POS Network Requirements: NBN, EFTPOS and Wi‑Fi for Australian Cafés

Stop EFTPOS dropouts ruining the morning rush. This guide spells out pos network requirements for Brisbane cafés, in plain English. Learn the NBN, Wi‑Fi and router settings that keep POS stable, secure and fast, with practical fixes and backup options.

Key takeaways

• NBN 50/20 is the sweet spot for most cafés; aim for latency under 30–50 ms and jitter under 20 ms.
• Split POS, guest Wi‑Fi and back‑office using VLANs or separate SSIDs with client isolation.
• Turn on router QoS for EFTPOS and POS devices; reserve IPs with DHCP and use safe DNS.
• Cable anything critical: POS base, printers, EFTPOS docks and back‑office PC.
• Add 4G/5G failover and a small UPS so you can keep trading during NBN or power issues.

What it is and core concept

Definition

POS network requirements are the internet, Wi‑Fi, cabling and router settings your café needs so POS and EFTPOS stay online. Think of it as a small, tidy road system: fast NBN, clear lanes (VLANs), traffic rules (QoS), and backups (4G and battery) so payments never stall.

Why it matters

In Brisbane, a five‑minute outage at 8:00am feels like an hour. Cloud POS needs a stable link for orders and sync. EFTPOS needs low latency for quick approvals. Good setup stops lost sales, angry queues and reboots during storms or busy weekends.

How it works and step-by-step for pos network requirements

Process

Use this simple flow:

• Pick an NBN plan with enough speed and good latency (50/20 or better).
• Install a business‑grade router and switch.
• Create separate networks for POS, guest and back‑office.
• Cable the critical gear; keep guest traffic on Wi‑Fi.
• Enable QoS, set DNS, reserve IPs, and lock down ports.
• Add 4G/5G failover and a UPS.
• Update firmware and passwords; test monthly.

Featured answer

Most cafés run well on NBN 50/20 with latency under 30–50 ms, a router with QoS, and separate VLANs for POS, guest and back‑office. Cable your POS base, printers and EFTPOS docks, keep a 4G failover SIM ready, and power the modem/router with a small UPS to trade through outages.

Minimum NBN speed and latency for POS and cloud platforms

Speed needs are small for card payments but bigger for cloud POS and updates. Use these targets:

• EFTPOS connectivity: bandwidth is tiny (under 1 Mbps), but latency should sit under 50 ms with low jitter (under 20 ms).
• Cloud POS (menu sync, tickets, reports): allow 5–10 Mbps per busy register or tablet.
• Back‑office (email, invoices, backups): add another 10–20 Mbps.
• Plan pick: NBN 50/20 works for most cafés; 100/40 helps if you run cameras or heavy cloud backups.
• Tech types: FTTP and HFC are stable across Brisbane; FTTN can vary by line length (older pockets of West End, Red Hill, parts of Ipswich).

Separate POS, guest Wi‑Fi and back‑office networks (VLANs made simple)

Keep card data paths clean and guests away from your tills:

• Create three networks: POS (e.g., VLAN 10), Back‑office (VLAN 20), Guest (VLAN 30).
• Match Wi‑Fi SSIDs to VLANs. Example: “Cafe‑POS”, “Cafe‑Staff”, “Cafe‑Guest”.
• Turn on client isolation on guest so customers can’t see each other or your tills.
• Allow POS to reach printers and EFTPOS only; block guest to POS.
• If your gear is basic, use “Guest Network” on the router and keep POS devices cabled or on a hidden staff SSID.

Router settings: QoS, DNS, DHCP reservations and safe port use

• QoS: mark EFTPOS terminals and POS iPads as “high” priority. Many routers let you prioritise by device or MAC address.
• DNS: use reliable DNS (ISP, Cloudflare or Google). If your EFTPOS provider requires their DNS, follow that.
• DHCP reservations: lock each POS, printer and EFTPOS to a fixed IP so nothing “moves” mid‑rush.
• Ports: block unsolicited inbound traffic, disable UPnP, and allow standard outbound (HTTPS, NTP). Only open extras if your POS vendor says so.
• Double NAT: avoid modem‑router‑router stacks. Put the NBN modem in bridge mode and let one router run the network.

Cabling vs Wi‑Fi: what to cable and what can stay wireless

• Cable these: POS base or register PC, receipt and kitchen printers, EFTPOS dock or base station, back‑office PC or NAS.
• Wireless is fine for: waiter tablets on 5 GHz, guest devices, digital signage (if non‑critical).
• Wi‑Fi tips: use 5 GHz for POS/Staff, fixed channels (36–48 or 149–161), and keep the access point high and clear of fridges and microwaves.
• Old buildings: run Cat6 where you can; stapled or kinked cable causes random dropouts.

4G/5G failover and battery backups for uptime

• Choose a router with built‑in LTE or a USB 4G/5G dongle. Add a Telstra or Optus SIM with data.
• Set failover to “automatic” so it flips to mobile if NBN drops, then flips back when stable.
• UPS: a 650–1000 VA unit can run modem, router and switch for 45–90 minutes during Brisbane storms.
• Keep the EFTPOS terminal charger on the UPS too. Test failover monthly before trade.

Security basics: PCI DSS, updates and password hygiene

• PCI DSS: do not store card data. Keep POS separate from guest Wi‑Fi and log who has access.
• WPA2/WPA3 on Wi‑Fi. Turn off WPS. Use long passphrases (three or four random words).
• Update router, access points and POS apps. Reboot after patching in quiet hours.
• Staff off‑boarding: remove old staff from Wi‑Fi and POS accounts on their last shift.
• Backups: store POS exports and docs in the cloud or a NAS, not on a single laptop.

Troubleshooting checklist for common EFTPOS dropouts

• Check the terminal’s network icon: Wi‑Fi or Ethernet? If Wi‑Fi, is it on the Staff/POS SSID?
• Ping test from a laptop: gateway and a public site. High latency or packet loss means a link issue.
• Power cycle modem and router once, in order: modem, wait 2 mins; router, wait 2 mins; switch/APs.
• Disable guest Wi‑Fi for five minutes. If EFTPOS speeds up, enable QoS or rate‑limit guests.
• Move the terminal away from metal, fridges or microwave ovens; try 5 GHz.
• If cabled, swap the patch lead and port on the switch.
• Failover test: pull the NBN cable and confirm the router flips to 4G/5G.

Common problems in Brisbane

Weather and infrastructure

• Summer storms and humidity: surges trip cheap power boards, and moisture ruins wall sockets. Use a UPS and surge‑protected power.
• Dense apartments (Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane): heavy Wi‑Fi congestion. Fix with 5 GHz, channel planning and more access points.
• Older buildings (West End, Spring Hill): long copper runs on FTTN cause jitter. Consider Business NBN or 4G/5G backup.
• HFC quirks (New Farm, Carina): dropouts after rain. Keep the HFC modem off the floor and use quality RG6 leads.
• Retail strips (Sunnybank, Logan Central, Capalaba, North Lakes): busy RF environments. Extra APs and VLANs help keep POS steady.

Troubleshooting and quick checks

Short answer

If EFTPOS keeps dropping, prioritise it with router QoS, split guests to a separate Wi‑Fi, and cable your POS gear. Aim for NBN 50/20 and latency under 50 ms. Add 4G failover and a UPS so you can keep taking payments when the NBN or power hiccups.

Quick checks

Try these safe checks:

• Is the terminal on the right SSID? Move from Guest to Staff/POS.
• Restart the terminal, then the router if needed (once only).
• Turn off and on Wi‑Fi on the terminal to re‑associate.
• Swap the Ethernet cable and port for cabled devices.
• Run an internet speed test off‑peak and peak. If speed or latency swings, call your ISP.
• Check for router firmware updates outside trading hours.
• Test failover by unplugging the NBN from the router for 30 seconds.

Safety notes and when to call a pro

Red flags

Call a technician if power smells hot or outlets are loose, the NBN modem reboots on its own, you see exposed or water‑marked cabling, or dropouts happen at the same time daily. If you process lots of cards and can’t isolate guest Wi‑Fi from POS, get help to set VLANs and QoS properly.

Local insights and examples

Brisbane/SEQ examples

In New Farm and Teneriffe, HFC cafés run best with NBN 50/20, a bridged modem, one solid router, and 4G failover. In West End terraces, we see FTTN lines that vary by time of day; cabling POS and setting QoS fixes most dropouts. Shopping‑centre sites in Carindale and Chermside face heavy Wi‑Fi noise, so multiple 5 GHz access points and guest rate‑limits keep POS snappy. Coastal stores from Redcliffe to the Gold Coast benefit from a UPS during storm season; it smooths tiny outages that would otherwise break EFTPOS mid‑sale.

FAQs

Q1: What NBN speed and latency do I need for café POS and EFTPOS?

NBN 50/20 with latency under 30–50 ms and jitter under 20 ms suits most cafés. EFTPOS uses very little bandwidth but needs low, steady latency. If you run cameras, cloud backups or multiple registers, consider 100/40 for more headroom.

Q2: Is Wi‑Fi OK for EFTPOS, or should it be cabled?

Wi‑Fi is fine if the signal is strong and on 5 GHz, but cabling is more stable. Many cafés use a cabled EFTPOS dock at the counter and let portable terminals roam on 5 GHz for tableside service.

Q3: Which router settings stop dropouts during the morning rush?

Prioritise EFTPOS and POS devices with QoS, reserve their IPs in DHCP, put guests on a separate SSID with client isolation, and disable UPnP. Avoid double NAT by bridging the NBN modem so one router handles everything.

Sources and further reading

Useful frameworks include PCI DSS merchant guidance (segmentation, logging, no card storage) and the ACSC Essential Eight for patching and access control. NBN business features like traffic class and static IP can help stability. Your POS and EFTPOS vendor guides list any required ports or DNS.

Wrap-up and next steps

Pick a steady NBN plan, split your networks, cable the critical gear, and add QoS, 4G failover and a UPS. Test monthly, update often, and keep passwords clean. If you want it set up right the first time, Brisbane techs can help. Service:
Point of Sale Setup