shopping for.

What to look for in a router for FTTP, HFC and FTTC

On these three you are buying a router. This is what separates a good one from an adequate one.

  1. An internet port that matches your plan. A gigabit WAN port is the minimum. If you are on, or plan to move to, one of the fastest fibre plans, look for a multi-gigabit (2.5 gigabit) WAN port, or the router becomes the slowest thing in the chain.
  2. Current WiFi. WiFi 6 is the sensible baseline. WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 add more room for busy homes, and only help devices that support them.
  3. Enough processing power for a fast plan. A cheap router can connect to a fast plan and still not pass the full speed once it is doing its security and traffic work. This matters most on the top speed tiers.
  4. Gigabit network ports, and enough of them for the things you will cable: a TV, a console, a work computer, a mesh unit.
  5. Mesh support. The ability to add matching units later, ideally linked by cable, if one box does not cover the house.
  6. Security updates. A maker that keeps releasing them, and automatic updates you can leave on.
  7. A phone port, if you need one. If your home phone runs through your provider, ask them before you replace their box. The phone service often only works on the one they supply.

If you also want the internet to carry on when the NBN drops, some routers take a 4G SIM as a backup, and what to look for in a 4G router covers that.

What to look for in a modem for FTTN and FTTB

On fibre to the node and fibre to the building, the modem in your box is the thing talking to NBN’s equipment over the old phone line, and its quality affects how steady that connection is.

  1. VDSL2 with vectoring. This is the type of signal these lines use. A modem without it will not connect, or will connect poorly. Anything sold as NBN ready for fibre to the node should have it.
  2. Your provider’s approval. Providers publish a list of modems they have tested on fibre to the node. Choosing from that list avoids arguments later if you have a fault.
  3. A WAN port as well as a DSL port. Many fibre to the node addresses can now upgrade to fibre. A modem router with both ports carries on working as a router after the upgrade.
  4. Line statistics you can read. A modem that shows its sync speed and error counts gives you, and anyone testing the line, real evidence when the service drops out.
  5. The same WiFi, port and security points as the router list above.

On these two types, the wiring matters as much as the modem. The modem should be on the first phone socket, and old sockets still connected to the line will pull the speed down whatever you buy. See what fibre to the node is and what a bridge tap is.

A modem router combo, or separate boxes?

One box is simpler and suits most homes: one power point, one app, one thing to restart.

Separate boxes are worth it when the place the line comes in is a bad place for WiFi. The modem, or the NBN box, stays where the line is. The router or mesh system goes where the house needs it, joined by a network cable. It also means you can replace the WiFi in a few years without touching the rest.

If you put your own router or mesh behind a provider’s modem router, switch the WiFi off on the provider’s box, or set the new system to access point mode. Two boxes both running the network cause dropouts and smart devices that will not connect.

Match the WiFi to the house

After the NBN type, the house decides what is best.

What suits which home
Your homeWhat usually suits it
A unit or a small single-storey houseOne good WiFi 6 router, placed centrally and out in the open
A long house, two storeys, or solid brick wallsA mesh system, with the units linked by network cable where you can
A home office, a granny flat or a detached studioA network cable to that spot, with its own WiFi point on the end
A household that games or works on video callsCable those devices. No WiFi is as steady as a cable
Dozens of smart devicesA router built for a high device count, with a separate network for the smart devices

For a long house, two storeys or brick, our mesh WiFi picks by type of home say how many units to buy and how to link them.

For the home office or the granny flat, the cable is the work: data cabling puts a network point where the WiFi needs to start.

A range extender is rarely the right answer. It repeats a weak signal and makes it slower. See do WiFi range extenders really work and, if you already have mesh and it plays up, why mesh WiFi keeps disconnecting.

When a new modem will not fix it

A new modem or router fixes WiFi coverage, WiFi speed, and a box that is too old for the plan. It does not fix the line. Save your money if:

  • It drops out on a cable too. If a laptop plugged straight into the modem loses the internet, the fault is before the WiFi: the line, the NBN box or the wiring.
  • It follows the weather or the time of day. Dropouts in rain or afternoon heat are a cable or joint fault.
  • The lights on the NBN box change when it drops. That is the connection, not the router. See NBN connection box lights.
  • It is slow every evening on a cable. That is congestion in the network.
  • Your provider has already swapped the modem and nothing changed.

When the line is the problem, an independent NBN technician tests it and tells you in writing which side of the boundary the fault is on.

  1. Test on a cable

    Plug a laptop into the modem and run a speed test. Note the result against your plan.

  2. Test on WiFi

    Run it again in the room that gives you trouble.

  3. Compare

    Cable good and WiFi poor: shop for WiFi. Cable poor or dropping: do not buy anything yet, and ring your provider with what you found.

Run both tests with our NBN speed test. If the modem’s lights look right and there is still no internet, start with why modem lights are on but there is no internet.

Setting up a new modem or router

  • Ask your provider for the settings before you unplug the old one. Some need a username and password, and some need a particular setting switched on.
  • Use the right port. On fibre to the premises and HFC, the cable goes from the NBN box to the router’s WAN port. On fibre to the curb, from the yellow port on the NBN box. On fibre to the node and fibre to the building, the phone socket goes to the DSL port.
  • On fibre to the premises, use the right port on the NBN box too. Only one of its data ports is switched on for your service.
  • Put the router out in the open, up off the floor, as near the middle of the home as the cabling allows. Not in a cupboard and not behind the TV.
  • Change both passwords: the WiFi password and the one for the router’s own settings.
  • Turn on automatic updates.
  • Or have it set up for you. Setting up a new modem or router, the WiFi and the devices on it is part of our home tech support.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best modem for NBN fibre to the premises (FTTP)?

On fibre to the premises you do not need a modem, because the NBN box on the wall is the modem. You need a router. The best one for your home has an internet port at least as fast as your plan, current WiFi, and enough coverage for the house, which in a larger home means a mesh system or cabled WiFi points.

Do I need a VDSL2 modem for the NBN?

Only on fibre to the node and fibre to the building. Those two have no NBN box inside, so your own modem router connects to the phone line directly and must be a VDSL2 model. On fibre to the premises, HFC and fibre to the curb, a router with an internet (WAN) port is all you need.

Is the modem my provider sent good enough?

For many homes, yes. A provider's modem router will connect reliably and suit a small home or unit. Where it tends to fall short is WiFi coverage in a larger or solid-walled house, the number of devices it handles well, and extra features. That is where your own router or a mesh system earns its place.

Will a new modem make my NBN faster?

Only if the modem or its WiFi is what is holding you back. It can lift WiFi speed and coverage, and it can let a fast plan run at full speed. It cannot make the line faster than your plan, and it will not fix a line that drops out. Test on a cable first to find out which problem you have.

Can I use any modem with any NBN provider?

Mostly. The NBN line does not care whose router is on it, and most providers let you bring your own and will give you the settings. Check before you buy if you have a home phone through your provider, because that service often only works on the box they supply.

Need this fixed rather than explained?

This is written from the field. When the fault needs a technician on site, this is where to go next.

Service WiFi Technician WiFi technician and installer for Sydney homes: dead spots upstairs, dropouts on calls, a granny flat with nothing. Router moved, mesh wired in, or a cable run. $250 inc. GST service call: first hour on site and travel up to 40 km included. Further afield by arrangement, travel charges in our terms. See what a WiFi technician does on site Service Internet Technician Independent internet technician near you in Sydney. Provider says it's not them? We check the line, box, cabling, router and wifi and say which part is broken. $250 inc. GST service call: first hour on site and travel up to 40 km included. Further afield by arrangement, travel charges in our terms. See our Internet Technician page

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