How to fix slow nbn speeds here in Melbourne Australia
- 5 days ago
- 14 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
How to fix slow nbn speeds here in Melbourne Australia
6 reasons why your nbn connection is slow
With over 900 suburbs we can send someone to you, to resolve your slow internet nbn internet connection. If your broadband nbn internet speeds are low or if your internet is not working the way it should. Nerdcore PC technicians are connected with companies like.
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How to fix slow nbn speeds here in Melbourne Australia
One of the most frequent problems our customers face is slow internet. Various factors can lead to reduced nbn® speeds, and fortunately, some can be addressed right at home!
Feeling the bandwidth blues? Explore these factors that might be affecting your high-speed internet connection.
Wi-Fi Interference
Devices like microwaves, smartphones, and TVs can interfere with your internet by emitting radio waves that operate on the same frequency as your modem/router. To minimize interference, keep your modem/router away from these appliances.
Interestingly, your neighbors are often the main source of interference. Let's explore this by understanding Wi-Fi spectrums.
2.4GHz Spectrum
This is the most prevalent Wi-Fi spectrum. The downside is that in crowded areas, like apartment buildings or urban spaces, there's a higher chance of interference from numerous devices using the 2.4 GHz channel (e.g., baby monitors, Bluetooth devices).
To reduce interference, choose a less crowded channel among the 14 available in the 2.4GHz spectrum. Learn how to access your router’s settings through this article.
5GHz Spectrum
The 5GHz standards were developed to address congestion on 2.4GHz, offering higher speeds but at a shorter range. While less congested, the 5GHz spectrum isn't as effective at penetrating walls and other barriers as 2.4GHz.
5GHz is ideal if you're near your modem—your Smart TV next to your modem/router could benefit more from 5GHz than a laptop located upstairs.
Technology Capacity
Ensure your modem/router can handle the speeds you're paying for. A common issue is not achieving the advertised speed on a high-speed plan, only to find the modem/router is capped at a lower speed.
If you have a large house and experience uneven Wi-Fi coverage, a mesh router system can help. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi extenders, a mesh system includes multiple devices—your main router and other “points”—that provide a signal for the same network.
Properly placing your mesh devices around your home can ensure comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage. We offer the eero 6+ and eero Pro 6E packs to help spread Wi-Fi evenly throughout your premises.
Too Many Devices on Your Network
Network speed equates to bandwidth. Your router can only distribute available bandwidth to connected users. More devices performing more activities mean smaller portions for each.
Each activity type consumes bandwidth. Generally, it's 5 Mbps for standard streaming (25 Mbps for Ultra HD), 25 Mbps for gaming, 10 Mbps for social media, and 20 Mbps for video calls. Too many users exceeding your available bandwidth can slow your connection.
Understanding your Wi-Fi usage helps in choosing the right internet plan. If you live alone, a 25/10 plan might suffice. But if you're sharing your network and it's overloaded, consider upgrading to a faster tier like 100/20 to meet demand.
Check the NBN plans available for your address at this page.
Copper Wiring
Fibre optic cables outperform copper wiring as they carry more bandwidth, support faster speeds, and are more durable. This is why ISPs can offer higher-speed plans to those with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connections.
Outside of FTTP, various connection types use copper to connect you to the internet. Learn more about these copper-based connections, including Fibre to the Node (FTTN), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), and Fibre to the Building (FTTB).
If you're experiencing slow speeds, copper in your network might be the cause. If your address qualifies for a free FTTP upgrade by NBN, switching could allow access to faster plans and a more reliable connection.
Network Congestion
Network traffic peaks at certain times, usually between 7pm and 11pm, requiring ISPs to be prepared to handle it.
ISPs (like us!) purchase a wholesale amount of bandwidth from NBN for their networks. It's their responsibility to manage this bandwidth or buy more when demand exceeds supply.
If many users are online and ISPs lack sufficient bandwidth, congestion can occur. It's similar to peak hour traffic—the more cars (users), the slower the movement. Adding more lanes (bandwidth) eases congestion.
At Aussie, we reduce network congestion by purchasing more bandwidth—Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC) space—via a bot when usage nears the limit. View your area’s CVC graph here to see usage patterns throughout the day.
If your speeds slow during peak times, it might be due to network congestion. Although rare, this can happen during popular events, like a major TV show premiere.
Weather Conditions
Adverse weather can affect your home’s NBN speeds. Water can infiltrate areas it shouldn't, with leaks into copper wiring potentially impacting signal strength temporarily or permanently.
If your building or wiring is old and you experience slower speeds or dropouts, a damaged wire might be the issue. Consult a licensed cabler to check for leaks, stress points, and test the copper wiring.
If you're experiencing slow network speeds and need assistance, contact our support team by calling 1300 637v 326 or visiting our website to use the Live Chat feature.
SpinTel Editor's Pick
| Home Superfast 250/25
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Dodo | nbn Home Superfast Plan (Special Offer)
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TPG | nbn Home Superfast Unlimited Plan
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iiNet | nbn Home Superfast Liimitless
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Superloop | Superfast nbn250/25
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Telstra | Upfront Internet Plan Ultimate
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Tangerine Telecom | SuperSpeedy NBN
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Exetel | Superfast nbn250
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SpinTel Editor's Pick
| Home Fast 100/20
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TPG | nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
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Dodo | nbn100 Unlimited Plan (Special Offer)
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Tangerine Telecom | Speedy NBN
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iiNet | nbn Home Fast Liimitless
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Superloop | Family nbn100/20
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Exetel | Family nbn100/20
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Optus | Optus Plus Everyday Fast nbn®
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Origin Broadband | Enthusiast nbn® 100
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MATE | No Worries nbn 100/20
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Tangerine Telecom | Speedy Plus NBN
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Origin Broadband | Enthusiast+ nbn® 100
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Exetel | Power Home nbn100/40
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Aussie Broadband | Fast Plus nbn - Unlimited
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MATE | You Beaut nbn 100/40
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Reason your NBN is slow #3: Distance from the node
If your home is connected to the National Broadband Network using Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology, the distance from your house to the node can make a huge difference in the speed and performance of your service. That's because the NBN signal is carried from the node to your home using old copper wires, and the further the signal has to travel over copper, the more speed may degrade along the way.
NBN Co estimates that about 90% of homes on FTTN should be within 700m of the nearest node, but even at this distance, the signal can degrade quite a bit. This is referred to as "attenuation" and it's one of the key reasons why many people experienced slow ADSL2+ speeds on their old connection. Basically, a house sitting next to the node will get a great speed, while houses further away will experience slower speeds. The graph below illustrates what attenuation looks like.
If you've signed up for a plan that's faster than your physical connection to the NBN can handle, your provider is obligated to let you know and to give you the option of swapping to a slower - and cheaper plan.
Fibre to the Building (FTTB) NBN connections can also suffer a similar issue, but it should be less common. In the instance of a Fibre to the Building connection type, fibre is run directly to the building itself, and a copper run connects individual apartments. Since far less copper is used, there is less potential for speed degradation.
Similar issues can also apply to Fixed Wireless and Satellite NBN connections. There is no node in these connections, but there are a number of technological obstacles between your home and the greater internet, so you may find that there are hard limits on what sort of performance you can expect from your connection.
Solution #3a: Check if you're eligible for a free NBN upgrade
NBN is aware of the attenuation issues for FTTN type connections and is in the process of upgrading millions of connections over to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) for free.
To check your eligibility enter your address on the NBN website. Upgrades are also available for those on Fibre to the Curb (FTTC).
Those upgrading from FTTN can choose between NBN 100, NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans and those upgrading from FTTC can choose from NBN 250 and NBN 1000. If you're eligible you can make the order through a participating provider. Upgrading can take several weeks from your enquiry to when the upgrade work is complete.
NBN Co has also started working on enhancements to improve the quality of Fixed Wireless connections and from mid-2024 plans to offer higher speed plans in upgraded areas.
Solution #3b: Try mobile broadband or home wireless broadband
If you can't get a decently speedy NBN connection at home and you can't get or wait for an upgrade, you might be best off cutting the cord and going wireless. As the name suggests, mobile broadband is a connection powered by the same networks used by smartphones. Home wireless internet is too but is slightly different in execution.
Most home wireless internet plans come with unlimited data and have more robust modems that require mains power. Mobile broadband plans have data limits and have battery-powered modems designed for on-the-go usage.
4G home wireless plans have typical download speeds ranging between 16Mbps and 25Mbps. 5G home wireless plans have typical speeds starting at around 49Mbps and can go as high as over 500Mbps. Telcos don't advertise typical speeds for mobile broadband plans but they do note download speed caps. These can range from 100Mbps on the lower end and 250Mbps on more expensive plans. Some are uncapped.
One limit to keep in mind is that a 5G home wireless or mobile broadband plan relies on you having 5G availability in your area. First here are 5G home wireless plans organised by download speed:
Max 50Mbps
Max 100Mbps
Uncapped
If you decide to choose a plan capped at 50Mbps, this means it's the equivalent of NBN 50, however, you may experience slightly slower speeds during peak hours. This is a great option if you're either conscious of the price or you know you won't use over 50Mbps.
Reason your NBN is slow #5: General connection issues
Networks are complicated and there are plenty of opportunities for small issues to create big problems. Especially on a network the size of the NBN. These issues can occur in the wider network or inside your home. Sometimes even both.
In terms of the wider NBN, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) has fielded plenty of complaints that relate to good old-fashioned incompetence, delays, and faulty equipment.
This isn't unique to the NBN, but it's frustrating nonetheless - especially because the solution can often be outside of your hands. If there are issues you just can't solve, you may simply need to contact your internet provider and see what they can do.
No one should accept a faulty connection.
In terms of your home, there are plenty of factors that can affect the speed of your internet. These can include a dodgy modem, faulty wiring, or even how your furniture and appliances are arranged.
Solution #5: Good old-fashioned troubleshooting
If think your NBN problems might exist inside your house, here are a few things you can try before you burn your modem, move to a cave, and swear off the internet forever.
The first step is running a speed test with your computer directly connected to your modem. By this, we mean plugging a laptop into the modem using an Ethernet cable - not testing using WiFi. There are a number of reasons why your WiFi connection might suck, so testing over a cable is the best way to get clear on the situation.
If you don't have an Ethernet cable or your computer doesn't have an Ethernet port, run a speed test with your laptop sitting right next to your modem. The results won't be quite as conclusive, but they'll still help diagnose the situation. In either case, if your speed test is significantly faster over Ethernet (or when your device is right next to the modem), your WiFi could be the culprit.
The wireless signal might just not be powerful enough to cover your entire house, or there could be other appliances - such as microwaves - creating inference.
The modem you were sent by your internet service provider could be to blame. We've heard several stories about how a replacement modem made all the difference in connecting the devices in a home with a decent, solid connection.
We know that buying a new modem and setting it up is a pain in the neck, but it might be the difference between mediocre internet and getting the service you pay for. Just make sure you unpack the modem carefully and keep your receipt. If you find that the modem is not the culprit, you'll want to return the new one.
Reason your NBN is slow #6: Cloud storage and VPNs
"The Cloud" is a great innovation that can also be a headache. Off-device storage systems like Google Drive, DropBox, OneDrive and the like are often used to store files remotely. This is even more likely in the case you're working from home. Many of these programs can use up a large chunk of your bandwidth especially if you're using them all day long. Sometimes these programs are set up to sync constantly in the background.
Another cause that could be more prevalent for those working from home is using a VPN connection. A VPN or virtual private network is often used to access a different network remotely. This can be another network in Australia or one overseas. A VPN can slow down your NBN because it takes longer for your data to be encrypted and decrypted at the server's end and your need.
Solution #6: Update your settings
For a cloud service, it's a good idea to check your settings and see how often your files need to be synced. You should in some cases even be able to limit the amount of bandwidth the program has available. This way your files will still stay synced but your program won't be trying to sync as many all at once so constantly. This could free up some of your bandwidth.
When it comes to a VPN it will depend on what you're using it for. Did you want to watch Netflix content in another country and forget to set it back to Australia? Or do you need to be connected to the VPN for certain secure work tasks? Turning off your VPN when you don't need to route your data through another network should see an increase in your NBN speeds.
What is a good speed for NBN?
A good NBN speed will come down to two main things; what you're using your internet for, and how many people will be using it at any given time. It's recommended that you have an NBN speed of at least 25Mbps if you have a household of one or two people, and are using the NBN for things like streaming movies, watching YouTube videos, browsing social media and listening to music online.
If you have a larger household of three or four people, then it's recommended you opt for an NBN speed of at least 50Mbps. These are minimum recommendations. If you've got people working from home or running an online business you may want to consider a faster plan.
How can I speed up my NBN?
Why is my fixed wireless NBN so slow?
Why is my WiFi so slow?
Will the NBN ever get faster?
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