Telstra is now supplying its Smart Modem 3 with a 4G fall-over. It claims it is faster than its competitors’ typical crappy NBN modems.
Telstra’s carefully wordsmithed comparison says it is the fastest NBN modem, but that is deceptive as it is not an ‘apple for apple’ comparison. It is comparing a Wi-Fi 6 AX device (AX speed not disclosed on its website) with lower-cost:
- Netcomm FN18Mesh, Wi-Fi 5 AC1600
- Sagem 5366 LTE, Wi-Fi 5 AC2200
- Netcomm NL1902, Wi-Fi 5 AC1600
- TP-Link VR1600V Wi-Fi 5 AC1600
That is like comparing a greyhound with the rest of the field being 3-legged dogs. Bad Telstra.
Second, the Wi-Fi speed from the Wi-Fi device to the router is a rubbish measurement. The more relevant is OOKLA speed test to see what Internet speeds you can get in the same room, at 5 and 10 metres.
UPDATE 22/8/22: Telstra Smart Modem 3 specs – “Trust us – all you need to know” does not cut it!
In our earlier article (which this replaces), we said, ‘Alas, Telstra did not offer us a Telstra Smart Modem 3 to test as we are, by choice, not Telstra users’. We invited Telstra to provide us with detailed specs – it declined.
We got our hands on a Smart Modem 3 (website) and Booster (website – it is not – more later).
It is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 modem/router with a maximum speed of 2.4Ghz/573.5Mbps (20/40Mhz bandwidth) and 5GHz/2401Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz), or a total of AX3000. It is wrong to compare it to Wi-Fi 5 AC routers, which may typically be 433/866Mbps AC1200-16000.
The booster appears to be a 2.4Ghz/573.5Mbps (20/40Mhz bandwidth) and 5GHz/1200Mbps (20/40/80MHz). It connects to the router via Wi-Fi 5GHz backhaul or Ethernet cable.
Tests – weaker signal transmission strengths than expected
As a guide, Wi-Fi 6 should give Wi-Fi 6 device connect speeds of a maximum of 5GHz/2400Mbps at 2m from the router and drop to maybe 5Ghz/1200Mbps at 10 metres. All other Wi-Fi 5AC or 4N devices connect at a maximum of 2.4GHz/433 and 5Ghz/866Mbps and also drop over distance.
5GHz Band Test – figures are -dBm signal strength (lower is better) and the reported device/router connect speed in Mbps (higher is better)
| Same room | 2m from the router | 5m | 10m |
| -43/1200 | -40/1200 | -50/1200 | -60/266 |
| Upstairs (no booster) | |||
| -67/433 | -60/266 | -77/128 | -90/12 |
| Upstairs (booster) | |||
| -44/1200 | -45/1200 | -55/866 | -60/866 |
What does this mean?
Usually, the -dBM signal strength in the same room should be around -20 (this was -40), reflecting a lower transmit signal strength. It holds well to 5m, then becomes increasingly marginal at 10m (anything above -60dBm is unusable). Read TP-Link Deco X73 DSL AX5400 modem/router – every NBN FTTN user should have one (review). The TP-Link AX modem/router ranges from -19 to -44 dBm – at least twice as strong as the Telstra Smart Modem 3 signal strength.
Placement of this router in the middle of the home is essential to reduce Wi-Fi distances to devices.
Smart Modem 3 Booster – necessary for most homes
Telstra guarantees that with a Booster, you’ll get wall-to-wall Wi-Fi or cancel without further charge.
Telstra must learn that a Booster (mesh satellite) is not a signal ‘booster’. To be clear – it is illegal to amplify/boost RF signals (without a license). Telstra’s mesh satellite extends the signal by another 10m. Let’s say that the signal strength at the router is 10/10. Placing the mesh satellite 5m away or upstairs may give it a 5/10 signal strength. It then retransmits that 5/10 weaker signal another 10m (boosts the signal distance – not the strength/throughput).
Without the mesh satellite upstairs (typical two-story home, timber floor/carpet) directly above the router one floor below) signal strength is -60dBm, which is verging on unusable. The rest of the upstairs area was unusable. The mesh satellite gave good coverage, but the throughput was about half the comparable router speed.
The reality is that 10m from either the router or mesh satellite saw internet speeds (we tested on a 25/5Mbps Plan) drop to 4/2Mbps.
The mesh satellite can use Ethernet backhaul, in which case it transmits a 10/10 signal and the full internet speed. We recommend Ethernet backhaul if you can get your home cabled.
Caveat: We discovered that connecting a mesh satellite via Wi-Fi it cannot use 5G/160Hz band aggregation, limiting the router speed to 5Ghz/1200Mbps maximum. In layman’s terms, the Wi-Fi connection uses half the 2400Mbps speed for backhaul.
Two-story or larger homes need at least one mesh repeater
How many devices does it support? We don’t know, but we suspect it is <20.
No specs are given, but as most IoT devices use the 2.4GHz/573.3Mbps band, the maximum practical number of devices is about 20.
4G fallback – 25/5Mbps DL/UL if you are lucky
According to Ausdroid’s review, 4G fall-over did not work, and they spent several frustrating hours with Telstra support (an oxymoron), and it still did not reliably work.
We found that the Gen 3 modem fall-over times were several seconds resulting in potential lost work
WPA Wi-Fi security
According to Telstra’s specs, it only supports WPA-3, which may mean older WPA-2 and WPA devices (like older iPads) will not connect. In fact, we could not connect a four-year-old Canon inkjet printer and had to update it to a WPA-3 compatible HP Envy Inspire 7220e all-in-one A4 printer (review). That worked. Fortunately, the test home does not have any IoT at present, and their phones and tablets can use WPA-3.
Phone
It has two POT ports for telephones, and you can attach any standard or cordless phone to it. However, it uses Telstra’s proprietary SIP, which means you cannot use another brand of DSL Modem’s phone ports. The good news is that the phone number is fully transferrable to another NBN reseller.
Who makes it?
It is made by French company Technicolor, which also doesn’t release specs. We understand it is model Cobra HX DNA0332TLS (Telstra VCNT-8). The SoC may be a BCM63144 (Broadcom BRCM63XX) REV B0. A search does not find this chip. The LTE modem is Quectel SoC (not sure which model). We don’t know the RAM or its FCC ID yet, so we can’t get a closer look at the device.
It uses Technicolor’s HOMEWARE OS. Despite being based on OpenWRT OS, it is locked to Telstra for remote management and updates. We could not find any firmware update option in the router interface.
Support materials
You can find setup guides for HFC, FTTP, FTTN, FTTC and more here.
And when you leave Telstra
The Smart Modem 3 is provided as part of the contract term. If you keep it, it can connect to any other NBN reseller, but the phone ports and the 4G fall over will not work. It is such a poor modem, married to such a poor service that it is no loss. We recommend Aussie Broadband – see Is Buddy Telco a good idea? New Aussie Broadband brand.
CyberShack’s view – Telstra Smart Modem 3 – enough marketing BS, please
It is a Wi-Fi 6 AX3000 modem/router with 4G Fallback. Comparing it to other NBN Wi-Fi 5 AC modems is deceitful. It is available only to Telstra NBN customers on a 24-month plan.
As far as a modem/router goes, the antenna signal strength is about half that expected, so don’t expect decent throughput more than five metres away. You will need a ‘Booster’ or three to cover a larger or multi-story home, and you should investigate Ethernet cabling and backhaul.
Frankly, this won’t do it for you if you have modem speed and coverage issues. There are many alternatives. CyberShack has published Crappy NBN FTTN Modem – here are a few better ones (guide) so we know exactly what the NBN resellers are doing. However, note that these modems cannot support Telstra’s SIP phone, so if you use Telstra Bigpond and want an NBN Landline, you are stuck with its Smart Modem 3 and a two-year contract.
51 comments
Warren Harding
Just stumbled across this article and felt the need to comment – thank you that was a brilliant write up.
Ray Shaw
Thanks Warren. We smell a rat when companies won’t reveal specifications and Telstra is often king rat. Since I wrote that back in 2022 we have received over 50 comments – none of them good – about Telstra as an NBN provider and the modem, especially its lack of range (needs extenders) and frequent need to reboot. My neighbour had one and it needed a reboot at least weekly. He now has a D-Link M60 mesh (all he needs for his home) and swapped to Aussie Broadband and it has been up without issue for over 6 months. CyberShack is all about real experiences and real tests.
Terry Racz
I found your review very informative but there is one little item that needs to be further expanded so it can be more specific and helpful.
.
Your Quick setup guide link under the Support Materials is for fibre to the curb (FTTC) NOT fibre to the premises FTTP or any other choices.
I would recommend that you offer additional option links under the Support Materials section.
SIncerely,
Terry Racz
(ex Telstra)
Ray Shaw
Thank you – I have updated the section.
David warren
I have a Telstra gen 2 which is less than ideal connected to wireless nbn. I want to upgrade to another router and not necessarily a Telstra modem. You commented about the phone line. Can all new wireless connected routers handle voip phones?
Ray Shaw
Hi David. In my opinion the Telstra Gen 2 is a below average performer – trust Telstra to go for the cheapest tender. I had five of these replaced until we found one that worked… Telstra uses a proprietary VoIP protocol so only its modems can use a phone IF YOU ARE A TELSTRA customer. If you swap to any other provider (we strongly recommend Aussie Broadband) and take your number then you can use any other router with VOIP RJ11 Ports (DSL, FON1/FON2). See https://www.aussiebroadband.com.au/internet/home-phone/.
But here is the issue – so few decent modems have 2 x RJ-11 VOIP Ports. Rather than limit your choice of router you can get a Grandstream HT813 is an analog telephone adapter for $69 from Aussie BB. It uses an Ethernet cable from your router and you can plug up to 2 handset into it (2 numbers). As to what is the best router that is a different questions so if you want advice email me at [email protected] and we can recommend the best for your needs. No we don’t sell anything.
JOHN MURRAY
Have Smart modem 3 also a booster Have bigpond but no Landline What would you recommend Have a weatherboard house (the mind boggles)
Ray Shaw
Hi John. The short answer is that we need to chat about your needs, size of home etc. If you email me [email protected] with a phone number I will call back. Its not that the Smart Modem 3 is terrible (verges on that) but if it and the booster are not covering the home with decent Wi-Fi 6 then it needs more examination. Happy to help.
Deb L
Could you please advise a good mobile WiFi unit. We currently use a Netgear Nighthawk M2, which has 5G capability but as we live in a regional area (Teesdale, Victoria – between Geelong and Ballarat) the signal goes in and out, up and down. The Telstra signal goes up and down, as do a lot of the other provider services being used our area, but most of the time we get 4G network with two bars out of three or at this present moment one bar out of three for 5G. We live on three acres of flat ground at the top of a hill (thank goodness as I think that helps us pick up a better signal than some of our neighbours). A lot of our nearby neighbours complain however most are not Telstra, they are Optus or other providers which don’t always work well in our close proximity. We are retired pensioners so re not looking to hook up to expensive options like our neighbours who have Starlink but as we mostly get 4G ok are wondering if there is a better way of picking up signal i.e. another mobile router/modem unit? We live in a 30 square rectangular single storey home and have solar battery t the end which uses the Wifi (currently in error mode another story). We also have a TP-Link extender plugged in to 240V half way down our hallway in the direction of the solar battery (probably approximately 25 metres from the battery, which is one an outside wall). We write, as today, the signal is going up and down and our devices are running slow. We currently have anywhere between 6 – 8 devices connected at any time i.e. WiFi router/modem, Eufy Security system, Solar Battery, iPad, Surface laptop, mobile phones, and TV (which is not used for WiFi streaming as we have limited capacity – 185Gig p/month – that we never exceed). Any ideas PLEASE 🙂 ??
Ray Shaw
Hi Deb, I feel for you because Telstra 4G (well any brand) is so variable. I have run tests with a Nighthawk M2 (it does not have 5G capability but that is of little concern) over a day/week and received download speeds (3-bar area) from 2 to 25Mbps and ping times from 20-50ms. In my opinion, you cannot count on 4G for reliable service. First, you need to get a better, stronger signal. It has Dual TS-9 external 3G/4G antenna connectors that you can attach a dual channel roof-mounted antenna to. Talk to an antenna specialist about a dual dipole MIMO 3/4G antenna (don’t get a single pole) certified for use with the M2 and Telstra (you cannot get one that works for Vodafone/Optus and Telstra). Here are some websites to start. https://www.campadelectronics.com.au/nighthawk-m2-patchlead-antennas.php / https://onwireless.com.au/service-provider/telstra-antennas-for-telstra-wireless-broadband-modem-router/telstra-netgear-m2-nighthawk-mr2100.html.
Once you get a stable signal then feel free to contact me on [email protected] and we can talk about your router and extender setup.
Max Wilson
I have two Telstra smart.gen 3 modems at different parts of the house and thought I could link them together as I had previously done with the old modem and the first gen 3 smart modem. The second modem connects but won’t let you connect to the internet via wifi. Don’t know how to resolve so will have to return one of the modems.
Ray Shaw
You cannot use two Gen 3 modems as a mesh. Telstra has mesh extenders https://www.telstra.com.au/internet/extras/wifi-booster that mesh to the main modem over Ethernet or Wi-Fi backhaul. Remember, the Gen 3 and extender is a dual-band system, and the Wi-Fi backhaul will chew up 5Ghz bandwidth. You may be better off just using the Gen 3 as a gateway and adding a decent mesh modem system. Look at the TP-Link Deco or D-Link Eagle Pro AI for lower cost and the Netgear Orbi for the best Mesh. We have most of these in reviews.
Peter
OMG, how one sided can you be.
I have had the modem for a while now and is brilliant. Works over 15m away through several solid brick walls. Following reading this and comparing with my own experience, I can only deduce that as you are paid by Telstra competitors and are bagging them to benefit yourself.
Ray Shaw
You are entitled to your opinion. We objectively review products and do not receive payment for reviews.
Brendan
This is very typical of Telstra and bordering on false advertising with their products. They have done this for years to make the crap hardware and severely limited firmware look good. Telstra are desperate to draw people in anyway they can. This really should be referred to the ACCC or other relevant authority as I am pretty sure it borders on FALSE/MISLEADING ADVERTISING which is actually illegal in Australia.
Ray Shaw
I feel very sad for the Telstra’word-smiths/spin doctors’ that have to turn a sows-ear into a silk purse. We invited Telstra to provide specs, and it refused. It would have been so easy, and we would then have rated it as an AX3000 router instead of rating it against the BS marketing hype. It’s not fine print – it’s a feature!
Wenda lucas
If uou have bigpond security and Malware Bytes, do you need any orher additional security mainly to avoid beong hacked
Ray Shaw
Hi Wenda
It depends on your host devices – Windows, Android, iPhone or IoT? MalwareBytes is great for Windows and Android. I have not used Telstra Protect so I can’t comment. My advice is to look at Trend Micro Home Security to protect your IoT home network https://www.trendmicro.com/en_au/forHome/products/homenetworksecurity.html
Robert Williams
Charlie, Can I make some comments on Telstra’s range of Smart Modems,
(Disclaimer: I am an ex Telstra staff member with 46 years in Telstra and trained on NBN/Mobile networks from 2G to 5G).
1. The reason Telstra locks their modem to their own “SIP” protocol is because if they release the IP addresses of their network equipment for other modem users to use, it would present a security issue to their network from several aspects.Think free calls, unauthorised access to the Telstra NBN network, ability to discover the configuration of the entire network and test for weeknesses, cloning of MAC/IMEI numbers, etc. While their Smart modems are locked to the Telstra network for securtiy can be a pain it does alow a controlled security method over the network.
2. I agree with your comments on the cut-over from the NBN to 4G and visa versa. This has been an long-time annonyance of my Smart modem and it appears Telstra hasn’t done anything to improve this with their new modem. The SIP signalling that goes on behind the scene needs to fail at the modem end prior to the change over happening, while this should take a long time, for some unknown (unpublished) reason.
Telstra also logs the SIP signalling responses to determine when the modem falls off the NBN so they can be pro-active and investigate why. In the beginning they wanted to try and limit the amount of time a NBN user was using 4G as they were worried about excess traffic on 4G in a given NBN zone. It seems that this has now become less of a priority as the move to 5G is underway for lots of Telstra’s mobile customers and hense less traffic on 4G.
One unplublished issue I discovered with the first generation of Smart Modems that telstra had claimed to fix, bit is still present today, in my particular brand of home burglar Alarm (Bosch) ,relies on having a known IP address to be able to talk to my alarm app on my phone. The internal IP addresses and NATting that goes on within the modem can be lost when a new IP address is assigned from the network causing the mapping to be lost and the alarm panel loosing permanent comms to the phone app until I reset the smart modem and force it to rebuild the NAT table. They know about it and have worked with technicolour and Bosch to resolve it, but it still there.
Ray Shaw
Many thanks for your insider ‘insights’. I understand the SIP issue but other providers use standard SIP making it possible to use different brands of modems and still get voice. Our 4G fall-over tests ranged from 4 to 7 minutes. I consider more than a few seconds is unsatisfactory but I understand now that Telstra has its reasons. Incidentally when I use a D-Link 4G modem as a fall over it cuts in between 20-30 seconds. Finally, any consumer that needs a static IP address and fixed internal IP address needs to go to another ISP.
Liz
So for us vintage Telstra BigPond users with the Smart Modem 2, that services the 2 storey house quite well without any boosting gadgets, just hang on to it and avoid accepting upgrades then?
Ray Shaw
The Smart Modem 2 was pretty good as a gateway. No need to upgrade unless you have a few Wi-FI 6 devices.
Ross Grant
Hi Ray great review and scientific tests. Looks like being a Telstra customer I’m stuck with my Modem 2 until my next contract. Thanks again for the information.
Ray Shaw
My advice is that unless you need Telstra for Wi-Fi calling (you need Bigpond and to be a direct Telstra mobile – not MVNO – customer to get that), the TP-Link DSL is vastly superior https://cybershack.com.au/reviews/tp-link-deco-x73-dsl-ax5400-modem-router-every-nbn-fttn-user-should-have-this-review/. Or use the Gen 2 as a gateway and add the TP-Link Deco mesh https://cybershack.com.au/reviews/tp-link-deco-x90-ax6600-mesh-router-is-fast-very-fast-review/ – that is what I would do.
Bill Suiter
Bugger, just got it & needed to add 2 x boosters ( my house is a single story brick 4 x 2) but still required 2 x boosters.
My issue was my google speakers are WiFi reliant were “dropping out” from time to time. Good improvement but not totally improved
Ray Shaw
Yes, we were disappointed with the router signal strength. The owner has reported generally reliable connections, but it dropped out twice when we were testing it. You need either Ethernet cable the boosters (the absolute best way, and you can place them as Wi-Fi boosters wherever you need them) or place them 5-7 metres away from line-of-sight. Boosters are an extra $6 per month, but Telstra will give you a second one if one you need it. Try the free Android App Network Cell Infor and Wi-Fi Lite to see signal strengths and run the OOKLA Speed test to see what speeds you get 2/5/10m from the boosters.
David
If you have a Telstra landline as well you have no choice but the Telstra modem due to the sip code imbedded in it which Telstra won’t release for use with other modems anyone have an answer for this
Ray Shaw
Hi David
You can transfer the number to a different NBN ISP but no, if you stick with Telstra Bigpond you will need to use its modem 2 or 3 as the gateway. I am getting reports on Whirlpool of shocking performance of the new Gen 3 modem including frequent line drops, very slow reconnections and 4G fallback taking minutes to kick in, Wi-FI bands disappearing, and widespread failures. These are not issues that Gen 2 experienced.
Carl Francis
I have never read such a biased Technical review. I have tested the Gen 3 modem and these are my findings.
1. The speed of the Wi-Fi is 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band and 2402 Mbps on the 5 GHz Wi-Fi Band.
2. The maximum Bandwidth of the 5 GHz is 80 MHz but supports 20 and 40 MHz bandwidth devices.
3. The modem supports WPA2 devices but not WPA devices.
4. Most of the other ISPs supply modem’s that only have Wi-Fi 4 or Wi-F5. In fact some ISPs modem only have 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi so it is fair comparison as Telstra is compare its modem to other ISPs modems.
5. Measuring the Wi-Fi speed is relevant as the Ookla internet speed test is mainly dependent on the link not the performance of the modem. All my testing is done using Iperf3 server and Iperf3 clients.
See https://youtu.be/wO28LpggMRI for more information.
Ray Shaw
First, it was not a review and the article made that clear, it was lamenting that Telstra refused to reveal the specs (and still does). Your points confirm my suspicions – dual-band with woeful 2.4Ghz support. All Telstra needs to do is stop complaining about the article and provide specs.
will
And still no external 4G aerial socket for an external aerial if you live in a poor or no 4G service area.The original Tecnicolour modem did have,
Ray Shaw
I hear you. Telstra got pretty upset at the post but refused to supply specs – bloody Telstra. At my former employ, I reviewed this and it has antenna ports https://www.gadgetguy.com.au/netgear-lax20-100aus-ax4-4g-lte-router-internet-on-the-move/
Bernie
I’d like to know what modem router I should be using instead of either Telstra’s Gen 2 or 3. I have fibre to node NBN and never-ending problems with drop outs which Telstra say is the Gen 2 losing power frequently and possibly NBN as well. Any ideas what I should buy?
Ray Shaw
Hi
The Telstra Gen 2 or 3 is really the gateway to the NBN FTTN. It supports the phone as well. The problem with dropouts is not usually the modem but the copper wire from the Node to the home (and inside the home). NBN is responsible up to the property termination and you are responsible for the termination to the VDSL phone point. In other words, you should lodge a complaint with Telstra and get it to check out the issue. At worst you may be up for a new cable from the termination point.
As for the modem you need to leave the Telstra there as it is the gateway. You connect a router that meets your whole of home coverage needs. https://cybershack.com.au/guides/seamless-whole-of-home-wi-fi-now-easy-with-wi-fi-6-guide/. If you want more advice I would be to know the home style/size/layout and where the existing modem is – email me at [email protected]. Often you can solve Wi-Fi issues at no cost https://cybershack.com.au/guides/fix-wi-fi-blackspots-fast-and-often-at-no-cost/
Taylor
“Alas, Telstra did not offer us a Telstra Smart Modem 3 to test as we are, by choice, not Telstra users.”
This is such a dumb article. You are offering advice for a comparison and offer “better products” without even testing the product for yourself. Quite a laugh…
Ray Shaw
Hi
It was not a review – it was an opinion based on over 30 years expertise with IP and networking and knowledge of similar devices. I repeat it is a low cost, Wi-Fi 6 modem router that Telstra refuses to release specs for. Would you buy a pig in a poke?
Tony
I thought it was comparing it to the modems provided by other providers? I don’t remember seeing any mention of aftermarket modems.
Ray Shaw
Hi Tony – just an update I gave to another reader.
It depends on your budget, your home size (single or multi-level), home materials (brick, cement block), walls (block, glass or plasterboard or block), if you can have Ethernet backhaul etc. The location plays a huge part – putting the router in the right place often means you don’t need anything else. I recommend most D-Link Evo EX products (these tend to be at the lower speed end up to AX5400) and Netgear AX 8-stream or more. Until recently I had not reviewed TP-Link and I am impressed with its AX offerings so it joins my list. My advice – any of the three brands, Wi-FI 6 AX and as much as you can afford. If you want to know what I use – Netgear Nighthawk AX11000 WiFi Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band WiFi 6 Router and a Netgear Nighthawk AX6000 WiFi Mesh Extender (EAX80) 8-stream WiFi Mesh Extender to stream 4K TV in the farthest bedroom. It is the absolute fastest router and mesh extender you can get.
My daughter uses D-Link EXO AX AX5400 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router DIR-X5460 and two AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Range Extender DAP-X1860 in a 30m x 10m single-level duplex. She needs to daisy-chain the two mesh extenders to get from one end of the home (where the router is) to the other end.
My son uses a similar setup but the extenders cover different parts of the home.
What might I buy? The Netgear Orbi AX6000 WiFi Mesh System (RBK852) Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System, 6Gbps, Router + 1 Satellite was tempting. The TP-Link Deco X90 AX6600 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System is more tempting for its excellent price and performance.
Ray Shaw
Check out our guide https://cybershack.com.au/guides/crappy-nbn-fttn-modem-here-are-a-few-better-ones-guide/. Our feeling is that Wi-Fi 6 is a must-have (even though it only works with Wi-FI 6 devices) and there are so many other factors in getting good whole of home Wi-FI https://cybershack.com.au/guides/seamless-whole-of-home-wi-fi-now-easy-with-wi-fi-6-guide/ If you have any specific requirements send us an email to [email protected] and we will try to help.
Richard A
So, you don’t have the modem, you didn’t test it or even have one to look at! You don’t have the full specifications and you are not sure how it performs but are happy to make guesses and assumptions. And yet, you are critical of the performance of the modem based on something you have read. Hardly what could be called a professional review with any credibility. It is like you picked up a brochure for a new car and have now formed an opinion on the basis of the brochure. The kicker is, you say you are not a Telstra customer by choice. Then why would Telstra be interested in supplying you with the modem. It is designed to run on Telstra NBN services. What would you do with the modem? Turn on the power and stare at it. Maybe put your money where your mouth is. Buy a Telstra broadband service, with the new modem and run a professional and objective test – not just an opinion.
Ray Shaw
First, I declared that I had not tested it. Second, I was focused on pointing out the rubbish claims that the modem was faster than the competitor’s offerings when it was a grossly unfair comparison. Third, I have more networking/IP qualifications than most have had hot dinners and have been setting up and using routers since 1990! It was not a review, it was an opinion. And I will bet that I have far more expertise than 99% of readers when it comes to knowing how routers perform, what the effect of 2, 4, 8 or more antennas make, whether it supports HE20, 40, 80 or 160 (and Telstra tests indicate it only supports HE40 at best). It is a cheap AX Modem router with phone ports – nothing more.
The prime issue is that Telstra makes outlandish claims that we cannot prove or otherwise as it doesn’t reveal the specs. Telstra is invited to reveal the specs – I am pretty certain it won’t.
You are entitled to your opinion and I to mine. Our terms of reference are very different but I will stake my hat on 40 years in tech and what I write. At best it gets Telstra users thinking.
Ken
I couldn’t agree more – Gen 3 modem is neither smart or fast! Currently in the process of sending mine back. Have reinstalled my Gen 2 modem. About the same speed, but far superior Wi-Fi coverage!
Ray Shaw
Hi Ken
I should have prefaced the article with the Gen 3 is an advance on Gen 2 but the advantages only come if you have Wi-Fi 6 clients. Use your Gen 2 as the gateway and add a decent router or mesh system behind it.
Chris McGrath
What modem do you recommend to be the best in every way?
Ray Shaw
Chris, it depends on your budget, your home size (single or multi-level), home materials (brick, cement block), walls (block, glass or plasterboard or block), if you can have Ethernet backhaul etc. The location plays a huge part – putting the router in the right place often means you don’t need anything else. I recommend most D-Link Evo EX products (these tend to be at the lower speed end up to AX5400) and Netgear AX 8-stream or more. Until recently I had not reviewed TP-Link and I am impressed with its AX offerings so it joins my list. My advice – any of the three brands, Wi-FI 6 AX and as much as you can afford. If you want to know what I use – Netgear Nighthawk AX11000 WiFi Router (RAX200) 12-Stream Tri-Band WiFi 6 Router and a Netgear Nighthawk AX6000 WiFi Mesh Extender (EAX80)8-stream WiFi Mesh Extender to stream 4K TV in the farthest bedroom. It is the absolute fastest router and mesh extender you can get.
My daughter uses D-Link EXO AX AX5400 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router DIR-X5460 and two AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Range Extender DAP-X1860 in a 30m x 10m single-level duplex. She needs to daisy-chain the two mesh extenders to get from one end of the home (where the router is) to the other end.
My son uses a similar setup but the extenders cover different parts of the home.
What might I buy? The Netgear Orbi AX6000 WiFi Mesh System (RBK852) Tri-Band WiFi 6 Mesh System, 6Gbps, Router + 1 Satellite was tempting. The TP-Link Deco X90 AX6600 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System is more tempting for its excellent price and performance.
David Edmunds
Telstra Customers with a home line phone have no choice due to Telstra not being willing to release the SIP code to able customers to usDe other equipment .
Ray Shaw
Hi Dave, Thanks for the heads up. That is terrible and yet another reason I left Telstra after 40 years (and have never been happier with Aussie Broadband). Still use the Gen 3 as the gateway and then add a decent router system behind it.
Brendan Dewar
Damn I just purchased NBN from Telstra using this modem thinking Telstra would be the faster option. Would using an Eeros Pro 6 with Telstra NBN help?
Ray Shaw
Use the Telstra Gen 3 modem as the gateway and add a Mesh system behind it (using Ethernet to connect it to the new router). The eero Pro 6 (review Amazon eero Pro 6 Wi-Fi AX mesh router – simple is as simple does (review… ) is not the best only supporting AX1200 speeds. The TP-Link X90 is superb (review Thttps://cybershack.com.au/reviews/tp-link-deco-x90-ax6600-mesh-router-is-fast-very-fast-review/ ) and offers so much more flexibility over the eero.
Christopher Reid
Looking at getting better internet up in the front of my house.single story.got good speed at the modem which is Telstra’s smart modem 2 .I hear you talking about the mesh system .
Ray Shaw
Hi Chris. If it were me I would use the TP-Link Deco X73-DSL (coming soon https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-networking/deco/deco-x73-dsl/) as the main modem router (replacing the Telstra Gen 2) and a Deco Wi-Fi 6 extender (like the single pack X68 or 90). The Telstra Smart Modem 3 is not bad – it is just way over-hyped, no specs availalbel, and Telstra did not do a fair comparison with other NBN modems so it gets my ‘consumer-advocate’ juices flowing. You can always use it and add a TP-Link AX mesh router after.