Orange Light On Telstra Modem? (Panic Over! Easy Fix)

Are you wondering what the orange light on Telstra modem means? Well, keep reading!

In most cases, the orange light indicates that the modem is attempting to connect, but if you see the orange for too long, know there’s something wrong.

So, fear not, this guide will guide you through a complete inspection and help you restore the internet connection on your own quickly.

When your Telstra modem has an orange light, check if the connection between your modem and the nbn box is stable. Next, power cycle the modem and nbn box.

There is much more involved, so keep reading!

Orange Signal Light on Telstra Modem – Explained

The orange signal light on your Telstra modem usually means that the modem is connected to the Telstra 4G mobile network, but the signal strength is not strong enough.

However, the Telstra modem uses different mobile signal lights to show the strength of the signal it receives from the Telstra mobile network.

Let’s first learn what all the lights on the Telstra modem signal mean:

Telstra Modem Mobile Signal Indications
🟢 Green	Good signal strength.
🟠 Orange	Medium signal strength.
🔴 Red	Poor signal strength.
⚫ OFF	Telstra 4G network unavailable.

Tip: If you have issues with the signal strength on your Telstra modem, try restarting it and moving it near a window or on a high shelf for sound signals.

How to Fix the Orange Light on Telstra Modem?

If you have never dealt with an orange light, follow the steps consecutively!

1. Observe the Orange Light

First, you need to observe the orange light on your Telstra modem and check what’s going on.

Here are a few situations that will explain the orange light based on its behaviour and pattern:

• The orange light indicates it is actively attempting to connect to the internet, which is expected during startup and should turn green.
• If the connection fails, the modem will switch to 4G backup and the orange light will persist until a stable connection is established. 
• If the orange light persists for a long time, it indicates a problem with the nbn connection, the 4G backup network, or the modem itself.

If the orange light won’t go away, continue reading!

2. Power Cycle Your Modem

Sometimes, performing a power circulation on the modem does wonders and resolves orange light and communication issues on its own. 

This includes temporarily deactivating the modem from the power supply and waiting until the electricity is fully drained.

Note: No network data will be deleted.

Use the following steps to power cycle your modem:

1. Unplug the power cord from your modem.
2. Unplug the power adaptor from the outlet.
3. Wait 5 minutes for the complete discharge.
4. Plug the power cord and adapter back in.
5. Wait a minute to allow the modem to restart.

Note: The LED lights may not change immediately after restarting the modem, and it could take up to 5 minutes for the internet light to turn green.

3. Reset the Service Connection

Your Telstra modem shows an orange light whenever it cannot connect to the nbn box, hence to the internet service.

Therefore, you must reset your nbn connection by re-connecting the service cable from the nbn box to rule out the possibility of a faulty connection and address conflicts.

To reset the service connection of your nbn, follow these steps:

1. First, unplug the nbn connection box from the power outlet.
2. Locate the service cable going into the modem and nbn box.
3. Info: In all nbn setup types, this would be an Ethernet cable.
4. Switch the Ethernet cable sides and reconnect them securely.
5. Use the “WAN” port on the modem and the “UNI-D1” nbn port.

After the nbn box boots up completely, check the front panel light on your Telstra modem.

If it turns green, the issue is resolved, and the internet connection on the device must be restored.

4. Check for Service Outages

When you’re experiencing an orange light on your Telstra modem, which indicates a connection problem, check for nbn service outages. 

This can help determine whether the problem lies with your modem or the broadband network and save you from unnecessary troubleshooting.

Here are steps to check for service outages with Telstra:

1. On your device, open the Chrome browser.
2. Navigate to the Telstra Network Status Tab.
3. Enter your full address, and click on Search.

If an outage or maintenance is in progress, the orange light is expected, and you should have to wait until the issue is resolved and service restored. 

Tip: You can contact your neighbours to determine whether their internet access is missing!

5. Configure the Telstra nbn Settings

If you’ve reset your Telstra modem or misconfigured any of the settings within the GUI of your device, you may have lost internet access. 

The orange light on the modem should disappear when these settings are configured correctly, so let’s learn exactly what you need to do.

Step #1 Access Your Telstra Modem

1. Connect a PC/laptop to your Telstra modem.
2. Info: You can use an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi.
3. Open a browser and insert http://10.0.0.138.
4. Login using “admin” and “Telstra” (capital T).

Step #2 Configure the nbn Settings

When you’re in, you must locate and adjust the following settings:

• Internet Connection Type: DHCP/Automatic/IPoE
• IP Configuration: Black/0/No
• VLAN ID/Tagging: obtain an IP address automatically/Dynamic
• Username and Password: Leave blank.

When those settings are configured, hit the Save button and return to the main screen of your Telstra modem user interface.

Then, reboot your modem from the dashboard, press the power button and observe whether the orange light will appear.

Note: If your settings were misconfigured, verify nobody is accessing your modem!

6. Check Your nbn For Overheating

When you see an orange light on Telstra modem mobile signal, then the connection with your nbn box has been lost.

The connection gets lost when your nbn box is out of service, the power goes out, or the unit is rebooting due to constant overheating.

So, place your hand on your nbn connection box, and if you notice that the device is hot on the touch, you’ll need to undertake some measures.

Here are a few ways to prevent the nbn box from overheating:

• Prevent sunlight from shining onto your nbn box.
• Dislocate all the nearby heat/warmth conductors.
• If possible, move the nbn to a well-ventilated area.
• Avoid covering/obstructing the nbn with anything.

If your box is not overheating and working uninterrupted, continue reading!

7. Factory Reset Telstra Modem

When you have tried every step but still have an orange light on your modem, we recommend you perform a factory reset as a last resort.

This is an excellent workaround and will revert all the modem settings to factory default, allowing you a fresh start with no bugs and interference.

Use these steps to factory reset the Telstra modem:

1. Make sure your modem is plugged in.
2. Locate the Reset pinhole on the modem.
3. Using a paperclip, reach within the hole.
4. Hold the Reset button for ∼15 seconds.
5. Wait 5 minutes for the modem to reboot.

When ready with the reset, enter your Telstra modem’s GUI by inserting “http://10.0.0.138” into your browser.

Reminder: Don’t forget that after the factory reset, your modem’s login credentials will be reset to default, which means you must use “admin” and “Telstra”.

8. Factory Reset Your nbn Box

The final solution against the orange light on your Telstra modem is resetting your nbn box to default, a straightforward method. 

If your nbn is portable, the device resets the same way as your modem, and you only need a pointy-ended tool such as a paperclip or a needle to reach in.

After holding the reset button for 10 seconds, your Telstra nbn box will automatically reset and acquire all networking settings.

Note: After resetting your nbn connection box, you may need to wait 15 minutes (with the modem’s orange light) until the connection is established.

Quick Recap:

To fix the orange light on the Telstra modem, power cycle the modem, reset the nbn service connection, check for outages and inspect whether service cables are intact.

If the issue continues, adjust the settings configuration and perform a factory reset on the modem.

Follow us for more Telstra internet troubleshooting!