How to Improve Your WiFi Speed in Australia

Updated: January 2026 | Reading Time: 10 minutes

WiFi is convenient but often the biggest bottleneck in your home internet setup. This comprehensive guide shows you how to optimize your wireless network for maximum performance on your NBN connection.

💡 Key Point: Many Australians on NBN 100 plans get only 40-50 Mbps on WiFi while their actual connection can deliver 90-100 Mbps on ethernet. Following this guide can often double or triple your WiFi speeds without upgrading your NBN plan.

Quick Wins (Free Improvements)

1. Optimal Router Placement

Current problem: Router tucked in a corner, behind furniture, or in a cabinet

Solution: Place router in a central, elevated location

Center of your home, not at one end
Elevated position (on shelf, not floor)
Open space, not inside cabinets or behind furniture
Away from thick walls and metal objects

Expected improvement: 30-50% speed increase in most rooms

2. Switch to 5GHz WiFi

Current problem: Using 2.4GHz which maxes out around 50-100 Mbps

Solution: Connect to your router's 5GHz network

Look for network names ending in "5G" or "5GHz"
Much faster than 2.4GHz (can reach 400-800 Mbps)
Less interference from neighbors
Shorter range but faster speeds

Expected improvement: 2-3x speed increase for nearby devices

Note: Use 2.4GHz for distant rooms, 5GHz for speed-critical devices near router

3. Change WiFi Channel

Current problem: Dozens of neighbors on same WiFi channel causing interference

Solution: Switch to less congested channel

For 2.4GHz, use channels 1, 6, or 11 (non-overlapping). For 5GHz, use channels 36-48 (less interference).

Expected improvement: 20-40% in apartments/dense areas

4. Restart Your Router Weekly

Current problem: Router memory leaks and performance degradation over time

Solution: Power cycle your router every week

Unplug router for 30 seconds
Plug back in and wait 2-3 minutes to fully restart
Clears memory and refreshes connections

Expected improvement: Restores original speeds, fixes many issues

Understanding WiFi Limitations

Before diving deeper, understand what limits WiFi performance:

Typical WiFi Speeds vs NBN Speeds

Ethernet (wired): 90-100% of your NBN speed
WiFi 6 (802.11ax, 5GHz): 70-90% of NBN speed
WiFi 5 (802.11ac, 5GHz): 50-80% of NBN speed
WiFi 4 (802.11n, 5GHz): 40-60% of NBN speed
WiFi (2.4GHz): 20-50% of NBN speed
Old WiFi (802.11g): 10-20% of NBN speed

Common WiFi Problems in Australian Homes

Dense housing: Apartments and townhouses have interference from many nearby networks
Brick construction: Double-brick homes (common in Australia) block WiFi signals more than timber
Large homes: Australian homes can be quite large, exceeding WiFi range
ISP routers: Basic modems provided by ISPs often have poor WiFi performance

Router Settings Optimization

Access Your Router Settings

Most Australian routers can be accessed at:

192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your web browser
Login credentials usually on sticker on router
Default passwords: "admin", "password", or listed on router

Recommended Settings

2.4GHz Band:

Channel: 1, 6, or 11 (run WiFi analyzer app to find least congested)
Channel Width: 20 MHz (less interference)
Mode: 802.11n only (disable b/g for better performance)

5GHz Band:

Channel: 36-48 (DFS channels 52-144 if supported)
Channel Width: 80 MHz (160 MHz if supported for max speed)
Mode: 802.11ac or 802.11ax (WiFi 6)

Security:

Use WPA3 if available, otherwise WPA2
Never use WEP (insecure and slow)
Strong password (minimum 12 characters)

Hardware Upgrades

When to Upgrade Your Router

Consider upgrading if your router is:

More than 5 years old
Doesn't support 5GHz WiFi
Only supports WiFi 4 (802.11n) or older
Can't keep up with your NBN plan (NBN 100+ needs modern router)
Basic ISP-provided modem with poor WiFi coverage

Router Recommendations for Australian Homes

Budget-Friendly (AUD $80-150):

TP-Link Archer A8/A9 - Good for NBN 50-100, medium homes
Netgear R6700 - Reliable, good range

Mid-Range (AUD $150-300):

ASUS RT-AX55 - WiFi 6, excellent for NBN 100-250
TP-Link Archer AX50 - WiFi 6, great value
Netgear Nighthawk AX4 - Strong performance

Premium (AUD $300-500+):

ASUS RT-AX86U - WiFi 6, gaming optimized, NBN 1000 capable
Netgear Nighthawk AX8 - Excellent range and speed
TP-Link Archer AX6000 - Top-tier performance

Mesh WiFi Systems

For large Australian homes (200+ sqm) or multi-story houses:

Google Nest WiFi: AUD $270-450, easy setup, good coverage
TP-Link Deco X20: AUD $200-350, WiFi 6, excellent value
Netgear Orbi: AUD $350-700, best performance and range
ASUS ZenWiFi AX: AUD $400-600, WiFi 6, very fast

Mesh systems eliminate dead zones by using multiple units throughout your home.

WiFi Extenders vs Mesh Systems

WiFi Extenders (AUD $40-100):

✅ Cheap solution to extend range
❌ Halves your speed on extended network
❌ Requires switching between networks manually
Use only for light usage areas (guest room, garage)

Mesh Systems (AUD $200-700):

✅ Seamless roaming between units
✅ Maintains high speeds throughout home
✅ Single network name (SSID)
Better for large homes or NBN 100+ plans

Physical Improvements

Reduce Interference

Microwave ovens: Keep router 2+ meters away (same frequency as 2.4GHz WiFi)
Cordless phones: Upgrade to DECT 6.0 models (don't interfere with WiFi)
Baby monitors: Use 900 MHz or 5.8 GHz models, not 2.4 GHz
Bluetooth devices: Minimal impact but can slow 2.4GHz slightly
Thick walls: Avoid placing router behind thick brick walls or in bathrooms

Improve Antenna Positioning

If router has external antennas, position them perpendicular (one vertical, one horizontal)
This provides best coverage for devices held in different orientations
Point antennas toward areas where you need WiFi most

Advanced Optimizations

Quality of Service (QoS)

Prioritize important traffic (video calls, gaming) over background downloads:

Enable QoS in router settings
Set priority: Video calls > Gaming > Streaming > Downloads
Some routers automatically optimize without configuration

Guest Network

Create separate network for guests and IoT devices:

Prevents guests from slowing your main network
Isolates smart home devices from main network
Improves security

Disable WPS (WiFi Protected Setup)

WPS has security vulnerabilities
Disabling it can slightly improve performance
Use manual password entry instead

Testing Your Improvements

After making changes, test your WiFi speed:

Run speed test on WiFi before changes (note results)
Make one change at a time
Test again after each change
Keep changes that improved speeds, revert ones that didn't
Test at different times of day
Test in multiple locations around your home

⚠️ Important: WiFi will always be slower than ethernet. If you need maximum NBN speed for gaming, streaming, or work, run an ethernet cable. A 20-meter Cat6 cable costs $20-40 and delivers 100% of your NBN speed reliably.

When WiFi Isn't the Problem

If WiFi optimization doesn't help, the issue might be:

Your NBN connection itself: Test on ethernet to verify
ISP network congestion: Especially during peak hours (7-11 PM)
Too many devices: 10+ devices can saturate even good routers
Background usage: Check for devices doing updates/backups
NBN technology limitations: FTTN far from node may have slow speeds

Summary: Best Practices

✅ Do:

Place router centrally and elevated
Use 5GHz for devices near router
Restart router weekly
Update router firmware regularly
Use ethernet for stationary devices
Invest in a quality router for NBN 100+
Consider mesh system for large homes

❌ Don't:

Hide router in cabinets
Place router on the floor
Use WiFi extenders unless necessary
Keep old router if it's 5+ years old
Ignore firmware updates
Use default WiFi passwords

Test Your WiFi Speed Now →