How to set up your TPG NBN modem

TPG is an NBN provider that offers competitively priced NBN plans by way of BYO offerings, meaning you can save an initial hardware fee if you choose to use your existing NBN-compatible modem. If you’d rather something new, and a device that’s familiar to TPG support, TPG also offers a selection of NBN modems.

But before we get too far into TPG modem configuration, you’re going to want to start with a plan. Check out the daily updating list of TPG NBN plans from our comparison engine.
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When you sign up to a TPG NBN plan, you can pay a $109.95 hardware fee (plus $10 delivery) for a preconfigured NBN-compatible modem. At the time of writing, you’re likely to be sent a TP-Link VX420-G2V modem-router, but you may have also received a TP-Link VR1600v, Huawei HG659 or Huawei HG658 modem-router.

Because all of these network devices are modem-routers, they’re designed to work on all NBN technologies. After you’ve gone through the universal TPG NBN modem steps below, you can skip down to the modem-router modem that’s relevant to you.

All TPG modems should arrive preconfigured, which means there are minimal configuration steps. TPG notes that you can perform the hardware configuration steps before your service is officially active. You’ll receive a notification from TPG to notify you when your NBN service is active. If you have any issues, contact TPG on 1300 997 271 for support.

Whatever the model, place your TPG modem-router, ideally, in a central location away from the potential interference of other electrical devices. Primarily, you want it close to two things: a power outlet and, for relevant NBN technologies, your NBN connection box so you can link the two networking devices with an Ethernet cable. For Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) and Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) users, you’ll also want to place the TPG modem-router close to an NBN wall outlet.

Plug in the TPG modem-router and power it on before completing the steps below.

Once configured, you can optionally log into your TPG modem-router to tweak or check settings. Open a web browser of any device connected to the modem-router (via WiFi or Ethernet) and put http://192.168.1.1 in your browser address bar. By default, the username and password should be ‘admin’.

When you’re logged in, click on ‘Internet’ on the home screen, then enter the username and password provided by TPG. Note this step should already be done for you, but it’s handy in case something goes wrong with your internet. Back at the main screen, click on ‘Wireless’ to change the network name and password for your WiFi network.

FTTB and FTTN TPG customers should connect the supplied telephone cable to the grey DSL port on the TP-Link VX420-G2V and the other end into a nearby NBN wall outlet.

Alternatively, Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) and Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC) homes should connect an Ethernet cable to the blue WAN port on the TP-Link VX420-G2V and plug the other end into the UNI-D1 port (FTTP and HFC) or Gateway port (FTTC) on your NBN connection box.

You should now be good to get online. Connect any wired devices to the yellow LAN ports on the back of the TP-Link VX420-G2V (up to four) and other devices by WiFi. For additional steps, read the in-depth configuration guide for the TP-Link VX420-G2V on the TPG website.

FTTP, HFC and FTTC users can link the TP-Link VR1600v to their NBN connection box with an Ethernet cable. Plug one end into the UNI-D1 port (FTTP and HFC) or Gateway port (FTTC) on the NBN connection box, then the other end into the blue WAN port.

Instead of an Ethernet cable, FTTB and FTTN homes should use the included telephone cable to connect an NBN wall outlet with the grey DSL port on the TP-Link VR1600v. FTTB and FTTN users may also want to check they have correct TPG login settings by inputting http://192.168.1.1 into a browser and using ‘admin’ for the username and password. Click on the ‘Advanced’ tab, then ‘Network’ followed by ‘DSL’. Next to ‘pppoe_ptm_2_0_d’, click the ‘Edit’ button and input your provided TPG username and password. Save the settings then click on the ‘Basic’ tab.

Back at the main screen, all NBN users can click on the ‘Wireless’ tab to change the WiFi network name and password if you like.

For additional steps, read the in-depth configuration guide for the TP-Link VR1600v on the TPG website.

The setup steps for the Huawei HG659 and Huawei HG658 modem-routers are the same, so you don’t have to go hunting for a model number.

FTTP, HFC and FTTC users can link their NBN connection box with the Huawei modem-router with an Ethernet cable: one end should go in the blue WAN port on the Huawei modem-router and the other end plugs into the Gateway (FTTC) or UNI-D1 port (FTTC and HFC).

Alternatively, FTTB and FTTN users should ignore the Ethernet cable and, instead, connect the telephone cable from the DSL port on the Huawei modem-router to a nearby NBN wall outlet.

For additional configuration, TPG advises using an Ethernet connection between computer and Huawei modem-router, but you can also use a wireless device by connecting with the WiFi details on the sticker beneath the modem-router. Additional steps start by entering http://192.168.1.1 into a browser address bar, then using ‘admin’ for username and password.

Click on ‘Star Wizard’, then enter your TPG username and password. Click ‘Next’ to continue and follow the prompts. Optionally, you can also change the WiFi network name and password; just be sure to save any changes. Note that your TPG Huawei modem-router should arrive preconfigured, so you shouldn’t have to do this step. Connect the rest of your devices in the home by WiFi or Ethernet via the four yellow LAN ports on the back of the Huawei modem-router.

For additional steps, read the in-depth configuration guide for the Huawei HG659 on the TPG website.