Best 5G Router Recommendations for Telstra Network with Good Range

Jason88 on 21/05/2025 - 15:01
Last edited 22/05/2025 - 13:54 by 1 other user

Hey Ozbargainers!

I need your help picking the best 5G mobile broadband router/modem combo.

We operate a business in a rural community with no access to NBN, so we need a router that is compatible with Telstra 4g/5g network & SIM card (but we plan to use belong so we need an unlocked router).

All options I have looked seem to have very limited range, and we need the business office (located just 7 meters from the house) to have a good signal strength from our wifi in the house.

Price isn’t as important as a range. We need something with good range and / or mesh expansion capabilities, and it seems routers that are 5g compatible aren’t really prioritising good range?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! '

UPDATE : So in the end, I am going with a 5G router, paired with a seperate Wifi Mesh system. Decided on the Netgear M6 Nighthawk + Google Nest 3 Pack Mesh System

Computing Mobile Broadband Modem Wireless Router

Comments

  • jv on 21/05/2025 - 15:17
    -1
    1. Telstra 5G Internet Modem 2
    2. Netgear Nighthawk M7 Ultra
    3. Netgear Nighthawk M6
    4. Telstra AW1000 5G Home Modem
    5. Sagemcom F@st 5866T
    • Jason88 on 21/05/2025 - 15:50

      I’ve looked into some of these. None of them seem to have the range we need. Say, for instance, the range you get from a mesh system.

      Our office is in a seperate building 7 meters from the house and we would like it to reach both 24/7 for security cameras etc.

    • AustriaBargain on 21/05/2025 - 18:28

      I use a Sagemcom Fast 5866T with iiNet and it works great. I suspect any included 5G modem would work great. 5G really is fast, I game on it and there is a little very slight lag sometimes but it's totally manageable. Download speeds are very fast, it shits all over HFC in speed.

  • geekcohen on 21/05/2025 - 15:18
    -1

    We operate a business in a rural community with no access to NBN

    Consider Starlink? No need for the "Business" plan. I've done a number of businesses on the Standard Residential plan and they run perfectly fine. One has PtP links to 6 buildings, runs a VOIP system and Video calls all the time, its changed the way the business runs! They love it.

    The best part is that, at the moment, for most areas, the Starlink Hardware is free. So that is a saving of $583 making it more inticing for most people.

    we need the business office (located just 7 meters from the house) to have a good signal strength from our wifi in the house.

    Starlink on the House, PtP to the Business Office, AP in the Business Office, done. Will be rock solid and reliable. Yes, it might be 7 meters, but best to have the right solution than try and do a mesh that doesn't work crash hot.

    • Jason88 on 21/05/2025 - 15:48

      Hey man! Thank you for this.

      Free hardware sounds enticing, but the business plans are super expensive. The 500gb plan is coming up as over $1000 a month.

      Residential plans seem to be much cheaper, but hardware isn’t complimentary, and even then:

      • $139 per month (vs the $70 per month Belong 400GB plan we are planning to get); and

      • starlink says we are in a ‘high demand’ area and claims we need to pay a $740 “Demand Surcharge” on top of everything else.

      So I think 5g might provide us with better value.

      • geekcohen on 21/05/2025 - 16:20
        +1

        starlink says we are in a ‘high demand’ area and claims we need to pay a $740 “Demand Surcharge” on top of everything else.

        Yeah, bugger. That's why I said "for most areas." In some areas with high demand, there is no free hardware plus the $145 Demand Tax. — Just saw you were on the GC, it is high demand there.

        5G would offer more value at this time.

  • JIMB0 on 21/05/2025 - 15:47

    Does it have to be 5G? The Telstra Smart Modem 2 is a good choice. It can be had for $20 on FB marketplace but it's only 4G. Has a decent wifi range and 4G is plenty fast enough for most things, even with a few people using it.

    • Jason88 on 21/05/2025 - 15:52

      I don’t think this has the range we need.

      Our office is in a seperate building 7 meters from the house and we would like it to reach both 24/7 for security cameras etc.

      So we need a system that has a mesh add on option ? I’m trying to avoid those cheap wifi extenders because they won’t work well.

      • AustriaBargain on 21/05/2025 - 18:29
        +1

        Don't get 4G for home internet mate.

  • GordonD on 21/05/2025 - 15:49

    The choices with regards to 5G modem/routers is limited. So don't use one.

    Get the router or mesh system that you want, and tether it to a 5G phone.

    • Jason88 on 21/05/2025 - 15:53

      Might not work for us. We need wifi in both buildings 24/7 for security cameras etc.

      • GordonD on 22/05/2025 - 12:26

        That's why I said router or mesh system.

        • Jason88 on 22/05/2025 - 13:18

          I must have misunderstood. So, we get a 5g router, and connect to the mesh system of our choice?

          I think you're right. This might be the best way to move forward! Thanks mate.

  • geekcohen on 21/05/2025 - 16:26
    +2

    Look at a 5G Modem with Ethernet, and then add your own Mesh Network to that. Just look at the 5G Modem as the internet source, not the primary WiFi. I've done that with Starlink and Businesses.

    Install Starlink as the primary internet source and add a Ubiquiti Dream Machine for the network control, plus WiFi etc.

    • AustriaBargain on 21/05/2025 - 18:30
      +2

      This is a good idea, using your own wifi router on whatever 5G modem you get. When you change providers and need to send the modem back then you don't need to reconfigure all your smart devices, you just plug your router into a new modem and you're done.

    • Jason88 on 22/05/2025 - 13:21
      +1

      Thanks so much!! This seems to be the best option for us!!

  • redforever on 21/05/2025 - 17:26
    -2

    Telstra resells starlink services under the Telstra banner. They limit the speed to 50Mbps down and 10 up. Maybe check if they charge the high demand fee.

    • geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 05:38

      Telstra don't have the demand fee, but you still need to pay for the Hardware. So you are really only saving $145 plus then $15 per month, but for 50/10, its rubbish. Yes, its okay for some people. I've done a few Telstra Starlink installs for the elderly, which is fine for them, but if you WFH or run a business, Telstra Starlink is no the answer.

      • redforever on 22/05/2025 - 17:44

        Fair enough with the speed offered. Depends on the type of business.

        You can BYO your starlink kit. I have seen them go for half price at JB or maybe see if there is a cheap second hand one available on FB marketplace.

        • geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 18:37

          Yes you could BYO and get a second hand Starlink kit. As long as the transfer is done right, it can work. Heard some horror stories of people buying a second hand kit and can’t activate it due it being linked to an exisiting account.

  • shadyscab on 22/05/2025 - 19:49

    People often sell their 5g routers on marketplace, apparently none of them are network locked.

    I got a Telstra 5g v3 for $40 and it rips on belong.

    Mesh will half your speeds if you have power on the same circuit there are powerline kuts which again, often go cheap on marketplace.

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