If you are living in an apartment building, you have likely faced the issue of internet speeds. This is one of the most common issues faced by apartment residents today. What is the point of subscribing to Frontier packages if you can’t get decent speeds? Unfortunately, service providers can’t solve this issue for you. You will have to fix it yourself. Luckily, there are a few ways to fix the problem. You just have to find the right solution for your apartment.

There are a few reasons that these issues are common in apartment buildings. One of the main reasons is the number of users. An apartment building houses many people. All of whom are using the internet at the same time. This means that the data consumption increases and therefore speeds are lower.

Another reason for slower speeds in apartment buildings is building materials. You are likely going to connect via Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi signals weaken when there are barriers between the router and your connected device. Things like walls, especially load bearing walls, are the greatest enemy of Wi-Fi signals.

How Can You Be Sure Your Connection Is Slower Than it Should Be?

There are a few ways to check if you have an issue with your connectivity. Chief among which are:

• Testing Internet Speeds – the best way to test your connection is by checking your internet speed. You can find many websites online that can test your connection speed for you. The most widely used is speedtest.net.
• Connection Timeouts – in some cases your connection can timeout, even while you’re using your internet service. When you are browsing and open a new page, sometimes it will fail to load. You might have to refresh the page a couple of times before it loads. Even though it might seem like an issue with the device, this is actually a connection issue.

How Can You Improve a Slow Connection?

The first thing you can do to improve a slow connection is free up your device from open applications. When there are a lot of apps open in the background they are constantly using little amounts of data. It is not a big concern if there are just a couple of apps running in the background. But more than 5 can take away considerable data and processing capabilities. These can have a big impact on your browsing speeds. Similarly, try not to have too many tabs open on your browser at the same time.

It is possible that your connection issues are not a result of multiple open applications. In this case, you can try these 5 most common ways to improve your internet speeds:

1. Extending Your Wireless Reach
2. Placing Your Router in a Central Location
3. Increasing Your Wireless Security
4. Using a Different Wireless Channel
5. Switching to an 802.11ac Router

#1. Extending Your Wireless Reach

Most Wi-Fi routers have a limited range. There are some tricks and extensions you can use to further the reach. For an in-home solution, place a sheet of tin directly behind the antenna of the router. Just make sure that the sheet is curved into a semi-circle and that should increase your Wi-Fi range.

If it is not enough, then you can also get a wireless extender to increase the range. These are signal repeaters that you can plug in at a distance from the router. They will simply redirect the wireless signal they are receiver from your router. That way the signal can remain strong throughout your apartment.

#2. Placing Your Router in a Central Location

Sometimes you don’t need to waste money on Wi-Fi extenders. If your router is placed at a corner of the space try shifting it to the center. This will extend the reach of the signal and improve your connection.

It is also important to keep the wireless router in an open space. Putting it away in a cupboard or even at foot level is going to hinder the signal. It is best to keep it on a tabletop, as close to the center of the apartment as possible.

#3. Increasing Your Wireless Security

Unfortunately, some people try to take advantage of their neighbors. They can secretly connect with your Wi-Fi and use your connection as their own. This is why it is important to make sure your connection is secure. Using WPA2 security passwords can ensure that your connection is not misused.

#4. Using Different Wireless Channels

In an apartment building, there are likely to be many wireless networks. These networks can interfere with your signal and degrade your Wi-Fi connection. By changing the channel of your router you can find one with the least interference. This strengthens your connection speed.

#5. Switching to an 802.11ac Router

As a last resort, if you have a router that is outdated, you can upgrade to one that supports 802.11ac. 802.11ac routers offer stronger connections, with increased speeds.

Conclusion

Most people living in apartment buildings have the same problems with their internet connections. But the good news is that there are some simple things you can do to get the most from your Frontier internet service. If these tips aren’t helpful, you should consult with your service provider. Request for a technician who can come and figure out the problem for you.