Hi, I am looking to buy a VDSL modem for NBN FTTN connection. Looking to sign up with either TPG/iinet/internode/Mate/Barefoot.
What do people think of budget range like the Netcomm NF8AC?
Would like to bridge the modem with my current router. I have the Asus RT-68U from one of the ozbargain deals here.
Thanks
Sorry mate. It was fttn
If you are looking to bridge, I can recommend the Netcomm NF10W. It isn't too costly, and works very well in bridged mode (I use it in this way myself).
(For someone wanting it for routed mode .. I wouldn't really recommend it).
Having said the above, keep in mind that if you don't use the RSP supplied FTTN modem you are going into the "unsupported" realm. Each RSP individually certifies modems with NBN Co.
Ditto, and Ditto
I also have bridged the NF10W.. It's been 100% reliable for 8 months. Read some awful stories of unreliability when using it as a modem/router, but the modem components are the same as any other.
I think every stock modem is bridegable now (iiNet/TPG's wasn't at launch but it's since been enabled in a firmware update).
I would also recommend that the OP get the "free" modem with their ISP plan, or buy it if you're going off contract.
My ISP Aussie Broadband (terrible name, but excellent service) sells the NF10W for $80 Off Contract which is pretty hard to beat.
Thanks mate. because I have not decided to go with any ISP, and the modem that each of them supplies can vary so much, I thought If I can find a good baseline model that matches all the ISP then I am set. I note the "unsupported" realm I will be in if I BYO my own modem.
The modems don't vary much at all. There's just not that many VDSL modem chipsets around.
The difference between a high end Modem/router and a low end modem router is almost entirely in the router side of the unit.
Modem technology is pretty generic. If you're going to bridge (and therefore bypass the router components) who cares what router capabilities there are?
As stated above, the NF10W is $80 from Aussie Broadband.. It's the cheapest NBN compliant VDSL modem I'm aware of. the fact that it's also NBN certified for a bunch of ISP's is just an added bonus.
Thanks. I checked that the NF10W is actually way cheaper than the NF8AC that I posted….agreed it is a good price.
Only prob with NF10WV is that it doesn't particularly play well with pretty lengthy or degraded copper run. In tandem investigation with Netcomm Engineers we found it was syncing up to 10mbps less than more capable specced broadcom and other chipset. But put it under optimal copper (short length & less noise) it would sync comparable to all other modems.
I'm using the NF10W on a 550m line, getting 80Mbps. Not disputing what you're saying, just mentioning my own situation.
I believe Internode and iinet comes with a Fritzbox modem router which is said to be pretty good. I'm personally using the D7000 which I find is great aside from the lack of VoIP socket.
You can check out a list of compatible modem routers and a list of features over at Whirlpool
Is there a reason not to at least try out the supplied modem when you sign up? Bridging won't be much of a load, so I wouldn't spend money until I knew I needed to.
Well…some ISP give the modem as a package some actually ask u to pay for the modem :( and I thought as a good ozbargainer I can get better modem price elsewhere…
I recommend using the supplied modem from your ISP.
Why? Because practically all of the ISP's supply modems with broadcom chipsets. These chipsets will match the chipset in the FTTN cabinet which is very important in order to squeeze the best performance of you FTTN connection.
My personal setup at home is the iinet supplied TG-1 modem bridged with an ubuqity unifi lite AP wireless access point, and the wireless on the TG-1 turned off. This gives me the best of both worlds - high performance and high quality wi-fi and maximum compatibility with the FTTN cabinet.
Thanks mate for the info on Broadcom chipsets. I thought this was important for ADSL connections didnt know this is just as important for FTTN. Cheers for that.
TPG provided me with the biggest piece of crap FTTP Netcomm Router. Cant handle load, terrible WiFi range, needs resetting every few days.
So this isnt always the case.
A router is not a modem…
A modem just turns beeps and blurps into one's and zero's (and vice versa). Once converted, it passes the stream of ones and Zero's on to the router. There is not much thinking required to perform this task.
The router has to decide where those one's and Zero's are supposed to go and apply any rules that have been set. The decision making requirement of a router means that a more powerful unit can process more decisions per second and therefore prevent a backlog.
Use the modem supplied by the Telco, don't venture outside this scope.
I'm running the TG-1 modem/router supplier by Internode/iiNet and it's rock solid.
Your title says FTTP, your post says FTTN. Which is it?