Internet Network Connectivity For Apartments: How We Keep You Online

Like homeowners and commercial properties, apartment dwellers also require exceptional internet connectivity to ensure they can stay online at all hours. 

But suppose you’ve ever lived in an apartment complex. In that case, you’ll know all too well that the sheer density of humble abodes can result in some connection dropouts at the worst of times – like the evening traffic peaks when you only want to stream your favourite television show after a long day’s work. And now, with more professionals working from home, bolstering the network connectivity of urban apartment complexes has become more critical than ever before.

Thankfully, our fully furnished apartments here at Corporate Keys have designed and developed their wireless networking infrastructure to ensure that all our residents can enjoy consistent network speeds. 

How do we do it? We’ll be answering just that question today by sharing some of our top tips for setting up a killer wireless network for apartment dwellers in and around the Melbourne CBD. Read on to learn how you can optimise your apartment’s NBN connection and stay online all throughout your work day.

Accommodating High User Density

As we mentioned, one of the main challenges of providing network connectivity for apartments is accommodating the large, concentrated user base. Add to this the fact that every apartment will be using multiple computers and mobile devices that are simultaneously competing for bandwidth on the shared local backbone hubs, switches, and routers, and it becomes very clear that it’s vital to have the right networking hardware in place. Network congestion quickly becomes an issue without proper capacity planning and top-tier equipment.

Thankfully, we only use either cat 8, cat 7, or cat 6 ethernet cables in our network configurations. This ensures that all of our residents can enjoy a 1 gB/s throughput, and steady speeds across their apartment. The ethernet cable connections also maintain network connectivity with an improved dependability in comparison to wireless connections. That’s precisely why so many commercial office spaces also opt for hardwiring ethernet connections over desk clumps rather than relying on WiFi for all the devices in their workspace.

Simply put, we took a leaf out of corporate environments across the Melbourne CBD when developing our own network connections. And in doing so, we’ve been able to develop networks that accommodate a higher user density round the clock – not just from 9 to 5.

Overcoming Physical Interference

One other major barrier when it comes to maintaining network connectivity in urbanised areas is simply factoring in the sheer amount of physical interference in these built environments. Construction materials can often degrade or block wireless signal reception, leading to slow data transfer rates or “dead zones.” And as the city of Melbourne is constantly shifting and evolving, there is guaranteed to always be construction work for our networks to contend with.

To reduce the risks of connectivity dropouts caused by physical interference, our engineers will thoroughly inspect each site property and recommend proper placement for wireless access points and infrastructure equipment. From here, they’ll design and implement a series of signal-boosting components and antennas to penetrate physical barriers and provide latency-free coverage throughout the building wherever necessary.

Yes, this method isn’t foolproof, as signal boosters can only stretch so far before diluting the signal. But for apartment complexes that grow upwards instead of outwards, signal boosters are actually an optimal solution for overcoming physical interference in the long term. After all, network disruptions caused by physical barriers at street level can only travel up so far themselves.

Optical Fibre Products: The Backbone of Urban Network Connectivity

The foundation of reliable and fast internet access is often a solid connection to the local fibre optic trunk lines passing through your jurisdiction. These lengthy glass cables run underground, spanning the globe, transmitting light-based data chunks considerably faster than their copper predecessors.

It’s best to use the high quality optical fibre support products wherever possible, which is again why we don’t use any connections below category 6 ethernet cables. Alongside using the right ethernet cables across all our apartments, our modern apartments also have everything required to provide residents the best fibre-based internet access, including Optical Distribution Frames (ODFs), patch panels, sheath cables, patch cords, fibre trays, and fibre distribution hubs.

You’ll find numerous solutions to fit any application and installation environment - from extensive cable management to compatibility for optical wall boxes and outputs. We also continually maintain and optimise our internal fibre network to ensure that our optical fibre products are fully operational from season to season – rain, hail, wind, or shine!

Property-Wide Deployment with FTTH Connections

If you’ve been looking into investing in apartment complexes in Melbourne or even just buying an apartment as an owner occupier, then chances are you’ve been following the ongoing developments in the NBN rollout for inner city apartments. The preferred methodology for delivering fibre service to individual apartment units is the “Fibre to the Home” (FTTH) or “Fibre to the Premises” (FTTP) protocol. Compared to FTTB (or “Fibre to the Basement”), FTTP/FTTH reliability and speeds are infinitely preferable, as having fibre connections for all individual apartments helps to ensure that all residents have access to a secure connection while reducing signal degradation as we eliminate those intermediate copper-based connections that you find in basements of old apartment complexes.

Thankfully, our modern apartments are being developed to remove any FTTB connections where we can find them, opting instead to ensure that all of our residences have FTTH connections. Over the past few years, we’ve been tirelessly implementing our FTTH solutions, including central wall boxes, enclosures, and Fibre Distribution hubs, to ensure balanced coverage for each floor and unit inside your facility.

Tips for Optimising your Apartment WiFi Connection

So even with all of these network bolstering measures in place, is it still possible to experience a lost connection? Well, yes. Sometimes connections drop out, and it may actually be caused by networking hardware in your own apartment rather than building wiring. 

As a tenant, you may be able to increase the download speed of your wireless connection by fine-tuning specific parameters and strategic placement of your equipment, assuming you’re using personally owned routers as opposed to those issued by your apartment. So to conclude this guide, here are a few measures you can take to bolster your own WiFi connection in your apartment:

Select the proper channel - WiFi operates within 2.4 GhZ and 5 GhZ. You may experience network overlap with your neighbours in highly populated buildings, leading to congestion and performance degradation. You can identify the least-occupied channel using a mobile app or wireless analysing tool.

Additionally, change the default Service Set Identifier (SSID) and password settings on your personal router to keep unauthorised users (pesky neighbours) from using your wireless network and consuming valuable throughput.

Adjust WiFi Transmit Power - Many routers include user-adjustable settings governing the signal strength emitted. Excessive transmit power often leads to interference and overlapping coverage. By reducing the parameter, you may be able to mitigate the problem and strike a balance of consistent coverage.

Proper Router Placement - Minimise dead zones and reduce signal interference by positioning the unit in a central location within your apartment. Avoid obstructions like furniture, walls, and other appliances, especially electronics. Elevate the router using a platform or shelf to broadcast the signal more effectively across the most frequently used rooms and floors.

Generally, prefer a position with clear lines of sight to your desired coverage areas. Additionally, avoid proximity to metal objects and reflective surfaces, which can either absorb or deflect signals, leading to further performance loss.

Consider Range Boosters or Mesh Systems - For larger apartments, consider using an extender device to amplify and rebroadcast the original WiFi signal to reach out-of-range areas the router itself cannot cover.

Disconnect Unused Devices - Improve your WiFi router performance by powering off computers, phones, or tablets that are not currently in use but are still connected to the network. They still consume bandwidth and contribute to network congestion. Using the Quality of Service (QoS) router settings, prioritise bandwidth usage to your most critical device, perhaps your desktop or gaming consoles which are graphics-intensive.

Limit Downloads to Low Usage Periods - Finally, for significant software updates and media downloads, consider scheduling these jobs overnight for the best performance and minimal network disruption.

Want to experience the exceptional network connectivity speeds of our apartments for yourself? Or have any more questions about moving to one of our corporate apartments?  Then explore the rest of our guides here at Corporate Keys Australia or get in touch with one of our friendly team members to learn more about the comforts and convenience of our fully furnished apartments today.