NBN Technicians

Almost every house in Australia is going to be migrated to NBN at some point. If you haven’t already switched to NBN, you will need to contact your preferred telecommunications service provider to confirm the timing and arrange for a new NBN service.

Remember that most customers don’t need to contact NBNco directly; the work required by NBN technicians is usually arranged by your service provider, with some exceptions such as a brand new building or recent subdivision.

There are different types of NBN connections:

• Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) (aka Fibre to the Home; FTTH)
• Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
• Fibre to the Building (FTTB)
• Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
• Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)
• Fixed Wireless (FW)
• Satellite (Sky Muster)

If you’d like to know what type of NBN connection is available to your premises, you can ask your service provider or use the search tool at https://www.nbnco.com.au/

Want to know how an NBN install is done for each technology type? Here are some of the processes:

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP)

1. The NBN technician will install the fibre optic cable from the street to the building and install an NBN Utility Box on the outside wall of the building, then install a fibre optic cable from the Utility Box to an NBN Connection Box (FTTP NTD box) somewhere on an inside wall.
2. The modem router is to be connected to the NBN Connection Box. The modem router can be directly connected to the NBN Connection Box with an Ethernet cable. But if you want the modem router placed in a different part of the house/building, it can be connected through data cabling. This data cabling installation can be done by a TSS Telco – private NBN technician.

*Note, it is preferable to have the modem router installed in a location next to a computer or somewhere that is central for all the wifi devices (computer, laptop, TV, smartphone, tablet etc.)

NBN HYBRID FIBRE COAXIAL

Getting connected to NBN can be a challenging time for many different reasons. And if you do get stuck with NBN or your service provider, the last thing you want to deal with is talking to someone who is rattling off technical jargon that you don’t understand. But let us help make it a bit easier for you.

There are 7 different types of NBN and this article is to help alleviate some of the confusion relating to NBN HFC.

What is HFC NBN?

It stands for Hybrid Fibre Coaxial. As you can see according to its name, HFC uses a combination of both Fibre and Coaxial cable to deliver a connection. This type of NBN uses a lot of the existing cabling that has been used for Foxtel cable TV and Telstra cable broadband. It was formally Telstra’s coaxial infrastructure. If a coaxial cable is already installed from the street to your home or workplace, you should be NBN ready. But if it isn’t a technician will be required to install the cabling. The points used are called a ‘cable point’ or ‘F-type socket’. This is different to a phone point and is connected by screwing the cable onto it. HFC is comparatively faster than connections like Fibre to the Curb, or Fibre to the Node because it has a larger coper conductor inside the cable.

How fast is HFC NBN?

When you plan or sign up for an NBN HFC connection, you’ll have to choose from one of six different speed options: These are:

1.NBN 12 (Basic I) speed, 

2.NBN 25 (Basic II) speed, 

3.NBN 50 (Standard) speed, 

4.NBN 100 (Fast) speed,

5.NBN 250 (Superfast) speed or

6.NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) speed.

WHAT IS BRIDGE TAP?

Also known as ‘star wiring’, a bridge tap is a junction where multiple cables are connected together. This allows the cable that comes in from the street to be split, to connect more sockets. This means more places to plug in phones or your modem.

Before NBN, having multiple sockets was ideal for most houses. Before 2018, most houses in Australia were connected to Telstra’s copper network (not NBN). With copper connections, the more phone sockets you have, the more options you have to connect telephones or your ADSL modem. You could have a phone plugged into a socket in the kitchen, a phone plugged in in a bedroom and the ADSL modem plugged in in the office. Also known as ‘star wiring’, a bridge tap is a junction where multiple cables are connected together. This allows the cable that comes in from the street to be split, to connect more sockets. This means more places to plug in phones or your modem.

Before NBN, having multiple sockets was ideal for most houses. Before 2018, most houses in Australia were connected to Telstra’s copper network (not NBN). With copper connections, the more phone sockets you have, the more options you have to connect telephones or your ADSL modem. You could have a phone plugged into a socket in the kitchen, a phone plugged in in a bedroom and the ADSL modem plugged in in the office. 

However, with NBN, having a bridge tap can cause more harm than good. This is because the way the NBN works through the cables is different to the old ADSL.

In technical jargon: A bridge tap can cause an impedance mismatch and other undesired effects in signal transmissions.

A less technical way to explain: A bridge tap can be seen like a river that splits into other rivers. If 1 river splits into 3 rivers, the water flow gets divided. But if 2 of the rivers are blocked off and there is only one continual river, the speed of the water movement will be much faster, compared to when it was split into 3 rivers. So this can help explain how one cable to one socket can have a better internet flow, than if the cable is split into other cables.

How to find out if you might have a bridge tap at you’re address

Out of the 7 different NBN types, there are only 3 types of NBN technology where a bridge tap can be a problem. If this seems confusing, all you need to do is- 

1. Go to nbnco.com.au

2. Type in your address

3. Check the ‘Technology used in your connection’

If it says- HFC, FTTP, Fixed Wireless or Sky Muster; you won’t have a bridge tap, as these technologies don’t use copper lines.

If it says- FTTN, FTTC or FTTB, there is a possibility that there is a bridge tap.

How to test to see if you have a bridge tap for your NBN service

Usually, when a bridge tap is present, more than one socket in the premises will work for an internet connection. To test the other sockets, try plugging in your modem to each socket. Leave the modem plugged in for 10 minutes and then check to see if the internet is working.

If the internet only works through one socket and not through the others, the bridge tap may have been removed already. Just remember, if only one socket is working, it’s a good start but it does not guarantee that there isn’t a bridge tap or any other issues with the cabling. If you’re unsure, you can contact your service provider for them to run a test, or you can contact us to arrange for a technician to check the cabling.

If the modem does work in more than one socket, that means there is probably a bridge tap. This will slow your internet speed and can cause dropouts.

How remove a bridge tap

A licensed internet technician can change the cabling so that there is no bridge tap and the line connects through one cable directly to one socket. Contact us if you’d like to organise a technician visit.

Bridge Tap

Bridge Tap

 

However, with NBN, having a bridge tap can cause more harm than good. This is because the way the NBN works through the cables is different to the old ADSL.

In technical jargon: A bridge tap can cause an impedance mismatch and other undesired effects in signal transmissions.

A less technical way to explain: A bridge tap can be seen like a river that splits into other rivers. If 1 river splits into 3 rivers, the water flow gets divided. But if 2 of the rivers are blocked off and there is only one continual river, the speed of the water movement will be much faster, compared to when it was split into 3 rivers. So this can help explain how one cable to one socket can have a better internet flow, than if the cable is split into other cables.

How to find out if you might have a bridge tap at you’re address

Out of the 7 different NBN types, there are only 3 types of NBN technology where a bridge tap can be a problem. If this seems confusing, all you need to do is- 

1. Go to nbnco.com.au

2. Type in your address

3. Check the ‘Technology used in your connection’

If it says- HFC, FTTP, Fixed Wireless or Sky Muster; you won’t have a bridge tap, as these technologies don’t use copper lines.

If it says- FTTN, FTTC or FTTB, there is a possibility that there is a bridge tap.

How to test to see if you have a bridge tap for your NBN service

Usually, when a bridge tap is present, more than one socket in the premises will work for an internet connection. To test the other sockets, try plugging in your modem to each socket. Leave the modem plugged in for 10 minutes and then check to see if the internet is working.

If the internet only works through one socket and not through the others, the bridge tap may have been removed already. Just remember, if only one socket is working, it’s a good start but it does not guarantee that there isn’t a bridge tap or any other issues with the cabling. If you’re unsure, you can contact your service provider for them to run a test, or you can contact us to arrange for a technician to check the cabling.

If the modem does work in more than one socket, that means there is probably a bridge tap. This will slow your internet speed and can cause dropouts.

How remove a bridge tap

A licensed internet technician can change the cabling so that there is no bridge tap and the line connects through one cable directly to one socket. Contact us if you’d like to organise a technician visit.

 

LOCAL INTERNET TECHNICIAN

If an internet technician is needed for an installation, TSS Telco can organise an appointment for you and notify you of what needs to be done to get you up and running. If you are a tenant, you must have your landlord or body corporate approval for the internet or NBN installation.

To help you decide the location where you want to install the equipment, we suggest that the internet device should be:

Near a powerpoint plug or switch

In a cool, dry, ventilated area where it can be checked easily

In a central location of your home to get the best Wi-Fi signal

If you’ve had an NBN installation done in the past, you may be familiar with the frustration of dealing with NBN, your service provider or their technicians. At times it can be such a struggle just to get one small job done. That is why, at TSS Telco, we offer a complete range of internet installation services to make things as easy as possible. 

Our Local Internet Technicians are qualified to do their job accurately. No job is too small or big, we have seen it all! Call us now and we can discuss all the options available to get your internet problems solved!

The appointment for the internet technician will require an adult at least 18 years of age on-site for the complete time of the appointment. And someone will need to be onsite to make decisions for the changes to cabling and internet devices.

Our internet technicians come to your home or business and provide a range of solutions: improving speed, fixing dropout faults, data cabling, NBN installation, mesh wifi, wifi access point, and more  

Telco Technicians dedicated to installing and repairing; phones, internet, and other technology. We come to you, to help enhance your home life, or optimise your business.  Call us today: 0436 103 953

NBN CONNECTION

When you switch to NBN from a regular landline fixed phone service, there are some changes that occur. All the phone sockets in the premises will no longer work. If you want to use a fixed phone, you will need this phone service to be active as part of your plan. And you will need a router that enables a phone service. The phone will need to be plugged in to the router as the original phone sockets will no longer work. If you would like the original phone points to work, this can be done by having the cabling in the premises changed. This is one of the services our registered cablers provide.

Each NBN technology has a different Network Boundary Point, this is where NBNco’s cabling ends, and yours begins. And because there are different types of NBN technology, the equipment at each network boundary point varies. If the modem, router or phone point needs to be moved, a registered cabler or technician can relocate them.

Relocation of NBN point involves following points:

1. Choose a new location for your nbn box / modem.

If you already have an existing socket that can be used for your NBN connection, this can be used to connect the NBN box or modem. If you more than one socket, you can choose the one in your preferred location. If you don’t have an NBN socket or you don’t have one in the desired location, you can have one installed by a licensed technician that specialises in NBN cabling. If you’re unsure about the best place to put the socket, don’t stress, our experienced TSS Telco technicians can help you to find the best place to have it installed.

2. Testing the complete setup from each corner of the house

The NBN technician will ensure that all of the phone and internet services are working as they should.

Our quality of service is maintained by always focusing on what’s best for the customer. We look at how to improve your work, study or leisure time, and then find the right solution for your budget. We also want to know what your experience is like when we work for you. So any feedback on how you feel, good or bad, is always valued.

When you book one of our techs, you will get an ACMA licensed telecommunications technician, with a police check and liability insurance.

WI-FI CALLING

 Are you curious about what Wi-Fi calling is all about? Here’s the rundown on what you need to know. 

Wifi calling gives you the ability to have a clear uninterrupted call on your mobile, even if you are in an area with a weak mobile signal or no signal at all. 

The ability to connect a call using a Wi-Fi connection instead of a cellular one has been around us for years, with Skype being one of the oldest and first and of course most popular apps to do so. 

All you need is a recent smartphone, an internet connection through wifi and a service provider that enables wifi calling. For example, you can do wifi calling with an iPhone 7, that is with Telstra mobile, through an Optus NBN internet connection.  

To find out if your phone allows this feature, look it up online or contact the brand/manufacturer (Apple, Samsung, Huawei etc). If you’d like to know if your mobile phone service provider offers wifi calling, you can contact them.  

Mobile phones that enable wifi calling, usually have the wifi calling setting switched on. This is a default setting on most new mobile phones. But if you’d like to check the settings where you can switch this setting on or off, search on Google or Youtube ‘how do I switch on wifi calling for’ followed by your phone type (iPhone, Samsung etc). YouTube has many instructional videos on how to do this with many different mobile phone types.  

To test to see if it is already working, make sure the phone is connected to the wifi, then turn off your phone’s cellular connection. Then do a test phone call. If the phone call works, it is using wifi calling. To find out more about how to turn off the cellular connection on your phone, you can look it up on Google or YouTube ‘how do I switch off cellular’ followed by your phone type.  

If you’re interested in booking a technician for an onsite visit, contact us today. We can look for solutions to improve your call quality, to keep you connected without the calls breaking up or dropping out. 

DELAYS FOR NBN HFC CUSTOMERS

 At this point in time, there is a global supply shortage impacting NBN installation for HFC (hybrid fiber-coaxial) connections. Many customers that have this type of NBN technology connected to their premises will not be able to have a new NBN installation (with some exceptions). The problem is forecasted to be rectified sometime in June 2021. The exceptions that NBN has made for people that can get their NBN HFC internet connection are- medically vulnerable people, emergency services, or if you’re moving to premises where the previous occupier already had an NBN HFC service.

For the people that have to wait, in the meantime, there will be other options for Internet, such as; cable broadband and ADSL for your fixed internet (internet on the landline); for wireless internet- 3G, 4G; and 5G and other types of fixed wireless services are available in certain areas of cities. If you’re not sure or would like to find out more, contact your service provider.

You can also contact us if you would like to arrange a site visit from a private NBN technician – Gold Coast, to see what type of Internet technology is available at your home or office, and get you ready for the NBN installation. We can also help you find the right service provider and internet plan for our budget and offer other services such as modem installation, additional NBN point, getting you faster internet and stronger wifi signal.