Working From Home Guide
A reliable internet connection is essential for remote work. This guide covers everything you need to optimise your home office setup for video calls, file sharing, and productive work days.
What Speed Do You Need for Working From Home?
Different work tasks have different bandwidth requirements:
Basic Office Work
NBN 25 or higher – Suitable for:
- Email and web browsing
- Document editing (Word, Excel, Google Docs)
- Basic cloud applications
- Voice calls
Regular Video Conferencing
NBN 50 recommended – Better for:
- HD video calls (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet)
- Screen sharing during meetings
- Cloud file syncing (Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive)
- Multiple users working from home
Heavy Data Users
NBN 100 or higher – Ideal for:
- Uploading large files regularly
- Video editing or creative work
- Multiple simultaneous video calls
- Households with several people working/studying from home
- Remote access to office servers (RDP, VPN)
Upload Speed Matters
When working from home, upload speed is just as important as download speed. This is because you’re constantly sending data:
- Video calls – Your camera feed uploads continuously
- Screen sharing – Sending your screen to others
- File uploads – Saving documents to the cloud
- VPN connections – Two-way traffic with your office
If your video freezes during calls but your internet otherwise seems fine, you may need a plan with better upload speeds. Check your connection type – FTTP connections typically offer the best upload speeds.
Optimising Your Home Office Setup
Use Ethernet When Possible
For the most reliable connection during important meetings:
- Connect your work computer directly to your router with an Ethernet cable
- Ethernet is more stable than WiFi with lower latency
- No interference from other devices or neighbours
- If your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, USB-to-Ethernet adapters are inexpensive
Optimise Your WiFi
If you must use WiFi for work:
- Work near your router when possible
- Use 5GHz WiFi instead of 2.4GHz for faster speeds (if your device supports it)
- Reduce interference – Keep router away from microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors
- Consider a mesh system for large homes or multiple floors
- Position your router centrally – not in a cupboard or behind furniture
See our WiFi improvement guide for detailed tips.
Prioritise Work Traffic
Many routers have Quality of Service (QoS) settings that let you prioritise certain types of traffic:
- Give priority to video conferencing applications
- Prioritise your work computer over other devices
- Limit bandwidth for streaming services during work hours
Check your router’s admin panel for QoS or bandwidth management options.
Video Conferencing Tips
Before Important Meetings
- Test your connection – Run a speed test at speedtest.net
- Close unnecessary apps – Especially those syncing files or streaming
- Ask household members to avoid heavy downloads during your call
- Restart your router if you’ve had connection issues
- Have a backup plan – Know how to join via phone if needed
During Video Calls
- Turn off HD video if experiencing lag – standard definition uses less bandwidth
- Mute when not speaking – Reduces upload requirements
- Turn off video occasionally – For large meetings where you’re just listening
- Use virtual backgrounds sparingly – They require extra processing power
- Close browser tabs – Especially those with auto-refreshing content
Recommended Settings by Platform
Zoom: Settings > Video > Check “HD” only if you have reliable bandwidth
Microsoft Teams: Settings > Devices > Turn on “Noise suppression” for better audio
Google Meet: Settings > Video > Adjust “Send resolution” if having issues
VPN Connections
If your workplace requires a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection:
VPN Tips
- Use split tunneling if available – Only route work traffic through VPN
- Connect via Ethernet – VPNs add overhead, so a stable connection helps
- Choose the closest server – Reduces latency
- Report slow VPN performance to your IT department – it may not be your internet
VPN Performance Issues
If your VPN seems slow:
- Test your internet speed without VPN first
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting the VPN
- Check if the VPN server location matters (try different servers if available)
- Contact your IT support – the issue may be server-side
Cloud Storage & File Syncing
Working with cloud files (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox) requires steady bandwidth:
Optimising Cloud Sync
- Use selective sync – Only sync folders you actually need
- Pause syncing during calls – Most apps let you pause uploads temporarily
- Schedule large uploads – Sync big files outside work hours
- Check sync status – A constantly syncing icon means background data use
Managing Multiple Users
If multiple people in your household work or study from home:
Coordinate Schedules
- Share calendars so everyone knows when important calls are happening
- Stagger video meetings when possible
- Agree on “priority times” for each person
Consider Upgrading Your Plan
With multiple concurrent users, you may need:
- Higher speeds – NBN 100 or above for 2+ remote workers
- Better upload – Especially important for households with multiple video callers
Check your address to see what speeds are available at your location.
Backup Internet Options
For mission-critical work, consider having a backup connection:
- Mobile hotspot – Use your phone’s data as a temporary backup
- Portable 4G/5G modem – Dedicated backup device
- Nearby locations – Know where you could work if needed (library, cafe, family)
Check your mobile plan for hotspot data limits and consider keeping emergency data available.
Troubleshooting Work-From-Home Issues
Video Freezing or Pixelated
- Check upload speed with a speed test
- Close other applications using internet
- Move closer to router or connect via Ethernet
- Lower video quality in your meeting app settings
Audio Cutting Out
- Audio uses less bandwidth than video – if audio drops, check your connection
- Try turning off your video to prioritise audio
- Switch to phone dial-in as backup
- Restart your router if issues persist
Slow File Uploads
- Check your upload speed (often lower than download)
- Upload outside peak hours if possible
- Compress files before uploading
- Consider upgrading to a plan with better upload speeds
VPN Keeps Disconnecting
- Check your underlying internet connection stability
- Contact your IT department – may be a server issue
- Try a wired connection instead of WiFi
- Some routers have VPN passthrough settings that may help
Security When Working From Home
Protect your work and your company’s data:
- Secure your WiFi – Use WPA2 or WPA3 with a strong password
- Keep software updated – Operating system, browsers, and work applications
- Use your company’s VPN when accessing sensitive data
- Be cautious with public WiFi – Avoid working on sensitive data at cafes
- Lock your screen when stepping away, especially with others home
See our security guide for more tips on protecting your home network.
Need Help?
If you’re having persistent issues working from home, contact our support team. We can:
- Check your line for issues
- Review your speed requirements
- Recommend a more suitable plan if needed
- Help troubleshoot connection problems