- There are several NBN connection technologies: Fibre-to-the-Node, Fibre to the Building/Basement, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial, and Fibre to the
- Fibre to the Node (FTTN) is a fixed-line connection where the fibre is located near your office or house. This node acts as the point of connection between the structure and the fibre.
- Finding your area’s NBN node location requires two things. First, you have to understand what FTTN connection technology is. Second, you have to dig around the internet to locate the NBN node in your area.
There are several NBN connection technologies: Fibre-to-the-Node, Fibre to the Building/Basement, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial, and Fibre to the Premises.
FTTB works by connecting a building’s internal fibre network to an external node, usually located in a street cabinet. From there, the existing copper network is used to connect individual premises to the node. HFC combines existing pay-TV network cabling (coaxial cables) with new fibre connections to the node. FTTP involves running fibre all the way from the exchange to your premises. The connection box inside your home will have a data and power socket, into which you’ll plug your modem.
Fibre to the Node (FTTN) is a fixed-line connection where the fibre is located near your office or house. This node acts as the point of connection between the structure and the fibre.
If you have an FTTN connection, the fibre optic cable is laid to a central location in your neighbourhood (the node), and then it connects to your home with existing copper wiring.
Understanding how to locate the NBN node in your vicinity can help you better understand your connection’s speed limits. Read to find out.
How to Find Your NBN Node
Finding your area’s NBN node location requires two things. First, you have to understand what FTTN connection technology is. Second, you have to dig around the internet to locate the NBN node in your area.
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What is FTTN connection technology?
FTTN connection is where an existing copper phone and internet network from a nearby fibre node is used to connect to the NBN access network. The fibre node is most likely in the form of a street cabinet. Each of the cabinets will allow the NBN access network signal to travel over a fibre optic line from the exchange to the cabinet and connect with the existing copper network to reach your home.
The speeds you experience on FTTN technology will be determined by a number of factors. These include the quality of the copper line, the length of the copper line from your home to the node, and any interference present on the line.
To find out if you’re connected to an NBN FTTN network, look for an external box (called a node) to connect your home to the fibre network. If you can’t find an external box, check your bill. Your service provider will list the type of NBN connection you have.
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Locating the NBN Node in your area: Use Google Maps!
During NBN’s early years, you could simply use the nationalmap.gov.au to find the nearest nodes in your neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the Distribution Area dataset is no longer available.
To locate NBN nodes in your area, you may have to do a bit of manual digging. First, go to Google Maps and put in your address. Use street view to look around and find the nearest NBN node. The node should look like these:
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| NBN FTTN Cabinet | NBN micro-node for FTTN |
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Image source: commons.wikimedia.org
Otherwise, you can also check your local council’s website as they are required to keep track of all the infrastructure in their area. Search for ‘FTTN node [your suburb]’ and see what comes up. For example, a search for ‘FTTN nodeLiverpool’ returns this PDF document from the Liverpool City Council website which contains a map of all the FTTN nodes in the area.
Once you’ve located the node, take note of its reference number. This will come in handy when you need to contact your service provider about any connection issues you might be experiencing.
NBN FTTN Alternatives
Some people claim that the FTTN connection technology is not future-proof because it still relies on the copper network. This means that there will most likely be additional costs for its maintenance, and the internet signal delivered to subscribers may not still be optimal.
If you are unsatisfied with the FTTN connection, you can delve into alternatives such as a 5G home internet plan. These are considered viable alternatives that can deliver almost the same speed as your NBN connection, provided you have a good signal. However, 5G coverage in Australia is not yet as wide as the NBN. Either way, 4G Wireless Broadband Plans remain to be reliable for most Australians.
Popular Home Wireless Plans
| Internet Provider | Home Wireless Internet Plan | Price | |
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NBN Fixed Wireless nbn25 Unlimited Plan |
$65/month |
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Home Wireless 4G Internet Lite Uniti Wireless Broadband Plan |
$58.50/month |
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Home Wireless Optus 4G Home Internet Everyday 500GB |
$59/month |
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NBN The NBN Fixed Wireless Plus Harbour ISP Broadband Plan |
$69/month |
The prices of these plans are slightly lower than what you have to pay for a fixed-line connection. The downside is that wireless technology may be more vulnerable to factors that may not negatively affect a fixed-line connection. For instance, the weather may have a significant impact on your 5G signal, heavily slowing your internet connection. Even dust and dirt can disperse the signal beam.
For these reasons, you may want to consider other alternatives to FTTN if you are not satisfied with the connection speeds. You can always contact your service provider for further inquiries about these options.
NBN Co is continuously working on improving the network to deliver a fast and reliable internet connection to all Australians. For more information, visit their website or contact your service provider. This way, you can be updated with the latest NBN plans and technologies available in your area.
Final Word
Finding the NBN node in your area may require a bit of work, but it’s not complicated. By understanding your location’s node location, you can better understand your area's speed limits and make better decisions when applying or switching to a new NBN plan.
Need help in comparing NBN plans? Let our friendly broadband experts at Compare Broadband help you out!
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