Wired Router for nbn FTTP?

justlookin on 02/06/2025 - 10:37
Last edited 02/06/2025 - 11:50 by 1 other user

Hi all, just looking to tap into the collective here for some information. I have recently had NBN FTTP connected, and after a few months now my Modem/Router (Belong issued) is playing up, it still works but it does not like being moved, and spits the dummy when it is ( loses internet , ect) , so I am considering getting another.

Here is where I am a little confused, some people are telling me that I don't need modem anymore, just buy a router. Is this correct? I have no need for any wireless at all in the house, for it has ethernet connections all through it.

So i jumped on google for some answers, went down the rabbit hole, and ended up far more confused than I need to be, so in the interest of keeping my sanity can anybody help me?

I am very keen to learn the dark arts that seem to be involved with modem/ routers and everything else, I just need to learn the basics first. Thanks!

Internet Broadband FTTP nbn Wireless Router

Comments

  • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 10:49
    +3

    All you need is a router. But most routers will come with WiFi already.

    Do you have other WiFi throughout the house? Access Points or Mesh System? Surely you have devices requiring some sort of WiFi.

    How big is your home as well and how many devices? How many ethernet ports do you need to connect as well? You may need a network swtich if you have more than 5.

    You could get away with a cheap solution to do a unit, or you might need something a bit more to provide the entire house (especially double storey).

    We can help you and many will, but there might be some questions you need to answer first to provide something good and simple for you.

  • justlookin on 02/06/2025 - 10:58

    Thanks for your answer! No wifi at all is used in the house, its a lowset 5 bedroom. The previous owner had the house wired extensively with ethernet points, so i have not needed to use wireless at all. So the router does the heavy lifting that the modem used to do nowadays?
    I should also include we are a high use household.

    • Gunther on 02/06/2025 - 11:02
      +2

      No phones in the house either? Usually you want to get them onto your wifi network to minimize 4g/5g usage & better coverage indoors.

    • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 11:08
      +2

      So confirm what the Modem does and a Router, but with NBN, you don't need a modem since the NBN NTD (Network Termination Device) does all the work like a traditional modem did.

      Modem: Converts the signal from your ISP (e.g., NBN, DSL, Cable, Fibre, or Satellite) into something your local network can use—basically, it connects your house to the internet.
      Router: Takes that internet connection from the modem and shares it to all your devices, assigning them local IP addresses and managing traffic between them (and often providing Wi-Fi).

      Surely you need WiFi as well, just because a house is wired for ethernet doesn't mean you have 0 WiFi requirements. What about laptops? Its 2025, WiFi is almost in everything. Back in 2005, sure, everything was pretty much Ethernet but laptops are coming with no ethernet ports, so you would need some sort of WiFi.

      How many ethernet ports do you need to connect up and do you have a network switch already?

      I should also include we are a high use household.

      Define high use? How many devices/people? I would say I am high use with 60 devices across 3 buildings and that is just a family of 4 (2A/1C/1T)

      Aside from all the above, if you have 100% do not need WiFi, maybe something like the Ubiquiti UCG-Ultra Cloud Gateway Ultra would do you well. It will take 300 devices and has 4 Ethernet Ports. Great box for $200.

      • justlookin on 02/06/2025 - 14:27

        Thanks for this suggestion! I will purchase this, and try to learn about everything it does.

        Im just not tech savvy at all with anything outside of my old modem/router setup. For me, it's just been a plug and play device that connected me to the internet, and I did not put any effort into learning about these devices at all.

        Ask me to build you a house, that I can do, but this is so new to me..

        • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 14:29
          +1

          The Ubiquiti UCG-Ultra might be good for you then, it is pretty intuitive, and there is an app for it so it makes it easy to manage/configure/update. There are some extra things that are handy if you are a bit nerdy, but not essential.

  • Twix on 02/06/2025 - 11:07
    +2

    That is right. A modem/router all-in-one can be used however the VDSL2 modem is not needed for FTTP.

    A wired router like the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra will do the trick. Wi-Fi can be added using Ubiquiti access points.

    nbn NTD box —- router —- your PC.

    • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 11:10
      +2

      A wired router like the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra will do the trick.

      Reading my mind! Great unit for $200.

      Wi-Fi can be added using Ubiquiti access points.

      100% and with ethernet throughout the house, it makes it easy to place a few U6+ APs around the house.

  • Roman Sandstorm on 02/06/2025 - 11:50
    +1

    it still works but it does not like being moved, and spits the dummy when it is ( loses internet , ect)

    Just a little curious. Why do you move the router around? Most times a router just sits in its happy place for a decade or so.

    Advantages to not buying a new router:
    - Your current one works OK if you don't move it.
    - It is already configured.
    - It (almost certainly) has WiFi capability if you ever want to join the 2000's or later.
    - No cost (OzB +++)
    - Existing router will out-perform your internet connection for foreseeable future.

    Advantages to buying a new router:
    - You can move a new one around until your heart is content.
    - Shiny new box.
    - Heaps of capability; more than you will ever need.
    - Vicariously satisfy OzB networking experts.

    Disadvantages to buying a new router:
    - Cost $$$
    - Need to configure and set up.
    - If non-WiFi, then no chance of simply adding WiFi in future. (Require extra module/config, etc)
    - No added performance benefits.

    Summary:
    - Stick with your current router that works fine.
    - Don't move your current router around. (Probably flaky power connection/power pack.)
    - Save $$$.

    • justlookin on 02/06/2025 - 14:34
      +1

      Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions as well, the reason it keeps being knocked about, well its on the floor of the rumpus/study room, and it's on the floor.

      Every week it gets knocked about by the kids/ vacuum/ dogs ect. it's a high use room, and i guess it's probably laziness on my behalf to have not re-housed it somewhere else.

      Im thinking i will just get the suggested unit above , and drag myself into 2025…

      • Roman Sandstorm on 02/06/2025 - 17:47
        +1

        Sure, the Ubiquiti is a fine unit. Probably way overkill for your (very basic) needs.

        Plus, when you do move to the 2020's (LOL… with WiFi in the future), it'll be $100's more for the WiFi component.

        Virtually any modern router would be sufficient for you. I've used this before: https://www.amazon.com.au/TP-Link-Dual-Band-Supported-Compat…?

        You can disable the WiFi until/if you need it. It still gives 4 x Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 3.0, print server, etc, etc. It will be identical performance to any other router for your needs.

        Honestly, even this is more than you need. High-performance gaming is the primary distinguishing and selling point of wireless routers. Without that need, there's no difference between a $50 and a $500 - for you.

        Routers for home use have been pretty much perfected over the last decade or so, and any new 'features' are pretty much illusory, or bloatware. (The manufacturers want to sell new boxes…)

        As you are on Ethernet, even the oldest, 'slowest' router is still going to be significantly faster than your internet connection, so there's no bottleneck there. (And even WiFi-6 or WiFi-7 is going to be way faster than your internet - if you are reasonably close - so that's not an issue either.)

  • Davo1111 on 02/06/2025 - 15:02
    +1
    • my "modem" is the nbn box, which has an ethernet jack output.
    • I have an edgerouter lite (the closest equivalent would be the edgerouter x??)
    • Then i just have standard dumb switch. TL-SG105 - although you would want something bigger
    • For wifi I have an older ubiquiti access point (the round one).

    The whole thing has been running solid for well over 6 years. I've rolled a similar system out in the family home too as it's been so reliable.

    The only downtime i've had was when the modem power supply died due to an electrical short down the street. (it cycled 150v every second, and my dumbass decided to not flick the breaker. After 48 hours of that it died. I bought myself a meanwell psu and wired that in with the old cable. It's been rock solid ever since.

    If the house burnt down tomorrow i'd get exactly the same setup. Ubuqiti router + TPlink switch + Ubuquiti AP, (with newer non EOL models).

    Right this second i have 23 devices connected. 49 static IP addresses saved. 2 wireless networks: 2.5ghz and 5ghz

    • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 15:06

      For wifi I have an older ubiquiti access point (the round one).

      Most Ubiquiti Access Points are round……

      • Davo1111 on 02/06/2025 - 15:08

        Mostly yes, i just wanted to separate it from the new integrated models, dream machine etc. There is a few rectangle ones which ive used to create wireless bridges.

        • geekcohen on 02/06/2025 - 15:48

          There is a few rectangle ones which ive used to create wireless bridges.

          They are Point to Point Links (also can be referred to as a Bridge Kit), they are not often used for Access Points.

  • Devastator0 on 02/06/2025 - 17:08

    This deal posted today is literally the answer https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/908461

    I use it personally and has been one of the best routers I've ever used. Rock solid performance and will get a long life due to Asus' commitment (and past experience) of providing firmware updates for a long, long time.

  • pumpkins on 03/06/2025 - 16:33

    This thread is super timely, as I'm looking for a new router too. Primarily as I have a 12+ year old TP-Link that only has 100Mbps ports and probably has 100's of backdoors. I've left it as-is as it works (as others have said, leave it if it's not broken) but it's now the bottleneck of my network due to speed of FTTP at 100/20 (but planning to go higher).

    I have a mesh wifi system across 2 floors, and then a wired network with all main computers etc (currently 8 connections at router), so I don't need a fancy wifi modem as won't be using that functionality. Just a solid yet basic gigabit router with 8 ports if possible. Or I can just keep my current setup where I just add a gigabit switch next to the router to add more ports.

    • Twix on 03/06/2025 - 21:17

      100/20 gets boosted to 500/50 from September.

      1. What speed tier are you planning on moving to?
      2. What mesh Wi-Fi setup do you have?
      • pumpkins on 04/06/2025 - 10:47
        1. 500/50 when it gets boosted
        2. a basic Tenda 3 node with all nodes connected with wired backhaul. But that's only for the phones, wireless cameras, google home/chromecast audios etc. My 4 PCs are all hardwired, along with my two main TVs for streaming.
        • Twix on 04/06/2025 - 10:48

          Is it the Tenda MW3 or MW6?

          • pumpkins on 04/06/2025 - 12:56

            @Twix: MW3

            • Twix on 05/06/2025 - 12:32

              @pumpkins: Tenda MW3 is limited to 100M ports. How much do you want to spend?

              Option 1. Replace the TP-Link and Tenda MW3 and get a whole new setup for 500/50.
              Option 2. Get a new TP-Link router and TP-Link switch and keep the Tenda MW3 as Wi-Fi access points.

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