Telstra WiFi Booster Not Pairing? (Fix Pairing Issues Fast!)

Is your Telstra WiFi booster not pairing? You’re not alone with this problem, so keep reading!

The Telstra Wi-Fi booster is designed to be connected to the modem initially and then moved to its permanent position to extend the Wi-Fi coverage.

But when the booster cannot be paired to your modem, you can’t really proceed with the steps, so continue reading to find the resolution.

When a Telstra Wi-Fi booster can’t pair to the modem, attempt both pairing methods, with or without the app. If the pairing does not work inspect the connection, reinstall the Telstra app, and connect to a proven outlet.

There is much more to unwrap, so continue reading!

How to Pair Telstra WiFi Booster Correctly?

You can pair the Telstra Wi-Fi booster with the Telstra Home Dashboard app or without an app by using a connected computer.

We’ve prepared a detailed guide for both possible occasions!

Pair Telstra Wi-Fi Booster via the App:

Note: The pros of using the Telstra app are that you don’t need a computer!

Plug the booster into the modem via Ethernet.
Connect the Wi-Fi booster to an A/C socket.
Connect your smartphone to the internet.
Open the Google Play Store or App Store.
Download the “Telstra Home Dashboard.”
Sign in to the app by using the credentials.
Scan the QR code on your Wi-Fi booster.
Follow the in-app instructions for the pairing.

Note: Alternatively, go to the application’s “Support” tab and tap “Set up a device.”

Pair Telstra Wi-Fi Booster Without App:

Note: The cons of not using the Telstra app is that you will need a computer!

Connect a PC/laptop to the modem’s network.
Plug the Wi-Fi booster into the modem’s “LAN.”
Connect your Telstra booster to the A/C outlet.
Open a web browser and go to “telstra.wifi.”
Log in using “Telstra” as your name and pass.
Go to Settings → “Network Name/SSID” field.
Insert your Telstra wireless access credentials.
Click on “Save” to preserve your configuration.

Reminder: When you’re ready, you can relocate your Telstra Wi-Fi booster between your modem and the dead Wi-Fi zone of your home.

How to Fix When Telstra WiFi Booster Not Pairing?

Tip: Follow the troubleshooting instructions consecutively!

1. Inspect the Booster Light Colour

The first step when the Telstra Wi-Fi booster is not working is to check the condition and the colour of the front LED light.

This will help you understand what exactly is going on with your Telstra booster and suggest the best troubleshooting approach.

Here’s what your Telstra Wi-Fi extender is currently showing:

Telstra Wi-Fi Booster Light Colours
Blue 🔵	Purple 🟣	Amber 🟠	Red 🔴	No Light ⚫
Successful Setup(the Wi-Fi booster is working correctly)	Ongoing Action(updating, loading or pairing)	Poor Signal(the booster is too far away)	No Connection(booster is not paired to modem)	No Power(no power from the power supply)

If your Telstra booster is not pairing with the modem, then you will be seeing a constant red light, meaning that the connection failed.

The corresponding solution is to re-try the pairing, and if you already did, but the process won’t work, you will need additional troubleshooting.

Note: if you see a purple colour on the Telstra booster, wait 5 minutes before troubleshooting!

2. Shorten Booster’s Wi-Fi Distance

Note: Skip this step if your Telstra booster shows a red light!

If you’re observing an amber colour on the Telstra booster and cannot pair to the Wi-Fi network through a wireless device, shorten the distance proximity.

The maximum recommended distance for the Telstra booster is 150 feet from the modem, but this magnitude involves many factors.

So, connect your Telstra booster closer to the modem and check whether your connection device will now pair with the Wi-Fi network.

Warning: Wireless interference can prevent your devices from connecting to the Telstra booster Wi-Fi, so avoid connecting the device near RF transmitters.

3. Soft Reset the Telstra Equipment

If your Telstra Wi-Fi booster is still not pairing with the modem, it’s time to perform a refresh on the system for both the modem and your Wi-Fi booster.

Note: This method will not erase any of your modem or booster settings!

How to Soft Reset the Telstra Modem?

Press the Power button to turn “OFF” your modem.
Unplug the power adapter from the electrical outlet.
Disconnect the power cable from the modem’s port.
Wait 60 seconds while the modem is discharging.
Connect the power cable and adapter on both sides.

While waiting…

How to Soft Reset the Telstra Booster?

Straightforwardly unplug the A/C wire from the booster.
Also, disconnect the power adapter supplying the unit.
Wait for 60 seconds for your booster to power cycle.
Plug the A/C adapter directly into the electrical outlet.
Reconnect the power cable into the Wi-Fi booster port.

Tip: When both your modem and Wi-Fi booster are refreshed, retry both methods of pairing, with and without the app!

4. Plug into a Different Power Outlet

The pairing issues with the Telstra Wi-Fi booster may be occurring due to a power insufficiency from the electrical source.

If your Telstra booster is constantly restarting and can’t keep up, you will often see a purple light, preventing the pairing process with the modem.

Connect your Telstra Wi-Fi booster to a proven electrical outlet!

The outlet must be a direct wall socket without power extenders, dividers, smart plugs, or other devices rerouting the power.

When you turn on the Wi-Fi booster, it’s normal to observe a purple light for a while, and when the light turns red, you must pair the booster to the modem.

Tip: Inspect the power port connector of your Telstra Wi-Fi booster power cable for damage!

5. Inspect the Booster’s Connection

One of the primary requirements for pairing a Telstra Wi-Fi booster to a modem is the Ethernet cable connection required during the initial setup.

Your Telstra booster must be connected to the modem via a yellow-ended Ethernet cable.

The Telstra booster has only one yellow Ethernet port, so the issue can’t be there.

However, the modem may have multiple LAN ports, one of which is WAN, used for the NBN service.

So, there might be a problem with the currently selected port or the connector of the Ethernet cable.

You can do a few things and retry the pairing after each step:

Plug the Ethernet cable into a different modem LAN port.
Switch the Ethernet wire sides and plug them respectively.
Inspect the connectors of the Ethernet cable for breakage.
Check the LAN port on your modem for any obstructions.

If the connection between the Telstra Wi-Fi booster and modem appears intact, the issue is elsewhere, so continue reading.

6. Reinstall the Telstra Home App

If your Telstra Wi-Fi booster is not pairing through the Telstra Home Dashboard app, it’s not excluded that the issue comes from the app.

Hence, to resolve the problem, it would be enough to uninstall and reinstall the application on your Android or iOS mobile device.

This will refresh the application’s data and will hopefully fix the issue with your Telstra booster pairing.

Here’s how to remove and reinstall the Telstra Home Dashboard:

First, find the “Telstra Home Dashboard” app icon.
Tap and hold the application’s icon continuously.
On Android, drag the Telstra app to the “Trash Bin.”
On iOS, tap the “Remove This App” menu option.
Next, open “Google Play” or “App Store,” respectively.
Locate the “Telstra Home Dashboard” application.
Finally, tap on the “Install” or “Cloud+Arrow” button.

This will not only reinstall and refresh the application’s data but also guarantee that you’ve got the latest version of the app.

When you’re ready, feel free to retry the booster pairing procedure.

Note: If the pairing fails through the app, make sure to attempt the pairing via a web browser!

7. Replace Your Telstra Wi-Fi Booster

Considering the volume of Telstra users who reported a pairing problem with their boosters, you may need to contact Telstra Customer Support.

It appears that you may have been sent a defective unit, and if that’s the case your warranty will cover everything.

With a bit of luck, you’ll be sent a new, working booster as soon as possible and you’ll be able to carry out the pairing process in no time, without the annoying interruptions.

Tip: Share everything you’ve tried in this guide!

Quick Recap:

Hence, whenever the Telstra WiFi booster not pairing to your modem, check the colour of the LED light and attempt both pairing methods.

Also, reinstall the Telstra app, check the physical cable between your booster and modem, and soft reset your Telstra equipment.

Finn Wheatley

Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.