Check near the router
Measure performance close to the main Wi-Fi equipment, where wireless signal should normally be strongest.
Slow NBN? Check the Wi-Fi too
Is your NBN actually slow — or is it your Wi-Fi?
When the internet feels slow at home, it's easy to blame the NBN. But if the problem is worse in certain rooms, the NBN connection itself may be fine and your home Wi-Fi may be the real bottleneck.
No tech skills needed
No purchase required
Independent advice
NBN and Wi-Fi are not the same thing
Your NBN service brings the internet connection to your home. Your modem or router then creates the Wi-Fi connection used by phones, TVs, tablets, laptops and other wireless devices around the house.
That means you can have a perfectly good internet connection arriving at the router while still getting slow or unreliable Wi-Fi in another room.
A useful clue
If the connection works well close to your main Wi-Fi router but
becomes much slower where you normally have trouble, the problem
is more likely to be inside the home's Wi-Fi network than the NBN
connection itself.
Why does my NBN feel slow?
There isn't one cause of slow home internet. The problem could be the internet service, your Wi-Fi coverage, router placement, interference, older equipment, the device you're using, or a combination of several things.
It is slow everywhere
If performance is poor even when you're close to the main router, the issue may involve your internet service, plan speed, modem or router, a particular device, heavy network usage or another upstream problem.
It is fast near the router but slow in another room
This is a strong sign that Wi-Fi coverage or wireless performance may be the problem. Distance, walls, floors, interference and router placement can all reduce Wi-Fi performance as you move through the home.
Only one phone, computer or TV is slow
If other devices work normally in the same place, the issue may be specific to that device rather than the NBN connection or the whole Wi-Fi network.
The problem comes and goes
Intermittent problems can have several causes. Looking at where the problem occurs, which devices are affected and whether it also happens close to the router helps narrow it down.
Don't buy a Wi-Fi booster until you know the problem
A Wi-Fi extender, mesh system or new router can help in the right situation, but buying equipment before identifying the cause can waste money and leave the original problem unchanged.
AllDigital starts by comparing real performance close to your main Wi-Fi equipment with performance in the place where the connection is giving you trouble.
What if the problem really is the NBN or internet service?
If the results suggest the problem isn't primarily your home Wi-Fi, you shouldn't buy Wi-Fi equipment just for the sake of it. The appropriate next step may instead be checking your modem, internet plan or contacting your internet provider about the connection.
AllDigital is an independent home Wi-Fi troubleshooting service. It is not affiliated with nbn co or your internet service provider.
A simple first check
Two locations can tell you a lot.
You don't need to know whether the problem is NBN, Wi-Fi or your equipment before you start.
Check the problem spot
Test again in the bedroom, office, lounge or other location where the connection feels slow or unreliable.
Compare the results
A large difference can point toward a Wi-Fi coverage problem. Poor performance in both locations can point us in a different direction.
Common home internet symptoms
What does the problem look like in your home?
Slow Wi-Fi
Pages load slowly, video buffers or downloads become much slower away from the router.
Dropouts
Devices disconnect, video calls freeze or the connection seems to disappear and return.
Dead spots
Wi-Fi works well in part of the home but becomes weak or unusable in particular rooms.
Still not sure whether it's NBN or Wi-Fi?
Start with the free AllDigital check and measure what's actually happening before you buy anything.