Adding a Second OptiComm Internet Connection

jimmykim on 22/05/2025 - 06:32
Last edited 22/05/2025 - 10:40 by 1 other user

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some advice on setting up a second Internet connection at home; apologies if these are very basic questions!

We’re currently connected to the Opticomm network with an active TPG 100/20 Mbps plan. I’m looking to add a second connection from a different ISP (e.g., Aussie Broadband), and I’m a bit unsure about the setup.

Here’s the situation:

• The home has an ONT in the garage.
• One router is already connected via an RJ45 wall socket.
• I could see there’s a spare RJ45 wall socket in the living room but not sure if it's working but thinking to place the second router (Eero Pro 6E) there.

My questions are:

• If I order a second connection, will I need an electrician to run new wiring from the ONT to a different wall socket?
• And if so, will the electrician know which port on the ONT to use for the new service?
• Am I overcomplicating this? Could it be as simple as plugging the new router into the spare RJ45 socket?

I appreciate any insights or experiences you can share. Thanks in advance!

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• 

  jaUtr65Hme on 22/05/2025 - 07:37

  If it is Opticomm you maybe need to check your ONT + ISP validate if you can get 2nd connection. Normally ISP would only do port 1 so your new connection actually overwrites your old connection. New router if still wire back physically end up to same port on ONT won’t give you new connection. Only Opticomm ISP eventually do port 2 with my experience is Launtel but need to collaborate with Opticomm + Launtel in order to get it works.

  Opticomm is really bad with its service and get terrible infrastructure - even if I get 2 connections eventually, I still have issue time to time (IPv6 disappeared / wired speed) due to Opticomm engineer actually cannot get things right. Maybe consider 5G as 2nd connection based on your use case.

• 

  AndyC1 on 22/05/2025 - 08:38

  -2

  Opticomm network may mean you only have it or 4G/5G or StarLink.
  Does NBN say you can get internet or not?

  • 

    geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 09:24

    +3

    Generally, in Opticomm Network areas, NBN is not available and vice versa.

  • 

    jimmykim on 22/05/2025 - 14:19

    Does NBN say you can get internet or not?

    whichever ISP I went to, when I typed in my address, it says Opticomm network available and I am able to proceed with the order.

    • 

      AndyC1 on 22/05/2025 - 19:13

      As I suspected you have the choice of the following:

      1) Opticomm directly using the Opticomm network
      2) RSP that uses Opticomm network
      3) 4G broadband
      4) 5G broaband
      5) Starlink
      6) NBN sateltite

      NO NBN FTTN, FTTP, FTTC, HFC etc aka wired some how.

      You are SOL.

• 

  AustriaBargain on 22/05/2025 - 09:31

  -1

  From what I recall, NBN will let you have two connections if your shed is recognised as a distinct address by your council.

• 

  geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 09:33

  +1

  It's all well and good to have redundancy, but if the Opticomm network goes down, you are still out and have no internet with both connections. Yes, there is also the ISP side, which is reliant on their network, but Opticomm itself can still have issues/outages, just like NBN does.

  The whole aim of redundancy is generally to have something completely separate like 4G/5G or Starlink.

  In addition to the above, you should have equipment for immediate failover, like a Ubiquiti Gateway or something similar. Then your entire network is uninterrupted and switches over to whatever ISP/connection. You don't want to have WiFi 1 and then WiFi 2, then needing to switch everything over to WiFi 2 when WiFi 1 goes down. What a nightmare!

  I've got a Ubiquiti Dream Machine with my primary internet and then Starlink as a failover.

  The new Unifi Network is also great now with a new update allowing you to route different networks/services do either connections. Also, you can distribute a % to each ISP as well. So you could do a 50/50 Split across both to ease the load etc.

  Just some things to consider.

  • 

    jimmykim on 22/05/2025 - 14:17

    not about redundancy because 5G does not work here; just wanted to have another connection because work pay for it, might as well use it.

    • 

      geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 14:22

      +1

      So get them to pay for your primary internet now? Or get reimbursed for it? Why get a second connection if its not about redundancy? Again, 2 networks that you need to stuff around with and go "oh, I'll use this connection now, connect to WiFi 2".

      Maybe consider this to:

      The new Unifi Network is also great now with a new update allowing you to route different networks/services do either connections. Also, you can distribute a % to each ISP as well. So you could do a 50/50 Split across both to ease the load etc.

      If you persist on getting 2 connections, that way you can still use both and easily spread the load and "use both" without required multiple routers and wifi etc.

      You can tell all online meeting tools (Gmeet, Teams, Zoom) etc to use Connection 2 whilst all your personal stuff uses Connection 1.

      ---

      My previous employer paid for my internet because I was hosting the work NAS server and setup a Site-to-Site VPN connection. It was my primary internet and uses it for everything. It was their credit card with the internet service under my name. We just had an agreement that when I left, I would take over the cost which was fine.

• 

  Taro Milk Tea on 22/05/2025 - 10:17

  You are overcomplicating it. Just buy a portable wifi hotspot and insert 5g simcard with huge data on it.

  • 

    jimmykim on 22/05/2025 - 14:16

    5G coverage does not work here

• 

  mskeggs on 22/05/2025 - 10:56

  +2

  You are over complicating it.
  What outcome are you after? Is it redundancy or because your work wants to pay for a connection or something else?

  As others have said, opticomm usually means no NBN, so half the answers here don't apply.

  What are you trying to achieve that is making you think a second link would be useful?

  • 

    jimmykim on 22/05/2025 - 14:14

    because your work wants to pay for a connection or something else?

    this and 5G does not work here.

    • 

      simplystu on 22/05/2025 - 20:11

      +1

      I'm actually surprised that your work wont just pay your monthly fees for your current connection.
      would be far far cheaper (for your work - work would prob also claim it as a deduction) … as opposed to a brand new connection +++ possibility of getting a cabler in.

      My GF was previously WFH in Ellenbrook (opticomm) - and her employer utilised her current connection +++ VPN tunnels.
      Perhaps - push back on your employer … make them do the work.

• 

  tenpercent on 22/05/2025 - 12:01

  What is OptiComm?

  • 

    geekcohen on 22/05/2025 - 12:32

    +1

    OptiComm Fibre is a privately operated fibre-optic broadband network in Australia, offering high-speed internet, phone, and TV services. It is an alternative to the NBN (National Broadband Network) and operates as a wholesale open-access network, meaning it builds and maintains the fibre infrastructure, while multiple internet service providers (ISPs) sell plans to consumers over it.

• 

  simplystu on 22/05/2025 - 19:52

  +1

  As @geekcohen said … private laid fibre in ground (generally greenfield/private estate areas / etc) … EG. Ellenbrook, WA / or my parents retirement village == prime example.
  but to add on that - as to OP's original issue …

  once terminated at the ONT device inside house - YES can use multiple RSP's (as long as they also utilise opticomm network).
  OP suggested ABB (which does utilise Opticomm) +++ their helpdesk is very knowledgeable - as above may need to specify about using a different ONT port (ABB staff are pretty clued up on that).

  Last part of equation …

  @jimmykim
  "I could see there’s a spare RJ45 wall socket in the living room but not sure if it's working but thinking to place the second router (Eero Pro 6E) there"

  that is all upto how your internal network is wired up … but highly doubt it will work "out of box" - as you want it to.
  How is your internal network connected to the ONT??? is there a cabinet/cabling switch/etc somewhere ???

  think your internal network will be where your issues will be (unless plan to hook the Eero Pro 6E router directly into another ONT port ???).