We are currently living in a world where reliable internet connection is essential to make our personal lives, work  and businesses easier. It is essential to our daily lives. However, just like any form of technology, the internet connection is not fail safe. Even the best internet service providers experience issues that may affect its service to its users.

The National Broadband Network, popularly known as NBN is one of the biggest Australian national wholesale open-access data networks. It is responsible for wired and radio communication in the country. At present, it is one of the biggest high speed broadband connection providers for homes and businesses in Australia. Yet, as the song goes, even the best fall down sometimes. Here are some of the most common NBN internet connectivity issues and how to resolve them according to CompareBroadband.

Troubleshooting Common NBN Issues

• Slow or No Internet Connectivity

The most common issue with NBN or any other internet service provider is slow or no internet connectivity. The initial solution is to send an email or call the customer service to inquire about the possibility of not having internet connectivity or issues in the network causing the internet's latency. However, without internet connection, sending an email report is not possible. Before calling their customer service hotline, it pays to do a few checks on your own to see the possible cause of the lack of connectivity.

You should check your cables, the actual device or modem and your power source. A loose connection, tripped cable or a non-functioning router may cause you to lose connectivity. If all three are working and of sound condition, a call to NBN's customer hotline is indeed essential.

You can also try to troubleshoot your modem by doing a factory reset. This will delete all current configurations so you will have to set it up again from scratch. To do this, find the tiny hole at the back of your modem and insert a paperclip or a needle in it. Press and hold for about 15 seconds then release. The lights on your modem will all go out and will reboot automatically. After it has settled, check your internet connection.

• Poor WiFi Coverage

If you are having a hard time connecting to the internet in some areas of your home, you might want to check for the cause of the problem before resorting to a WiFI extender installation. The first thing to do is to reboot your computer and modem to check if a restart can fix the issue.

If a restart fails to resolve the problem, inspect your router for any physical issues. Check for loose antennas, cables or screws. All parts of the devices should be connected securely, in their correct ports and should not be damaged in any way. Check your system tray via the Ethernet connection of your router to your computer. If you are connected to a local network but there is no internet connection, this may mean that your router may be working as it should be, but a part of your modem is having issues. For such circumstances, a professional technician might be needed to fix the issue.

The number of devices connected to your router can also cause latency on your end. There is a limit to the number of devices that can be served efficiently by your modems. Stick to this number to enjoy the maximum internet speed possible for your internet plan. Schedule updates in each device to avoid competition for bandwidth.

Some of the other things that you can do to enjoy better internet speeds are to keep your devices close to the router, limit the use of applications that require a lot of data, and upgrade your internet plan if you feel like you need more speed than what you are currently getting. When you keep your devices close to the router, you are minimising signal interference. Applications that require a lot of data can bog down your internet connection because they use up a lot of bandwidth. If you must use these applications, do so during off-peak hours or when there is less traffic on the internet.

If all else fails and you feel like you need more speed than what you are currently getting, you can upgrade your internet plan. This is a common solution for people who work from home or need to download large files frequently. Check with your service provider to see if they offer any discounts for upgrading your internet plan. You might be surprised at how affordable a higher speed tier can be. By following these tips, you can fix the most common NBN issues and enjoy better internet speeds.

• Cable and Wireless Interference

Whether your devices are wired or connected wirelessly to the internet, how they are connected to the networking hardware may affect the speed and connection of your devices. Wired devices are connected via telephone, Ethernet and coaxial cables. Check for bents, pinched or broken wires that may cause the lack of internet connection. A simple cable replacement can easily fix the issue if these areas are compromised.

Wireless devices connected through the internet can experience slow or lack of internet service due to signal interference and dampening. Other household devices such as your washing machines, dishwashers, fish tanks, cordless phone, radios, microwaves, fridges and televisions can cause signal interference from your router to your mobile  or wireless devices. Thick walls and floors can also cause internet connection latency. A WiFI extender or a mesh network may help resolve such issues.

You can also try to move your router to a higher and more central location at home for better signal strength and coverage. Doing so will also help your devices connect to the internet faster. As much as possible, try to keep your router away from other devices that may cause signal interference.

Another thing you can do to improve your home internet connection is to check for updates on your devices and software. Making sure that your devices are updated will help improve your device compatibility with the latest wireless standards. In addition, regularly updating your router's firmware can also help improve its performance and stability. Many other factors can affect the speed and connection of your devices to the internet. It is important to troubleshoot all areas of concern to rule out any factor that may be causing the issue.

• NBN Outages

NBN outages can happen. If you have checked your wires, cables, devices and the number of devices connected to your internet and still experience slow or no internet connectivity, the issue might be outside of your control. This is the time to check if there is a current NBN outage in your area or a planned/scheduled maintenance. You might have missed a maintenance announcement due to your busy schedule or you might have failed to pay for your internet service connection leading to a disconnection. It is also possible that your provider's current network is indeed out. Simply contact NBN to inform them about your current internet issue as well as the steps that you have already taken to resolve it.

Talking to your internet service provider is one of the best ways to resolve or to identify why your home is suffering from slow or no connectivity issues. A customer service representative is more than willing to guide you through the troubleshooting process of your device, your modem as well as the external hardware and cables of your device.

More often than not, you will be instructed to check the lights on your modem. There are certain patterns that you need to look out for to identify what is causing the problem with your internet connection. After which, the customer service representative will be able to tell you what needs to be done to fix it such as resetting your modem or checking if there is a current NBN outage in your area.

If you need further assistance, do not hesitate to ask for help from your internet service provider or the NBN directly. They are more than willing to help you out and ensure that you will be able to get back online in no time.

To save you time and to avoid hassles, it would be ideal to check and fix the problem on your own, if possible. If all efforts to troubleshoot the internet issue on your own does not resolve the issue, your internet service provider is more than willing to help you solve the problem.

Summary

A stable internet connection is now almost a basic right of each household. For this reason, the National Broadband Network (NBN) is rolling out its services to support everyone who depends on faster internet. However, technical issues cannot be avoided as such problems are part of accessing the technology. The common issues experienced by users include slow to zero internet connection, poor coverage, network interference, and unexpected outages. 

The ultimate solution to these problems is to talk to your internet service provider and request for assistance. To be honest, this process takes too much of your time. This may be one of the reasons why you are forced to resort to DIY solutions and troubleshoot the issues by yourself.

But if you have more important things to do than wasting time fixing your NBN connection, Compare Broadband has your back. 

Just call us at 1300 106 571 and we promise to help you with all your needs as quickly as possible. We can recommend ways to improve the situation and offer the most cost-effective solutions to recurring NBN issues. 

For the meantime, you may compare the best NBN plans in Australia by visiting our Compare NBN Broadband Plans page.