Synopsis: A client on a rural property converted a tin shed into a modern office but faced a significant connectivity challenge. The shed's construction created a signal blackspot, existing conduits were unsuitable for running fibre optic cable, and trenching was prohibitively expensive. An initial attempt using a consumer Wi-Fi mesh solution proved unreliable.
AFSecure was engaged to deliver a stable and cost-effective solution. By installing a dedicated point-to-point wireless link between the main out-building and the new office, AFSecure successfully established a robust, high-speed connection. The solution now consistently delivers speed and reliability that fully meets the client's business needs while providing significant capacity for future upgrades.
Client Profile
The client is a single-person operation that creates hand-made, bespoke "once-off" products for their customers.
- Company: Has elected to remain anonymous
- Location: Melbourne/regional fringe, VIC, Australia
- Industry: Design, Creative goods
The Challenge: A Connectivity Blackspot
The client having taken full advantage of the opportunity to "tree-change" established their office in one of the out-buildings on their rural block. The new office space is essential for their operations, but it was located in a connectivity dead zone. The core challenges were:
- Signal Obstruction: The office (formerly a shed) is constructed with tin and insulated with sarking, effectively blocking all Wi-Fi and mobile phone signals from reaching the interior.
- Infeasible Cabling: The existing power conduit to the shed did not run near a network access point, making it impossible to run a new fibre optic cable without significant new construction.
- Prohibitive Costs: The cost and disruption of trenching a new conduit across the property, which would involve cutting into a track, was a non-starter for the client.
- Unreliable Consumer Wi-Fi: A previously installed Wi-Fi mesh system failed to provide a stable connection, suffering from frequent dropouts, especially during poor weather, and delivering frustratingly inconsistent speeds.
The Solution: A Focused Wireless Bridge
AFSecure proposed and implemented a point-to-point (PTP) wireless link, creating a focused, high-speed "wireless bridge" directly between two buildings. This approach was chosen to overcome the physical and financial barriers of a wired connection.
The solution leveraged several key factors:
- Existing Infrastructure: A nearby out-building already had a hard-wired gigabit network connection that could be utilized.
- Clear Line of Sight: There was a clear, unobstructed 25-meter path between the out-building and an existing post on the office shed.
- Appropriate Hardware: Appropriate point-to-point ("PTP") units were selected for the link. The hardware selected was deemed a perfect fit because:
- It is highly cost-effective compared to other PTP hardware.
- It offers performance capabilities far exceeding the client's immediate 100Mbps requirement.
- Designed for links over several kilometers, the chosen hardware provide exceptional signal strength and reliability over the short 25-meter distance.
The Results: Stable, High-Speed Connectivity Achieved
The implementation of the PTP wireless link was a complete success, transforming the office from a blackspot into a fully functional workspace.
- Reliable Performance: The connection provides a stable 100Mbps speed in both directions, limited only by the property's main internet plan and the office's internal network, not by the wireless link itself.
- Elimination of Dropouts: The dedicated link eliminated the connection dropouts and weather-related instability experienced with the previous Wi-Fi mesh solution.
- Future-Proof Capacity: The wireless bridge is capable of delivering speeds of around 400Mbps. This provides the client with ample headroom for future internet speed upgrades without needing to replace the PTP hardware.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The solution was delivered at a fraction of the cost and complexity of trenching a new physical cable.
The client's primary requirements for stable email and printing were fully met, with a robust connection that is expected to perform reliably for years to come.