Can My NBN Modem Router Be Flashed? (FlashRouters FAQ)

The NBN is the National Broadband Network in Australia. It is a national wholesale open-access data network project with both wired and radio communication components.

NBN customers are typically given an NBN modem router for their home network. Are NBN modem routers compatible with open-source firmware?

What Exactly Is The NBN Network?

The NBN network is an upgrade to Australia’s existing phone and Internet infrastructure. This is will affect the majority of Australians because it impacts both landline phones and Internet services.

The network is being rolled out progressively across Australia with the goal to connect eight million homes and businesses by 2020.

This is being done because Australia’s existing copper network cannot keep up with the demands of the 21st century. The NBN network is designed to provide access to fast and reliable landline phones and Internet services no matter the area.

How Do I Get Onto The Australian NBN Network?

To ensure phone and Internet services continue working, customers will need to move them to the NBN network before they are switched off. Customers are not automatically connected to the new NBN network.

In order to connect, customers must contact their preferred phone or Internet provider to order a service over the NBN network.

Customers will then be moved over to the NBN network and provided with a new NBN modem router.

Can An NBN Modem Router Be Flashed With Open-Source Firmware?

The short answer is no, you cannot flash DD-WRT onto an NBN modem router.

Open-source firmware is not compatible with NBN modem routers. These modem routers do not use Broadcom or Atheros chips, which means that drivers for these products are not publicly available.

Without the drivers being public, open-source development teams cannot develop DD-WRT builds that are compatible with NBN modem routers.

This is the same case as DSL modem router combos.

How Can I Use A VPN With My NBN Modem Router?

After the Dallas Buyer’s Club Fiasco in 2015, it is highly recommended that Australians use a VPN on their home network. For those of you who don’t know, this landmark case forces ISPs to hand over details of customers that have pirated movies.

The best option for customers looking to use a VPN with an NBN modem router is to use a  VPN-enabled FlashRouter alongside their NBN modem router.

This is achieved by adding a DD-WRT FlashRouter to your home network setup as shown below in the FlashRouters Dual Router Setup.