FTTN Modem to Use as a Bridge in 2024?

CacheHunter on 05/03/2024 - 09:54

A lightning strike recently took out my netcomm nf18 and I am looking for suggested replacement options. I am on fttn and was using the modem in bridge mode to bridge to my unifi router and network. My current ISP is More, but I'm probably switch when my current 3 years free offer runs out.

What is a good modem in 2024 that will give me a reliable connection? As it will be in bridge mode, I don't need any fancy Wi-Fi options.

I have temporarily setup an old iinet vg420, but it is losing DSL sync every 10-15 minutes. I know that once upon a time it was good to get a modern that could run openwrt and fine tune the connection. Is that even a thing under current nbn rules? I've read that nbn will only trouble shoot if using certain approved modems, but don't know which models are better?

Internet Modem

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 05/03/2024 - 10:16
    +3

    If you need to squeeze every last mbps out of your line, target something with the BCM63168 chipset.
    Telstra Gateway Max TG-799vac was what I used (I've been lucky enough to be able to upgrade to FttP)
    It's old, but the VDSL modem has the best sync speed and excellent stability in my experience.
    On my crappy FttN line (max sync rate of 33mbps) I'd get somewhere between 1 and 3 mbps additional sync with the 799vac over a Telstra Smart Modem 2 Arcadyan LH1000, Netcomm NF10W and iiNet TG-789.

    If you can't find one, or don't care about sync speed, just get any of the Telstra modems. They're pretty cheap and plentiful on Marketplace/Gumtree and they are built like tanks.

  • jv on 05/03/2024 - 10:29

    What is a good modem in 2024 that will give me a reliable connection? As it will be in bridge mode

    Why not just get a wifi router then?

    • Chazzozz on 06/03/2024 - 08:07

      Maybe because the OP already has one? Seems rather obvious what they want to do.

      …to bridge to my unifi router and network.

      Ubiquiti make excellent hardware, but one part missing from their product lineup is a VDSL modem.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/03/2024 - 12:39

    Any cheap Netcomm NF1*

  • aedomsan on 05/03/2024 - 13:58

    DSL-G225
    Supports the full alphabet soup of protocols needed for FTTN now
    Just remember to use the WAN ethernet port for bridging instead of any of the four LAN ports as the wan is gigabit, the others are 10/100

    • ESEMCE on 05/03/2024 - 14:17

      That uses the BCM63381 bottom end Broadcom chipset.
      Sync rate will suffer.

      https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/fttn_registered_modem_router#v…

      • aedomsan on 05/03/2024 - 14:53

        how much "suffer" are we talking here. It's broadly recommended on WP

        • ESEMCE on 05/03/2024 - 15:09

          In my experience ~10%.
          On the same line, same day, I could get 33/8 with the TG799vac (using the top end BCM63168 Broadcom chipset) versus 30/6 using the NF10W (with the same BCM63381 chipset as the DSL-G225).

          Other users have reported similarly significant differences on better lines than mine.
          https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/98k5yj73?p=23#r528612…

          Of course sync rate may not be important, especially in the case of a line maxxing out at 60 mbps on a 50/20 plan. Who cares whether you get 60 or 66 max sync rate?

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