How to Have Better Shared Internet Connection in a Building?

Chris119 on 26/06/2022 - 16:53
Last edited 26/06/2022 - 17:27 by 1 other user

Hello,

I currently moved into a student complex building, I managed to get a room for myself. They advertised the internet speed here is pretty good (up to 100 Mbps).

When I moved in I came to realized that I have to share this internet with other 2000 people. I want to have my own internet provider but they said they already paid for a provider and it's for the whole building.

I want to ask is there any way I can improve my internet connection to my desktop? There is an ethernet port in the wall but I don't know what I need to be able to connect it to my PC, do I only need a ethernet cable or I will need a router? Please help me out.

Cheers

• 

  AndyC1 on 26/06/2022 - 17:07

  +3

  So you are currently using a shared wifi with heaps of other people?

  Yes you can improve your internet speed by plugging your laptop into the RJ45 network port on the wall (Rj45 wall socket) assuming it is a network port and not something else. Please check with admin to make sure it's a network port. You will need a CAT 5E network cable to plug into your laptop and RJ45 wall socket. The cables come in different lengths so get one that is long enough for your requirements.

  Be aware that you should enable the firewall on the laptop and make sure you have anti virus software installed and that the OS is kept up to date with all of the security patches otherwise you may get hacked using the apartment network.

  • 

    freefall101 on 26/06/2022 - 19:41

    +2

    It might not be faster, depending on what the problem is. There might be plenty of wifi bandwidth and the limitation is the actually internet connection they have. It's unlikely they have 200Gb to give each of those students 100Mb each all the time. However getting enough bandwidth on a wireless network is relatively trivial.

    Also all of what you said about wired network security applies to wireless network security too. If they haven't setup their wired ports properly I doubt they've secured the wireless either.

    OP, is your 4G/5G signal any good? With so many students in close proximity the 4G might not be great but if you're in range of 5G that could be a great solution.

    • 

      AndyC1 on 26/06/2022 - 19:45

      -1

      Plenty of wifi bandwidth for 2000 residents… I doubt it.

      Ad for security too late for wifi.

      Where did 4G/5G come from?

      • 

        freefall101 on 26/06/2022 - 19:54

        Having more wifi bandwidth than internet bandwidth is highly likely though.

        Not sure what you mean on security.

        4G/5G was a suggestion for OP, thus why I started the line with "OP". They said they wanted their own internet provider, that's the easiest way to get their own.

  • 

    GordonD on 27/06/2022 - 10:22

    The presumption in this post is that there is a "100 Mb/s" wifi network provided AND there is a wired LAN that can be connected to through the socket on the wall. I'm not familiar with student accommodation, but I would have thought that if there was a wired network there wouldn't be a wireless network as well. That the "100 Mb/s" network talked about is the wired network.

  • 

    Chris119 on 27/06/2022 - 21:36

    They just confirmed the network ports on the wall is not working :( . Does this mean it will stop me from having my own provider?

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  Chris119 on 27/06/2022 - 15:57

  They just confirmed the network ports on the wall is not working :( . Does this mean it will stop me from having my own provider?

  • 

    geekcohen on 28/06/2022 - 06:11

    +1

    Yes and even if they were working, you would assume they are patched into their own network. I doubt that you will have the freedom like an apartment building where you can go "I want to use TPG" and connect up.

    I think your best bet is going to be a 4G/5G connection and not rely on the provided network.

    I had the same issue when I moved into On Res for Uni. I moved where we had the Uni internet and only got 14GB a month. This was about 10 years ago. Being my primary internet connection, I had to use it sparingly as not only was it for my off time, but it was for my Uni work as well when in class.

    It was pretty frustrating. Other On Res building you paid for it by their preferred provided and you chose what bandwidth package you wanted.