If you are living or moving to a townhouse or apartment and you are concerned about how good the NBN connectivity is here is a look at things you can do to improve the connection and speeds you experience. For those who are not familiar with the term ‘NBN’ let me tell you that it stands for Australia’s National Broadband Network which aims to provide all Australia with world class broadband services.
Get a NBN modem
When you choose a modem that better meets your needs you can have a better time online. Some things to think about before you rush out to buy a new modem include;
- FTTb connections and FTTN connections need VDSL2 modems
- Fixed Wireless Sky Muster, FTTp and HFC connections need a modem that can support a Gigabit WAN (Wide Area Network)
- Telephone services can be interrupted when changing modems if they are connected
- If you have an old modem from ADSL times it might not be compatible with the NBN so talk to an NBN private technician
- You want a modem with more antennas though keep in mind some are internal so ask before you buy
- Your PC and TV that are fixed devices should be connected with an internet cable straight to the modem
Make sure there is nothing getting in the way of the Wi-Fi signal
When you have an NBN technician handle the placing of the modem it is important they do not have a lot of things around it that will absorb or reflect the signals. Avoid placing it behind a cupboard, large appliances, a TV, mirrors, water, or metal sheets. You can get a mesh or extender to amplify the signal you have.
To connect an HD TV, use an Ethernet cable
To get the best signal with a TV that is in line of sight to the modem use an ethernet cable, it can be used for other fixed devices too.
Consider the quality of the cabling in the building you live in
Think about the quality of the cabling or talk to an NBN private technician about it. The building needs quality cabling to keep the speeds up so talk to the landlord or body corporate.
Think about how many devices are connected and using the Wi-Fi signal
The number of devices that are online and using the Wi-Fi at the same time has an impact on the speeds and experience too. You should make sure there is a modem that can handle the number of devices there are. A lot of people use a lot of technology that connects online nowadays.
Make sure your devices are compatible with the NBN network
There are always new technologies evolving and sometimes they might not be compatible with the NBN network and that is affecting your experience. You can talk to an NBN technician but some examples of devices that might not work or might slow it down include;
- Fire alarms
- Medical alarms
- Emergency call buttons
- Fax machines
- Autodiallers
- Emergency phones in lifts
- Teletypewriters
Summary
These are some of the ways you can optimise your experience with the NBN network when living in an apartment-style building or townhouse.
