How to make the most of High-Speed Tiers
New High-Speed tiers (with maximum Off-Peak download speeds greater than 100mbps1) are becoming more and more readily available.
We now offer a Home Fast 500 plan for eligible nbn technology types (FTTP & HFC) for the same price as the Home Fast 100. The Home Fast 500 plan is also available at eligible Opticomm locations.
In addition, we also have High-Speed tiers (the Home Fast and Super Fast speeds) available for eligible customers on nbn® Fixed Wireless.
According to nbn, the average number of connected devices in a household is now as high as 25 and is projected to reach 44 devices by 2030.
As the availability of higher speed tiers grows and households increase the number of devices they’re using, higher speed tiers are required for the connection to handle a household’s internet bandwidth and requirements.
However, taking up a High-Speed tier is only as useful as the equipment you’re using, like your Wi-Fi router.
Ensuring your ‘in-home setup’ is capable of taking advantage of the faster speeds available on your connection is critical to enjoying the benefits of the faster speeds.
We’ve outlined a few key things to check to make sure you can benefit from faster speed tiers:
Check Your Wireless Router Can Handle Faster Speeds
The age and quality of the hardware you use (i.e. Your Wi-Fi router) will affect your ability to reach the faster speeds available on High-Speed tiers.
No matter the age, if you have a wireless ‘N’ router (such as the TP-Link TL-WR841N), it will not be able to support the new High-Speed tiers.
This is because this router only has a 100mbps maximum for it’s ethernet (WAN) port, which connects back to the nbn Connection Box.
With the High-Speed tiers delivering off-peak download speeds above 100Mbps1, you’ll need a router with a Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) WAN port to have enough bandwidth for High-Speed tiers.
Activ8me recommends our TP-Link EX511 or VX230v routers for use with High-Speed tiers, as these both feature Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports, along with Gigabit LAN ports. They also have Wi-Fi 6 – one of the newest Wi-Fi standards – allowing you to fully take advantage of all the speed on offer.
If you’re looking to purchase your own router, look for the following features at a minimum:
- Dual band (Has both a 2.4GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Network)
- Is Wi-Fi 6 or newer
- Has a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, and if you use them, gigabit LAN ports
If you’re not sure if your current router has a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port you can look up to specs online by searching for the manufacturer and/or model number.
If you need help checking the compatibility of your router for faster speed tiers or if you want to purchase a new router, call our support team on 13 22 88.
Connect to the ‘5GHz’ Wi-Fi Network
A 5GHz Wi-Fi network is generally better than 2.4GHz because it offers faster speeds, less interference, and more stable connections, especially in environments with many devices or networks nearby.
While 2.4GHz has a longer range and better wall penetration, it’s often crowded and slower due to interference from other devices like microwaves and Bluetooth.
In contrast, 5GHz provides higher bandwidth, making it ideal for reaching faster speeds, though it works best when you’re closer to the router.
To connect to a 5GHz network:
- Open your device’s Wi-Fi settings.
- Look for a network name (SSID) that includes “5G” or “5GHz” (e.g., HomeWiFi_5G).
- Select it and enter the password if prompted.
- If you don’t see it, your device may not support 5GHz or you may be out of range.
In some cases, routers come preconfigured with ‘band-steering’ whereby your device will automatically connect to either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz network and be ‘steered’ onto the best one for your device. In this instance, you won’t see a separate 5GHz network to connect to. Band steering can be turned off in the router’s settings.
Ensure your Ethernet Cable is CAT5e or newer
Additionally, the quality of the Ethernet cable between the nbn connection box and your router (and your router and other hardwired devices) will affect the quality and speeds you can get.
Older categories of ethernet cables are unable to sustain higher data rates. You can find the category printed on the outer sheathing of the cable. You’ll need at least a CAT5e cable, although a CAT6 cable is recommended, especially for longer cables.
nbn Hardware at your House (Fixed Wireless only)
While nbn has been working hard to both upgrade existing fixed wireless towers and build new towers around the country, older Fixed Wireless hardware (the antenna installed on your roof) will not be able to achieve the speeds offered by High-Speed tiers.
But don’t worry, if your nbn equipment is not capable of these higher speeds, we can arrange an appointment to upgrade your equipment free of charge.
Just keep in mind that a technician appointment may be required depending on the nbn hardware at your house.
You can read how to check what Fixed Wireless antenna (called a WNTD) you have installed by reading this article.
Technical limitations that may affect your performance or speeds
A combination of factors can affect the speeds and experience you receive from your internet connection, such as your distance from the Wi-Fi router and interference from other devices like TVs and microwaves.
If you’re ever unhappy with your speeds or need some further tips to optimise your home connections, call our Support team on 13 22 88 for assistance.
1 – Your experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn network, depends on the nbn network technology and configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the internet during the busy period, and some factors outside our control (like your equipment quality, software, broadband plans, signal reception and how your service provider designs its network). Speeds may be impacted by the number of concurrent users on nbn’s Fixed Wireless network, including during busy periods.