Telstra Modem Red Light? – (Don’t Worry, Fix It Here!)

Wondering what the Telstra modem red light means? Continue reading the guide to know!

In most cases, the red light on the Telstra modem is not a good sign since it indicates an issue with your modem that must be fixed immediately.

Don’t panic – We’ll unwrap everything in this guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve the modem’s red light, regardless of the indicator.

When your Telstra modem has a red light, unplug your modem and NBN connection box from the socket for about 3 minutes. Next, check the service status and inspect the cable connections, and if nothing helps, factory reset your Telstra modem.

Before we dig deeper, let’s find out what can cause the red light!

What Causes the Red Light on Telstra Modem?

The primary reason for a red light on the Telstra modem is a failure or disruption of the internet connection.

However, on a Telstra modem, there are quite a few bulbs that can turn red, so you must first identify which indicator is lit in red and then address your modem’s issue accordingly.

All Possible Red Lights on Telstra Modem
LED Indicator	Colour	Reason
Front LED	RED🔴	The fixed NBN connection and mobile failed to connect, and your Telstra modem attempted to reconnect.
ONLINE	RED🔴	Password Authentication Protocol (PPP) failure.
MOBILE SIGNAL	RED🔴	Poor signal or signal interruptions.
PHONE (SIP Mode)	RED🔴	Unable to perform a call
PAIR	RED🔴	The WPS connection setup timed out or failed

Having all these possibilities in mind, let’s move further to explore and address all of them!

How to Fix the Telstra Modem Red Light?

Tip: Follow the instructions consecutively!

1. Reboot Your Modem and NBN Box

When you see a red light on the Telstra modem, especially the front LED, restarting the network equipment does wonders and addresses the red light problem. 

This includes disconnecting your modem and NBN connection box from the source for a few minutes to run a power circulation on an entire system.

Use the following steps to reboot your devices:

To Reboot the Telstra Modem:

1. Press the Power button to turn off the modem.
2. Disconnect the power cord from the modem.
3. Also, unplug the power adapter from the outlet.
4. Wait for 2 minutes for the complete discharge.
5. Reconnect your Telstra modem to the electricity.
6. Wait until your modem’s front LED turns green.

To Reboot the Connection Box:

1. Unplug the NBN connection device from the outlet.
2. Wait at least 2 minutes while the box is unplugged.
3. After that, plug in the NBN box back to power it on.

Note: Your network setup may take up to 5 minutes to re-establish after the restart.

2. Turn “ON” the Modem’s Wi-Fi Feature

When your Telstra modem has a red light, you should check the Wi-Fi light.

Telstra modem has Wi-Fi or WPS buttons to turn the Wi-Fi broadcasting on/off.

If the Wi-Fi button is disabled on the modem, it will display the red LED light.

To check the Wi-Fi light, follow these steps:

1. First, check whether your modem’s Wi-Fi light is green.
2. If not, then locate the Wi-Fi or WPS button on the modem.
3. Press the Wi-Fi or WPS button to turn the Wi-Fi feature on.

Then, check for the red status light on the modem!

One More Thing – Check Your NBN Box

If the front LED on your Telstra modem is still there, check the status light on the NBN connection box.

If the light next to the “Online” is off, this means you are not connected to the NBN network.

Important: Verify that the coaxial cable is firmly connected!

3. Check for Telstra Service Outage

If the red internet light on Telstra modem is still there, the reason may be an ongoing service outage in your area, causing internet issues. 

In such a case, you must check for the outages, both for the Telstra internet service and for NBN outages in your area.

If you’ve never checked for outages before, we’ve prepared easy steps:

Follow these steps to check for service outages:

1. On the computer, open the Chrome browser.
2. First, go to the Telstra Network Status page.
3. Choose “Address” under the outage search.
4. Enter your Full Address, and click on Search.
5. Then, go to the NBN Network Status web page.
6. Insert the address, and click “Search address.”

Other than this, you should also contact your internet provider because maybe the problem is coming from their side.

If you find an outage ongoing, you should wait until the service is fixed.

If there’s no outage, continue reading!

4. Check Your Wiring Connections

When your Telstra modem is displaying a red light, checking the wiring connection is a compulsory step.

This is because your modem uses an Ethernet cable to get an internet connection from the network box, and any faulty connection will lead to connection loss.

Here is how to inspect the modem wiring connections:

1. First, unplug the modem and NBN connection box.
2. Then, inspect the WAN and LAN cable connection.
3. Unplug your WAN cable from the modem and box.
4. Reconnect the red end of the cable to the modem.
5. Reconnect the white end of the cable into the NBN.
6. Ensure the Ethernet is plugged into any “LAN” port.

When everything is in order, plug in both devices and test the internet.

Note: It’s crucial to inspect the cables' connectors and whether they are bent or broken, as well as the respective ports for any obstruction.

5. Inspect the DSL/ADSL Filters

DSL/ADSL filters are used to prevent interference between your phone and your DSL modem.

If the filters are faulty or not correctly installed, it can lead to disruptions in the signal, resulting in a red light on the modem.

Therefore, you must check the DSL filter and verify everything is intact. 

Use the following steps to inspect the DSL filters:

1. First, gently unplug the filter from the wall phone outlet.
2. Disconnect the grey telephone cable from the modem.
3. Unplug the white end of the cable from your telephone.
4. Inspect your filters for wear, frayed wires, or bent pins.
5. If the filters are cracked, you will need to replace them!

Tip: Make sure you have one filter for each phone jack in your home!

6. Reposition the Telstra Modem 

Another severe possibility for the red light Telstra modem can be signal interference from other electronic devices.

This may sound odd, but if you have placed any wireless device or electronic device near your Telstra modem, the unit may experience network disruption and signal loss.

Here’s a list of some sources of signal interference:

So, ensure no such interfering sources are placed close to the modem to minimise the chances of signal loss or interference.

If no units are interfering with the modem connection, but the red light is still there, continue reading…

7. Perform a Modem Factory Reset

If you have tried all the steps, but the red light is still on the modem, perform a factory reset to revert any faulty settings to default.

This is a last-resort solution and will permanently delete all your custom configurations and network settings, such as Wi-Fi names, passwords, and Proxy.

Here is how to factory reset the Telstra modem:

1. Ensure the modem is plugged in and on.
2. Locate the Reset pinhole on the modem.
3. Press the Reset button using Paperclip.
4. Hold for about 15 seconds, then release.
5. Wait 5 minutes until your modem reboots.

Once you finish the above steps, verify the WAN connection and set up your Telstra modem again to connect your devices to the Wi-Fi.

Tip: Set the previous password while configuring so all devices connect automatically! 

8. Update Your Telstra Account

If the “Online” light on your Telstra modem is red, you’re facing a PPP failure, and there are many possibilities.

If you’ve already tried everything in this guide, you may not be able to resolve the PPP failure alone, but it’s good to know what’s causing it and what to do next.

Reasons for PPP failure on Telstra modem:

• Faulty Telstra modem/system.
• No Telstra Wholesale service.
• An issue with the TW network.
• Fibre cable interruption or cut.
• A Telstra account suspension.

Tip: Contact Telstra Customer Service for additional help!

Quick Recap:

To fix the Telstra modem red light, first, check the Wi-Fi button on the modem, restart the modem and NBN box and check for service outages.

Also, inspect whether your wiring is intact and if the issue continues, check the DSL filters or perform a modem factory reset.

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