Do I Need a Modem for NBN?

Do I Need a Modem for NBN?
Question
Do I really need a modem for my NBN connection, or can I just use a router? What’s the difference based on the type of NBN technology?

Your Answer
Answer
1. Difference Between a Modem and a Router for NBN:
- A modem is a networking device that connects your address to the internet. It acts as a translator between the analog signal from your internet service provider and the digital signal that links to the router and individual devices in your property.
- A router takes the internet from the modem and shares it among the devices in your home, allowing multiple devices to connect to the internet simultaneously.
2. Do You Need a Modem for NBN?
- For certain NBN technology types such as Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC), NBN Fixed Wireless, and Sky Muster satellite NBN, you would need an NBN box/NTD/modem provided by NBN Co to get online.
- For Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) and Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) technologies, modem-routers are commonly used. These are devices that combine both a modem and a router’s functionalities. These technologies rely on the VDSL2 standard, which is used to achieve optimal broadband speeds from copper wiring.
- If you’re connected via any of the other mentioned NBN technologies, any modern router will work with the NBN box/NTD/modem options.
3. NBN-Compatible Routers and Modem-Routers:
- Technically, there’s no specific device known as an “NBN router” or “NBN modem-router”. What you need is an NBN-compatible router or modem-router.
To determine the exact type of hardware you need for your specific NBN connection, it’s recommended to contact your internet service provider or NBN Co for clarity. They will provide the necessary equipment based on your NBN technology type and ensure compatibility.
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speed—2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads
- Connect More Devices—OFDMA technology increases capacity by 4 times to enable simultaneous transmission to more devices
- Ultra-Low Latency—Enables more responsive gaming and video chatting
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage—Four high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable Wi-Fi throughout your home
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- Gigabit WiFi for 8K Streaming – 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streamings, and downloading, all at the same time
- Fully Featured Wi-Fi 6 – Equips with the top structure of 4T4R and HE160 on the 5 GHz band to enable a 4.8 Gbps ultra-fast connection
- Connect 100+ Devices§ – Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and quadruple the average throughput
- Extensive Coverage – 6× antennas and Beamforming ensure broad coverage
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- Supporting the latest Wi-Fi standard 802.11AX (Wi-Fi 6) and 80MHz bandwidth
- Built for multi-device households
- Increase capacity and efficiency
- Commercial-grade security for your home network
- AC1200 Dual-Band Wi-Fi – 867 Mbps at 5 GHz and 400 Mbps at 2.4 GHz band
- MU-MIMO Technology – Simultaneously transfers data to multiple devices for 2× faster performance
- Boosted Coverage – Four external antennas equipped with Beamforming technology extend and concentrate the Wi-Fi signals
- Access Point Mode –Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into the wireless network
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 12 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- New-generation WiFi 6 – Enjoy ultrafast speeds up to 5400 Mbps with the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and 160MHz channels.
- DSL, Ethernet and Mobile Internet – DSL-AX82U has multiple ways to connect to the internet with a DSL port, Ethernet port, or even an USB port for mobile broadband connection.
- Choose your lighting vibe – Feature ASUS Aura RGB lighting effects that you can choose from a variety of lighting effects and customize lighting to align with specific modes.
- ASUS AiMesh support – Create a flexible, seamless whole-home mesh network with AiMesh-compatible routers.
- Commercial-grade home network security – Lifetime free ASUS AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro, with WPA3 and advanced Parental Controls to protect your home.
- Parental Controls: manage responsible internet access for your children
- Guest Network|: provides separate access for guests while securing the home network
- Firewall Security: supports DoS, SPI Firewall, IP Addressing/Domain Filter, IP/MAC Address Binding
- Quality of Service: prioritizes network traffic by device or application
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- Faster Dual-Band AX3000 WiFi: Up to 3.0 Gbps (2402 Mbps + 574 Mbps) WiFi for faster browsing, streaming and downloading, all at the same time.
- 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Port: 1נ2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port + 1נ1 Gbps WAN/LAN port + 3נGigabit LAN ports + 1נUSB 3.0 port ensure max flexibility and boosted throughput.
- Maximised Coverage: Four high-gain antennas equipped with Beamforming ensure vast coverage.
- Connect More Devices: OFDMA technology increases capacity by 4 times to enable simultaneous transmission to more devices.
- VPN Client Supported: Allow devices in your home network to access remote VPN servers without needing to install VPN software on every device.
- Ultrafast WiFi 6 dual-band router boosts speed up to 5700 Mbps, with 160 MHz channels for better efficiency and throughput
- Minimize lag and latency for mobile gaming with just a tap on the ASUS Router app
- The exclusive ASUS RangeBoost Plus improves signal range and overall coverage
- Block undesirable content with ASUS Safe Browsing, and protect your kids online by filtering explicit content from search results
- Protect your home network with a free lifetime subscription to AiProtection Pro, powered by Trend Micro
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput
- Connect in your way – You can share the internet from 3G/4G dongle to the router by plug the dongle in a USB port
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX53U supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections; With a total networking speed of about 1800Mbps — 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz band
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 4 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and three Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections. With a total networking speed of about 1800Mbps — 574 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- Protection for Your Home Network – Aiprotection powered by Trend Micro, blocks internet security threats for all your connected smart devices.
- Better Partner with Mesh System – Compatible with ASUS AiMesh WiFi system for seamless whole-home coverage.
- A gigabit speed router, for less - Supports wifi speeds up to a gigabit, without the premium price tag. eero 6+ is our most affordable gigabit router ever.
- Wi-Fi 6 gets a bandwidth boost - eero 6+ supports additional wifi bandwidth on the 160 MHz radio channel (that’s just wifi talk for faster connectivity). With the eero 6+, you’ll get enough wifi for the whole family to work, stream, and video chat—all at the same time.
- Experience the eero TrueMesh difference - Patented TrueMesh technology intelligently routes traffic to reduce drop-offs and eliminate dead spots. Each eero 6+ covers up to 140 sq. m.
- Set up in minutes - The eero app guides you through setup and allows you to manage your network from anywhere.
- Gets better over time - Receive automatic updates to help keep your network safe and secure. Online security tools and additional network management features available via a separate subscription.
- Ultra-Fast Wi-Fi for Extreme Gaming – AX11000 speed machine that delivers 12-streams Wi-Fi Speeds Over 10 Gbps: 4804 Mbps (5 GHz Gaming*) + 4804 Mbps (5 GHz) + 1148 Mbps (2.4 GHz)
- Game Accelerator – Detect and optimise gaming streams, to ensure your gaming stays immersive
- Game Protector – Keep your accounts and documents safe with the Homecare security system powered by Trend Micro.
- Game Statistics – Real-time latency, game duration and network resource allocation in a glance with fine-tuned UI.
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- Deco uses a system of units to achieve seamless whole-home Wi-Fi coverage — eliminate weak signal areas once and for all
- With advanced Deco Mesh Technology, units work together to form a unified network with a single network name. Devices automatically switch between Decos as you move through your home for the fastest possible speeds
- A Deco E4 three-pack delivers Wi-Fi to an area of up to 4,000 square feet (EU version). And if that’s not enough, simply add more Decos to the network anytime to increase coverage.
- Deco E4 provides fast and stable connections with speeds of up to 1167 Mbps and works with the major internet service provider (ISP) and modem.
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 3-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Pre-installed Tor service. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
- 【Repeater for Public WiFi】Convert a public network(wired/wireless) to a private Wi-Fi for secure surfing. In general, most of the Free Public Wi-Fi hotspot set a time limit for users, which will disconnect your devices once the time is over. To deal with this situation, please reconnect your router to the wifi.
- Experience Unparalleled WiFi 5 Speed: Harness the power of WiFi 5 technology to enjoy combined wireless speeds of up to 1200Mbps, ensuring seamless browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences. Benefit from lower latency and faster response times, allowing for smoother online gaming and lag-free video calls. 4 LAN ports(10/100Mbps) allow you to connect to your wired devices directly.
- Simultaneous 2.4GHz & 5GHz Bands: Experience the benefits of dual-band connectivity, with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands operating simultaneously for ultimate flexibility. The 2.4 GHz Band is perfect for general web browsing, email, and social media use, while the 5 GHz Band is ideal for high-bandwidth activities such as video streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers.
- Versatile Operating Modes: Effortlessly switch between Router, AP, and Repeater Modes to adapt to your changing network requirements. Router/ Access Point (AP) Modes help to transform your existing wired network into a wireless one. Repeater Mode works to amplify and extend the range of your existing wireless network, providing improved Wi-Fi connectivity even in hard-to-reach areas.
- Patented Adjustable 5dBi Antennas: Equipped with 4 x 5dBi omni directional antennas, providing maximum coverage up to 1500 sq.ft, enhanced connection up to 64 devices. Stay connected to numerous devices simultaneously, and experience fast and seamless internet access in every corner of your home or office with the advanced beamforming technology.
- Easy Setup: With a simple web-based interface and easy-to-follow instructions, you can have the router up and running in minutes, requiring no technical expertise. Comes with a simple and intuitive management page, allowing you to monitor the network connection at a glance.
- Integrated into Omada SDN: Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Centralized Cloud Management, and Intelligent Monitoring.
- Centralised Management: Cloud access and Omada app for ultra convenience and easy management.
- Five Gigabit Ports: High-speed wired connectivity.
- Up to 4 WAN Ports: 1 gigabit WAN port and 3 gigabit WAN/LAN ports optimize bandwidth usage.
- TP-Link - World's No. 1 Provider of WLAN Products within last 11 years. Leading support - Industry leading 5-year warranty and 24/7 technical support
- ASUS RT-AX3000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Router (Renewed)
- ASUS
- 【MINI TRAVEL ROUTER】 Convert a public/hotel network(wired/wireless) to a private Wi-Fi for secure surfing. Tethering, 3G/4G USB Modem Compatible. Powered by any laptop USB, power banks or 5V/2A DC adapters (sold separately). 39g (1.41 Oz) only and pocket friendly.
- 【OPEN SOURCE & PROGRAMMABLE】 OpenWrt pre-installed, USB disk extendable.
- 【VPN CLIENT&Server】 OpenVPN and Wireguard VPN client&server pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers.
- 【LARGER STORAGE & EXTENSIBILITY】 128MB RAM, 16MB NOR Flash, dual Ethernet ports, UART and GPIOs available for hardware DIY.
- 【PACKAGE CONTENTS】 GL-AR300M16 mini router (1-year Warranty), USB cable, User Manual.
- TP-LINK ARCHER VR1600V Wireless Dual Band Gigabit VoIP VDSL/ADSL Modem Router (Renewed)
- TP-Link
- TP-LINK ARCHER VR2100 Dual Band Wireless Gigabit VDSL/ADSL Modem Router - MU-MIMO (Renewed)
- TP-Link
Sponsored Ads
Need To Fix Your Internet Services?
Facing constant NBN dropouts or slow speeds? Don’t suffer any longer! Book our expert fault-finding service now to diagnose and fix your internet woes for good. We’re just a call away at 02 9188 1577, or visit our website to schedule an appointment. Let’s get you back online, fast!