If your NBN keeps cutting out, the cause is usually one of three things: a network outage nbn hasn't resolved yet, a modem that's ageing or simply out of range, or a line fault on an FTTN or HFC connection — the two technologies most exposed to Hobart's wet, hilly weather. Here's how to tell which one you've got, and what actually fixes it.
Is it a known nbn outage, or just your connection?
Before you touch any cables, rule out the easy answer. nbn runs a free network status checker — enter your address and it'll tell you straight away if there's a planned or unplanned outage affecting your area, including any emergency maintenance currently in progress. If it comes back clear, the fault is local to your house or your line, not the wider network.
It's worth checking because reliability complaints have been climbing nationally. The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's Quarter 2 2025–26 complaints data recorded 14,017 complaints nationally, with complaints about having no working phone or internet service up 41.6% and complaints about intermittent service or dropouts up 21.6% on the previous quarter — the two biggest movers in the whole report. If your connection has felt flakier lately, you're not imagining it.
Why does Hobart's NBN drop out more in wet or windy weather?
Hobart runs on a mix of nbn technologies. Newer fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connections carry the signal on glass all the way to your wall, which barely notices bad weather. Older or outer-suburb connections on fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) or hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) still run over copper for the last stretch — and copper is far more sensitive to moisture, corrosion and temperature swings. Heavy rain, coastal damp, or a poorly sealed pit or pole connection can all introduce noise onto the line and cause exactly the kind of random dropouts people report during Tasmanian storms.
If you're on fixed wireless out toward the edge of the service area, wind and heavy rain can also affect the radio signal between your antenna and the local tower, especially if trees or new construction have crept into the line of sight since it was installed.
Don't know which technology you're on? Your welcome email from nbn or your provider's account portal will say — it changes what's worth checking first.
How do you fix an NBN dropout, step by step?
Work through these in order. Most dropouts are solved by step 3 or 4 — the rest need your provider involved.
- Check nbn's outage tool for your address first (see above). No point troubleshooting a fault that isn't yours to fix.
- Power-cycle the modem. Unplug it from the wall for a full 30 seconds, then plug back in and give it 2–3 minutes to fully reconnect. This clears the majority of one-off drops.
- Reposition the modem. Central, elevated, away from other electronics, thick walls, and fish tanks or mirrors if you have them — all of it degrades Wi-Fi signal, even if the underlying NBN connection is fine.
- Check every physical connection — the wall socket, the modem's WAN/fibre port, and the power board it's plugged into. A half-seated cable causes intermittent drops that look identical to a network fault.
- Test with a wired connection. Plug a laptop directly into the modem via ethernet. If that stays rock-solid but Wi-Fi still drops, the problem is your Wi-Fi setup, not the NBN line — different fix entirely.
- Call your provider for a line test if it's still dropping. They can check for packet loss, signal noise, or sync issues remotely that you have no way of seeing from your end.
- Ask for a technician visit if the remote test doesn't find or fix it, particularly if the drops are frequent, reproducible, and started around a specific event — like a storm, a new appliance, or building work nearby.
Common NBN dropout causes at a glance
| What you're seeing | Likely cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Drops at the same time most evenings | Peak-hour congestion on your plan or a busy household network | Check your plan's speed tier; move heavy users to 5GHz or ethernet |
| Drops during rain, wind or storms | Moisture or wind damage on FTTN/HFC copper, or fixed wireless line-of-sight loss | Report a line fault once weather clears; ask for a technician if it repeats |
| Wi-Fi drops but the modem light stays connected | Interference, distance, or an overloaded router | Reposition and restart the modem; test with a wired device |
| Whole connection drops at random, any time | Ageing modem, loose cabling, or an unplanned outage | Check nbn's outage tool; power-cycle the modem; check cable connections |
| Dropouts started after a storm and haven't stopped | Physical line fault — damaged pit, pole, or lead-in cable | Request an ISP line test and, if needed, a technician visit |
When is it worth calling someone in?
DIY troubleshooting solves most one-off drops. It's worth getting help when the fault keeps coming back after a line test comes back clean, when it's affecting a home office or small business that can't afford the downtime, or when the "fix" would mean rewiring, relocating equipment, or setting up a mesh network properly rather than just restarting a box.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if there's an NBN outage in my area?
Use nbn's free network status tool and enter your address. It shows planned maintenance, unplanned outages, and any emergency work in progress, in real time. If the tool shows no outage but you're still having issues, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman's own troubleshooting guide has the next step: report it to your provider so they can investigate or escalate it.
Why does my NBN drop out at the same time every night?
This pattern usually points to peak-hour congestion — either on your household network (everyone streaming and gaming after dinner) or, less often, on your provider's network capacity for your plan tier. Try a wired connection during the drop window to see if it's your Wi-Fi or the line itself, then check whether a higher speed tier is available on your plan.
Does bad weather really affect NBN connections in Hobart?
Yes, for some connection types. Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) is largely weather-resistant since it's glass all the way to your wall. FTTN and HFC connections still rely on copper for part of the run, and copper is genuinely more prone to moisture-related faults — which is why dropouts often cluster around Hobart's wetter, windier stretches.
Is my modem the problem, or the NBN line itself?
Test with a device plugged directly into the modem via ethernet cable. If that connection stays stable while Wi-Fi keeps dropping, the fault is in your Wi-Fi setup — router placement, interference, or an ageing device. If the wired connection also drops, the problem sits further upstream, on the line or the network.
Should I buy my own modem instead of using the one my provider gave me?
Provider-supplied modems are usually fine for most households, but budget models can struggle with larger homes, thick walls, or heavy multi-device use. If you're repositioning, restarting, and still getting drops that a line test can't explain, an ageing or underpowered modem is a reasonable next thing to rule out.
Need a hand in person? HeyTech comes to your door anywhere across Greater Hobart — Wi-Fi dead spots, modem and router setup, and full home or business network troubleshooting. Book a visit →