Use Deco M5 with Old Telstra T-Gateway Modem or Get a Better All in One?

RoosterBooster on 05/03/2021 - 16:31

Our family have ADSL internet with a Telstra Gateway Technicolor TG797n v3. Download speeds are around 1.5 (or 4 at max) and uploads around 0.8 so we can’t really stream anything. Even general internet browsing can be frustrating. We signed up for nbn Fixed Wireless and the technician has just been. He got no signal so unfortunately we can’t have FW nbn.

We had bought a Deco M5 Mesh system to use with the nbn. As it is a router only, can I use the Deco M5 with our Telstra all in one modem/router? If so, could I expect better speeds than using our old Telstra one? Or should I try returning the M5 and get a better all in one modem/router to try improving our measly adsl speeds? Appreciate any advice on this area.

Internet Mesh Network

Comments

  • bdl on 05/03/2021 - 16:45
    +1

    What's your cable connected (ie. non wifi) speed through the modem? The 1.5-4 (Mbit? MB/s?) that you've mentioned?

    Did you get the Mesh to improve wifi coverage of your home? That's good in itself, however mesh wifi will not improved beyond the cable connected speed you experience.

    I would keep the Deco m5 separate, best of both worlds.

    If FW or NBN not an option, time to look at 4G/5G - your Deco mesh system will complement whatever router a provider supplies if you decide to go down this path.

    • RoosterBooster on 05/03/2021 - 17:05

      I connected via ethernet cable and got 4.2 mbps / 0.8 mbps. Not much difference and I can't really have it permanantly connected via ethernet due to the modem/router location. I got the mesh to improve coverage and was hoping that getting nbn would improve speeds but as it looks like I will stay on ADSL, was wondering if the deco would improve speeds (when used with the t-gateway) or just improve coverage.

      I will read up on 4G. What do you mean by keep M5 separate?

      • bdl on 05/03/2021 - 18:06
        +2

        Not much difference and I can't really have it permanantly connected via ethernet due to the modem/router location.

        All good, it was just a test to see what the the speed maxes out at. So with 4.2/0.8, it's doubtful that the modem is the limiting factor speed wise.

        In your case, looks like the deco will only improve wifi coverage rather than improve your overall internet speeds.

        I meant keep m5 separate - as in keep it for it's mesh wifi capabilities, and have a separate router (like your current tg797n) do routing/firewalling for your network. It was in answer to your "Or should I try returning the M5 and get a better all in one modem/router to try improving our measly adsl speeds?" question.

        There a bunch of modems available that support 4g/5g, an example that I use for 4G is the Netgear LB2120 (https://www.netgear.com.au/home/products/mobile-broadband/lt…) however they may be getting long in the tooth now.

        • RoosterBooster on 05/03/2021 - 21:04

          Thanks for the advice. There's a part of the house down the other end that doesn't get coverage but with our crappy speeds I don't think its worth extending the signal if speed won't be improved. In that case I'm not sure its worth keeping the Deco and might see if I can return it (problem is I bought it about a month ago when we booked our nbn appointment).

          I will look more into 4g (don't think 5g is available in my area). If I stick with the ADSL, would an upgrade of our TG797n to a new all in one modem/router be any chance of improving speed or would it be like Deco M5 and only improve coverage? In other words, the only way of improving speed is by changing internet type to something like 4G/5G)?

          • Twix on 05/03/2021 - 21:11
            +1

            @RoosterBooster: I doubt you will be able to return the Deco. Sell it locally.

            A new ADSL modem will only improve Wi-Fi coverage.

          • bdl on 06/03/2021 - 21:09
            +1

            @RoosterBooster:

            I will look more into 4g (don't think 5g is available in my area). If I stick with the ADSL, would an upgrade of our TG797n to a new all in one modem/router be any chance of improving speed or would it be like Deco M5 and only improve coverage?

            Given your current crappy wired speed, very unlikely it will improve speed. It'd be worth keeping the Deco so at least when you get Internet faster than 4.2/0.8, you can take full advantage of the faster Internet. Keeping the Deco will also ensure that speeds in your house (between your devices) is maximised.

            In other words, the only way of improving speed is by changing internet type to something like 4G/5G)?

            Correct. Or fixed wireless, or NBN, or carrier pigeon or anything except ADSL :)

  • geek001 on 05/03/2021 - 16:55
    +2

    Connect a laptop to the Technicolor gateway via a network cable and see what kind of speeds you are getting. If it is still 1.5, then 1.5 is all you are going to get. If your NBN connection is giving you grief, unfortunately your only alternative is look at Telstra/Optus/Vodafone 4G/5G connection.

  • Twix on 05/03/2021 - 19:00

    Look into Starlink and request a quote for nbn FTTP

    • RoosterBooster on 05/03/2021 - 21:07
      +1

      Looking at the Starlink, unfortunately that one is out of our budget. And the nbn FTTP quote may be free but I doubt the installation costs would be within budget either :(

      Good options for those that can afford it though!

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