NBN Hacking - Internet At All TImes

Connect your modem/router to your NBN battery to have internet even during a power outage. This guide will show you how.

Ever been through a power outage and wished you still had internet? Tick.

Looked at the battery backed FTTP NBN boxes and wished your router had battery backup? Tick.

Started wondering "If i had battery backup for my router, i'd still have internet..." - Tick.

If you have the Coalitions' Multi Technology Mix FTTN NBN. Stop right here. YOU SHALL NOT PASS!

If you're lucky enough to have FTTP NBN with battery backup, you can probably have internet at all times too.

Tools Required

• Wire Strippers
• DC Volt Meter (A Multimeter)
• Wire Cutters
• Electrical Tape
• 20 minutes

and in my case, the biggest tool of them all, me.

Before We Get Started

First of all, have a look at your router. The power socket should have something like "12v Xa" written on it. If it does, you're in luck and we can continue. If you can't find it, you may need to google your model of router and find its power specifications. As long the routers input voltage is 12 volts, you should be fine.

If it has a number less than 12, you'll need a pair of DC to DC Step Down Voltage Converter Module and some google time to teach you how to wire them inline.

Getting Started

Turn off your router and disconnect the power to it.

Disconnect the power from the wall socket.

Open the battery backup unit cover and remove the battery from its holder. This will make it easier to work on.

Identify The Wires

Your routers' power cable is actually made up of two separate wires. It's now time to cut the cord and figure out which one is the positive and which is the negative. Separate the two wires and strip them. Make sure the bare wires DO NOT TOUCH!

Be VERY careful at this point! Use your volt meter on the volts DC mode and touch the leads to the wires. If you get a positive number, your red lead is on the positive wire. If you receive a negative number ie -12.XX then your red lead is on the negative wire.

Keeping enough to connect to the battery, cut the cord to the power adapter because your not going to need that anymore. You can of course skip this step but you'll have to be VERY diligent about keeping the power pack disconnected. Who knows what it'll do to your router or the NBM equiment if you do. 

Be VERY careful at this point! Strip a small section of wire from each of the leads. A wire stripper like the one above will make this task really easy without damaging or cutting the existing wires. Always try to stagger your wire connections so you don't end up with a lump of tape in one area. They're also less likely touch each other.

Connecting Your Router To Battery Backup

Now you know which lead is your positive and which is your negative, you'll be able to connect the positive wire to the positive wire on the NBN battery and the negative wire to the negative wire connected to the NBN battery. Wrap the connections in electrical tape and your done.

The Moment Of Truth

Connect the power to the router and turn on your router. If your connections are solid, your router should turn on and power up running directly off the battery.

The next time you have a power outage, your router will still be online. By the way, the entire time i've been writing this article, i've been running off the NBN battery!

Disclaimer

The Ignorant IT guy takes no responsibility for any damage you cause to your equipment, NBN Co equipment or yourself. Don't come crying to me if your shit blows up or you zap yourself.

Will NBN Co allow this kind of setup? Probably not...