What do the lights on my nbn® connection box mean?

Learn what the lights show about your connection and what to do if you’re having trouble.

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    Select your internet connection type

    If you're not sure what type of connection you have, learn more about the different connection types we use.

    You can find your connection type on your order confirmation email or in My Telstra.

    To find your connection in My Telstra:

    1. Go to Services
    2. Select your internet service
    3. Select View or manage your plan.

    Fibre To The Premises (FTTP)

    If this is your connection type, here’s what the lights on your nbn connection box mean and what steps you need to take to resolve issues.

    Off
    • The connection box has no power.
    • To resolve this, check it’s plugged in and switched on. If there's still no power light, contact us on 1800 834 273.
    Red
    • The connection box is operating on backup battery power. In a mains power failure, you'll only have services over the nbn network for a limited period of up to five hours.
    Solid green
    • Power supply is working normally.
    Flashing green
    • The connection box is starting up. The light will turn solid shortly.

    Off
    Red
    Solid green
    • Indicates the connection box is connected and working properly.
    Flashing green
    • Indicates the connection box is working and there is normal activity on the network.

    Off
    • The connection box is working, but you have no devices connected.
    Red
    Green
    • The connection box is connected and working properly.

    Off
    • There are no active ethernet devices connected to this port at this time, or a connected device is off.
    • If a device is connected to the port and turned on, try restarting the device and restart your nbn connection box. If that doesn't work, call us on 1800 834 273.
    Solid yellow
    • An active device capable of operating up to 1 gigabit per second is connected.
    Flashing yellow
    • An active device capable of operating up to 1 gigabit per second is sending or receiving data.
    Solid green
    • An active device capable of operating up to 100 megabits per second is connected.
    Flashing green
    • An active device capable of operating up to 100 megabits per second is sending or receiving data.

    Off
    • This is the expected state for Telstra services.
    Solid green
    • One or more telephone services are in use.
    Flashing green
    • One or more telephone services have been in use for over an hour.
    • If nobody is using the phone, make sure handsets are hung up.

    Off
    • Normal operation.
    Red
    • The connection box has failed to download a software update.
    • To resolve this, call us on 1800 834 273.
    Flashing green
    • The connection box is downloading a software update.
    • Wait for the download to finish, then check your service again.

    Fibre to the Curb (FTTC)

    If this is your connection type, here’s what the lights on your nbn connection box mean.

    Off
    • The connection box has no power.
    • To resolve this, check it’s plugged in and switched on. If there's still no power light, call us on 1800 834 273.
    Blue
    • Power supply is working normally.

    Solid blue
    • The connection box is connected and working properly.
    Flashing blue
    • The connection box is starting up. The light will turn solid shortly, but setup could take 20 minutes.
    Solid or flashing red
    • There may be a line fault or other issue.
    • To resolve this, turn off power to the connection box and call us on 1800 834 273.
    Alternating red and blue
    • There may be a line fault, like an off-hook telephone.
    • To resolve this, disconnect all non-compatible devices from telephone wall sockets. If that doesn't work, call us on 1800 834 273.

    Off
    • The device’s link is down.
    • If the power and connection lights are solid blue, call us on 1800 834 273.
    Solid blue
    • Normal operation.
    Flashing blue
    • DSL synchronisation or a software update is in progress. Wait for the update to complete, then check your service again.

    Off
    • There is no ethernet connection to the device.
    • To resolve this, check all cables have been connected correctly and your modem or gateway is switched on.
    Blue or amber
    • Normal operation.

    Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC)

    If this is your connection type, here’s what the lights on your nbn connection box mean.

    Off
    • The connection box has no power.
    • To resolve this, check it’s plugged in and switched on. If there's still no power light, contact us on 1800 834 273.
    Solid green
    • Power supply is working normally.
    Flashing green

    Solid green
    • You're able to receive outgoing data.
    Flashing green
    • Firmware update in progress.
    • Allow up to 10 minutes for the upgrade to finish. Existing services, including some types of medical alarms, may temporarily stop working on the nbn network during these periodic network/firmware updates. Please keep a charged mobile phone on hand in case of an emergency.

    Solid green
    • You're able to send outgoing data.
    Flashing green
    • Firmware update in progress.
    • Allow up to 10 minutes for the upgrade to finish. Existing services, including some types of medical alarms, may temporarily stop working on the nbn network during these periodic network/firmware updates. Please keep a charged mobile phone on hand in case of an emergency.

    Off
    Green
    • The connection box is connected and working properly.

    Fixed Wireless (FW)

    If this is your connection type, here’s what the lights on your nbn connection box mean.

    Off
    • The connection box has no power.
    • To resolve this, check it’s plugged in and switched on. If there's still no power light, contact us on 1800 834 273.
    Green
    • Power supply is working normally.

    Solid green
    • The connection box is in test mode.
    Flashing green
    • Normal operation.
    Flashing amber
    • The connection box is starting up and installing.
    Red

    Solid green
    • The connection box is online.
    Flashing green
    • The connection box is online and there’s activity.
    Solid red
    Flashing red

    Red
    • Low signal strength (no error).
    Amber
    • Medium signal strength.
    Green
    • High signal strength.

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