- Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 4)
- Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 4) specs
- Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 3)
- Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 3) specs
- How to set up your Telstra Smart Modem
- Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Fixed Wireless
- Fibre to the Building (FTTB) and Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
- Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
- What do the Telstra Smart Modem lights mean?
- Telstra Smart WiFi Booster
- How to update your Telstra Smart Modem firmware
- How to reboot Telstra smart modem
When it comes to the NBN we know you’ve got 99 problems, but troubleshooting your modem shouldn’t have to be one. If you don't need specific help with your Telstra Smart Modem, then check out our guide about what to think about when buying an NBN modem for more general troubleshooting.
There are a range of common questions people have about their modem, specifically the Telstra Smart Modem. We'll do our best to help you out.
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Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 4)
Telstra have anticipated September's NBN speed upgrades and introduced its latest Smart Modem — the Gen 4.
New customers who signed up to a Telstra NBN plan from August 19 onwards will receive the new fourth generation Smart Modem. The modem is free of charge, but customers who leave within their first 24 months will either need to return the device or pay a $200 non-return fee.
Any existing Telstra NBN customers can upgrade to the Smart Modem 4 for a $240 fee. See Telstra's NBN plans here:
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Telstra
All Fixed Line nbn®
Basic Internet Only Plan
$89/mth
Min. cost $44.50
Link not supplied
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The most significant improvement to this Smart Modem is the introduction of WiFi 7 and 5G backup. It promises wireless speeds of over 40Gbps on tri-band routers, however, the Gen 4 is only dual-band. Nevertheless, Telstra assure customers it's faster than the Gen 3 model.
While 5G backup speeds are still limited to 25Mbps for download and 5Mbps for upload, just like 4G backup on Telstra's older modems, 5G should offer lower latency.
While quite a few specs remain the same — the available ports and security features — one other interesting upgrade is this new modem can connect up to 256 devices at once. This is a vast upgrade from the 12 connectable devices available from the previous generation.
Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 4) specs
If you're interested in what makes the Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 4) tick, you can see the specs provided by Telstra here:
| WiFi | WiFi 7 802.11be, Dual-band router, 4x4 2.4GHz, 4x4 5GHz |
| 5G Backup | Yes |
| Voice | 1 x FXS port |
| Capabilities | Band steering, automatic channel selection |
| Ports | 1 USB 2.0, 1 Gigabit WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN |
| Security | WPA3 |
| Mesh | Yes - compatible with Telstra Smart WiFi Booster 3 |
Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 3)
The third-generation Telstra Smart Modem device has now been discontinued for new customer signups.
The Gen 3 Telstra Smart Modem came with WiFi 6 technology and sought-after security enhancements. Telstra claimed it was 60% faster than its predecessor, the second-generation Smart Modem, and enabled streaming on up to 12 devices at once (however, quality was subject to your NBN speed tier).
For added reassurance it also functioned as a 4G backup if the NBN was down. During it backup phase, you'd expect to receive download speeds of 25Mbps and upload speeds of 5Mbps.
Telstra Smart Modem (Gen 3) specs
If you're curious how the specifications for the Gen 3 Telstra Smart Modem compare to the current model, here they are:
| WiFi | 802.11ax, Dual-band Concurrent WiFi, 4x4 2.4GHz, 4x4 5GHz |
| 4G Backup | Yes |
| Voice | 2 FXS ports |
| Capabilities | Band steering, automatic channel selection, WPS, WiFi Dr enabled |
| Ports | 1 USB 2.0, 1 Gigabit WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN |
| Security | WPA3 |
| Mesh | Yes - compatible with Telstra Smart WiFi Booster 3 |
How to set up your Telstra Smart Modem
Set up for your Telstra Smart Modem Gen 3 or Gen 4 will be slightly different depending on your connection type. All NBN technology types differ not only by how they connect you to the network but also how you'll need to set up your modem.
Take the time to familiarise yourself with your connection type. You can read more about how to set up your Telstra Smart Modem on the following technology types:
- Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Fixed Wireless
- Fibre to the Building (FTTB) and Fibre to the Node (FTTN)
- Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)
Follow the instructions below for your technology type to get your new modem up and running. Set up should take around half an hour while connecting to Telstra NBN for the first time will take around an hour.
- Find the best place to set up your modem. You’ll need a spot with access to the white NBN connection box, a power point and a phone/internet port. Note that if you need to use your 4G connection included with the plan, it’s best to sit your modem in an open position so where possible avoid cupboards and hidden spots like the garage.
- Unplug any devices connected to phone ports through your residence. This may be phones, fax machines, old modems, etc.
- Find the cord with one red and one yellow end. Plug the yellow end into the yellow port on your NBN connection box, and the red end into the red port on the Telstra Smart Modem.
- Plug your modem into the power socket and turn it on.
- The light at the front of the modem will turn white, indicating power is running to the device, while it’s connecting this light will be orange and once it is connected to the internet the light will turn green. This usually takes between 15 minutes and half an hour.
- You can now reconnect any other devices to phone/internet ports around the house.
- Use the magnet supplied with your device to find your WiFi network name and password to connect your wireless devices.
- Find the best place to set up your modem. You’ll need a spot with access to a power point and the DSL port on your wall. Note that if you need to use your 4G connection included with the plan, it’s best to sit your modem in an open position so where possible avoid cupboards and hidden spots like the garage.
- Unplug any devices connected to phone ports through your residence. This may be phones, fax machines, old modems, etc.
- Find the included cord with two grey ends, one end should already be connected to the DSL port on the modem. Unplug this and locate the splitter included with your modem.
- Plug the grey side of the splitter into the DSL port instead, then plug the black end into the PSTN port on the modem. Plug the remaining plug into the phone/internet wall socket.
- Plug your Telstra Smart Modem into the wall socket and turn it on.
- The light at the front of the modem will turn white, indicating power is running to the device, while it’s connecting this light will be orange and once it is connected to the internet the light will turn green. This usually takes between 15 minutes and half an hour.
- You can now reconnect any other devices to phone/internet ports around the house.
- Use the magnet supplied with your device to find your WiFi network name and password to connect your wireless devices.
- Find the best place to set up your modem and connection box. You’ll need a spot with access to two power points and a phone/internet port. Note that if you need to use your 4G connection included with the plan, it’s best to sit your modem in an open position so where possible avoid cupboards and hidden spots like the garage.
- Unplug any devices connected to phone ports through your residence. This may be phones, fax machines, old modems, etc.
- Starting with your NBN Connection Box - Peel the white sticker across the back of the device to reveal all necessary ports.
- Locate the cable with the grey ends. Plug one end into the back of the Connection Box and the other into a telephone socket.
- Plug the black power cord into the back of the unit, into the wall and then switch it on.
- Your NBN Connection Box will begin to start up, this can take up to 15 minutes and will need to stay plugged in during this time. Once both blue lights are static on the top of the box, you're ready to move on to your Telstra Smart Modem.
- Find the cord with one red and one yellow end. Plug the yellow end into the yellow port on your NBN connection box, and the red end into the red port on the Telstra Smart Modem.
- Plug your modem into the power socket and turn it on.
- The light at the front of the modem will turn white, indicating power is running to the device, while it’s connecting this light will be orange and once it is connected to the internet the light will turn green. This usually takes between 15 minutes and half an hour.
- You can now reconnect any other devices to phone/internet ports around the house.
- Use the magnet supplied with your device to find your WiFi network name and password to connect your wireless devices.
Troubleshooting: What do the Telstra Smart Modem lights mean?
We’ve compiled a quick summary of what the lights on your Telstra Smart Modem mean.
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White | Power on, booting up |
| Orange | Connecting |
| Blue | 4G mobile backup connected |
| Green | Main link working |
| Red | No connection |
| Cycling through colours | Resetting or reconfiguring |
| Online LED | Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Solid green | All systems working and internet is connected | |
| Solid orange | Authentication of username and password in progress | |
| Solid red | WAN port is connected but authentication of username and password has failed | |
| Off | Not connected | |
| WAN LED | Colour | Meaning |
| Solid green | Connected to the NBN or DSL | |
| Slow flashing green | Initializing WAN-DSL interface | |
| Quick flashing green | In progress, connecting | |
| Off | WAN port not connected | |
| Mobile Mode | Colour | Meaning |
| Solid green |
4G active and connected | |
| Off | 4G inactive | |
| Mobile signal | Colour | Meaning |
| Solid green | Great signal strength | |
| Solid orange | Good signal strength | |
| Solid red | Limited connectivity | |
| Phone LED | Colour | Meaning |
| Off |
SIP not registered | |
| Solid green | SIP registered | |
| Flashing | Incoming or outgoing call active | |
| Solid orange |
SOS calls only | |
| Solid red | Fault |
Telstra Smart WiFi Booster
No matter how smart your modem may be, there are always some puzzles it can have difficulty putting together. WiFi signals can be weakened and blocked across large distances, through electronic interference, or thick walls but Telstra offers the Smart WiFi Booster as a way to bypass these issues.
Adding a WiFi Booster to your home network creates more points that your wireless devices can connect to, meaning that your radius of coverage becomes larger. According to Telstra, the Smart WiFi Booster will seamlessly switch to the best possible connection as you move around your home.
The provider goes so far as to guarantee '"wall-to-wall coverage" for every nook and cranny in your premises. If a single WiFi Booster doesn't do the trick, Telstra will send you up to three extra Boosters at no additional cost.
As with the previous Smart Modem, the Gen 4 continues to work with Telstra's Smart Wi-Fi Booster 3. Telstra charges $288 for this range extender, but will send as many as three at no extra cost if needed.
While you can use other range extenders with your Telstra Smart Modem, Telstra's Smart WiFi Booster is designed to seamlessly work with the Smart Modem. You can pair the WiFi Booster to your Modem simply by connecting it using an Ethernet cable and turning it on. After the initial pairing process is complete, you'll then be able to disconnect the WiFi Booster and place it anywhere in your home.
How to update your Telstra Smart Modem firmware
Manual firmware updates are not available on the Telstra Smart Modem, these will be automatically updated when they become available.
Updates are pushed out between the hours of midnight and 6:00am. You’ll simply need to have your modem connected during these times for the updates to download and take effect.
How to reboot Telstra Smart Modem
To soft reboot your Telstra Smart Modem, unplug it from the power socket and wait for at least 10 seconds before plugging it back in. To hard reboot your modem, find a paperclip or another thin, pointy object to press and hold the reset hole at the back of your modem. Apply pressure for 15 seconds. Your modem should reconnect to the internet in the next two to five minutes.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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