Vodafone SuperWifi: What Is It and Is It Worth the Money?

Vodafone’s SuperWifi broadband deal is promising end-to-end, wall-to-wall, wi-fi coverage in your home. Guaranteed or you get a $100 credit back. For those accustomed to patchy signals and buffering, it sounds like a dream.

So how is this achieved? Vodafone’s SuperWifi utilises mesh wi-fi technology. Mesh wi-fi has been growing in popularity in recent years, using multiple nodes to create hotspots throughout the house, increasing the signal’s range. And while it’s a great option, it isn’t something available exclusively to Vodafone customers. There are plenty of options out there.

SuperWifi also taps into the latest wi-fi standard – wi-fi 6. Further enhancing your network speed and performance.

So what exactly is Vodafone’s SuperWifi Broadband, and is it worth it? Canstar takes a look.

Vodafone SuperWifi: What Is It and Is It Worth the Money? In this article we cover:

• What is Vodafone SuperWifi?
• SuperWifi tech features: what are mesh wi-fi and Wi-fi 6?
• Additional SuperWifi features
• Alternatives to Vodafone’s SuperWifi
• Should you sign up for Vodafone SuperWifi?

What is Vodafone SuperWifi?

SuperWifi is available to new and existing Vodafone residential customers on an eligible unlimited broadband plan. Customers who sign up for one of the three plans, can get two TP-Link Deco X20 mesh devices (valued at $449), for free. No upfront costs, and no rental fees. This means that you can upgrade your plan to SuperWifi, with the mesh wifi routers, for no added cost.

However, to do so, you must agree to a 24-month term, as opposed to the standard 12-month one. And if you break the contract early, fees will apply.

The three eligible plans are:

Vodafone says that once connected, if a customer doesn’t believe they have wall-to-wall coverage, it will work with them for up to 30 days to ensure their coverage reaches every room. This support potentially includes:

• Phone support
• Remote network speed tests
• One additional SuperWifi node provided at no additional cost
• An in-home visit from a Noel Leeming Tech Solutions technician to optimise the customer’s SuperWifi set-up

Following this, if a customer is still not happy, Vodafone says that it will credit $100 to their broadband account.

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SuperWifi tech features: Mesh wi-fi and Wi-fi 6

The two headline technological features of Vodafone’s SuperWifi offering are mesh wi-fi and wi-fi 6. When weighing up what’s best for your household, it’s worthwhile gaining an understanding of how these two technologies work and the benefits they can provide.

Mesh wi-fi

Mesh wi-fi systems comprise a router, and a number of additional access points (often referred to as nodes), which can be positioned around a household to boost wi-fi coverage. This helps to eliminate wi-fi dead zones that a router operating on its own might not be able to cover.

Essentially, mesh wi-fi systems broadcast a wi-fi signal from multiple points (each separate node). Unlike a wi-fi extender, which picks up a router’s wi-fi signal and then rebroadcasts it, mesh wi-fi creates a single network that blankets your whole home. This allows connecting devices to automatically switch between nodes, for a more seamless and stronger experience.

Vodafone’s TP-Link Deco X20 devices work in conjunction with an existing modem/router. One DecoX20 unit plugs directly into the modem/router. Then users are able to create a new wi-fi network via the TP-Link Deco app, positioning additional units around a household to expand coverage.

Wi-fi 6

The TP-Link Deco X20 devices use wi-fi 6 technology. Vodafone states this ensures newer wi-fi 6-compatible devices get the “best in-home experience possible”.

Wi-fi 6 is the latest wi-fi standard. It delivers a range of performance upgrades over previous standards, including faster speeds and improved network performance.

New-release devices increasingly incorporate the wi-fi 6 standard. And as more and more wireless devices make their way into households, it’s set to be increasingly harnessed to bolster home networks.

Additional SuperWifi features

Along with the TP-Link Deco X20 devices, SuperWifi customers receive free access to the TP-Link HomeCare suite of services for up to three years, providing for greater control over their home internet.

Additional SuperWifi features include:

• Easy setup – the TP-Link Deco app walks users through set-up step-by-step
• Parental controls – allows users to limit online time and block inappropriate content, with profiles for each family member
• Anti-virus protection – keeps network devices safer
• A unified network – a whole-home network auto-selects the best connection for users as they move around their home
• Device prioritisation – allows users to choose which devices have higher priority on their network
• Expert support – delivered via Vodafone’s team of remote and in-home experts

What alternatives are there?

Vodafone is not the only provider that offers mesh wi-fi with its plans:

Orcon

Orcon offers Wi-Fi Pro, free on all homes under 120sqm, and free for a limited time on larger homes (usually $20 per month). Orcon’s Wi-Fi Pro plans include Google Nest routers, which not only function as a mesh router, but come fitted with Google Assistant and voice recognition. Meaning your mesh wi-fi router can tell you the weather (among other things), and slot into your wider smart home network.

With Orcon’s Wi-Fi Pro you must agree to a 12-month term, and a $14.95 postage and handling fee applies.

→Related article: What is Google‌ ‌Nest‌? Smart‌ ‌Tech‌ ‌for‌ ‌Your‌ Home‌

Nova Energy

Nova Energy has a Powerful WiFi option on its Fibre plans. Join Nova Energy on a naked fibre broadband plan and you’ll receive twin Nokia Beacons (valued at over $400) to help spread powerful wi-fi all over your home. The mesh wi-fi system comes free (as a rental) and better yet, Nova Energy’s Broadband has no fixed term. So you don’t have to commit to a lengthy contract to benefit from mesh wi-fi.

A one-off $15 postage fee applies.

Other options

While other providers may not have a mesh wi-fi plan, they may sell mesh wi-fi routers. Spark and 2degrees, for example, don’t offer mesh wi-fi broadband plans. But both have mesh wi-fi options available to purchase through their stores. Which can, in turn, be used with one of their broadband plans.

If you are in the market for a mesh wi-fi and/or wi-fi 6 router for your home, you aren’t restricted to broadband providers. There is a wide variety of makes and models available from any electronics store that can be used. So if you are down to BYO your router, it may pay to do some research into the best mesh router set-ups. This way you can get mesh wi-fi without having to pay extra on your plan or sign on for lengthy terms from your broadband provider.

Should you sign up for Vodafone SuperWifi?

If you’re after trouble-free, wi-fi connectivity in your home and are happy to sign up and pay for the same deal for two years, then Vodafone’s wi-fi could be for you. Especially given Vodafone’s $100 guarantee as an added sweetener.

However, it’s worth understanding what you’re signing up for. Currently, there are cheaper plans on offer, so it may be worth going for a cheaper option and purchasing your own mesh wi-fi set-up. Especially when you factor in that SuperWifi is on a 24-month contract. In the next two years, we may see cheaper plans, more mesh wi-fi options, or even updated tech. Being locked in for two years isn’t ideal.

The major caveat of Vodafone’s offer is that if you break your contract within the 24-month term of the SuperWifi deal, you have to pay the remaining balance on the TP-Link Deco X20 mesh devices. This applies if you:

1. Cancel your broadband plan
2. Transfer or re-sign to an ineligible broadband plan
3. Require a change of ownership of your billing account

The cost of the mesh devices works out at approx $18.70 per month over the life of the contract, which could work out quite pricey, should you terminate with months left on your contract.

Before signing up for SuperWifi, it could be worth checking out some of the alternative plans mentioned above or shopping around for your own set-up.

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About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.