Residential IT
IT support for homes across the shire
Rural homes have their own kind of IT problems: bigger properties, sheds and second dwellings, and an internet connection that needs setting up properly. I come out, see how everything is set up, and sort it.
Sound familiar?
- The Wi-Fi works in the kitchen but drops out in the bedrooms
- The shed, studio or granny flat has no signal at all
- Starlink is installed but the internet still feels unreliable
- The computer has slowed to a crawl, or won't start
- Years of family photos live on one old hard drive
- The cameras stopped recording and nobody noticed
Rural connectivity
Out here, the internet is usually where it starts
Before blaming the laptop, it is worth knowing whether the trouble is the service coming in, the equipment it lands on, or the Wi-Fi carrying it around the property. They are different problems with different fixes, and the first thing I do is work out which one you have.
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01
The service coming in
Starlink, NBN fixed wireless, Sky Muster or mobile broadband. Which suits your property, and where the dish or antenna should actually go so it gets a clear view.
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02
The equipment it lands on
Plenty of rural setups are let down by the router rather than the service: supplied gear that isn't up to the job, double NAT, or settings left on default since the day it was installed.
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03
Getting it around the property
Cabled or point-to-point wireless links out to sheds, workshops and second dwellings, with proper access points rather than a chain of extenders that each halve the speed.
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04
Keeping it up
Backup connections for households that work from home and can't afford to be offline when the weather comes through.
What I do for homes
Home IT, properly sorted
Wi-Fi & home networking
- Whole-home and whole-property Wi-Fi
- Mesh and access point systems
- Cabling to sheds and outbuildings
- Guest networks and parental controls
Computers & laptops
- Slow or failing PCs and laptops
- Windows problems and clean reinstalls
- New computer setup and data transfer
- Upgrades that are actually worth doing
Backups & your photos
- Automatic backups for computers and phones
- Cloud and local backup options
- Recovering files where it is possible
- Checking that backups actually work
Cameras & security
- Security camera systems for house and sheds
- Viewing cameras from your phone
- Reliable recording and storage
- Gate and driveway coverage
Smart home
- Smart lights, locks and sensors
- Solar and battery monitoring connectivity
- Voice assistants and smart displays
- A network that can carry it all
Everything else
- Printers that won't print
- TVs, streaming and home entertainment
- Email and account problems
- Scams, pop-ups and viruses
How it works
I'd rather meet you first
For a new customer, I aim for the first visit to be in person wherever practical. It means I can see the property, understand how everything is connected, and fix the actual cause rather than the symptom.
Once I know your setup, remote support becomes a convenient option for the things that don't need another trip out.
- Get in touchCall, or send a few lines through the contact form. Plain English is fine.
- Quote and visitYou get the cost before I start, then I come out and see the setup.
- Sorted, and explainedI fix it and tell you what I did, in words that make sense.
- Remote help laterNext time something goes wrong, it can often be sorted without a visit.
Questions
Common questions from homeowners
Do you come to my house?
Yes. For a new customer I aim to make the first visit in person wherever practical, so I can see your setup properly. After that, some problems can be sorted remotely, which is usually quicker for you.
Can you help with Starlink?
Yes. Installation, finding a better position for the dish, and making sure the rest of your network is getting the most out of the connection.
My Wi-Fi doesn't reach the shed. Can that be fixed?
Almost always. Depending on the distance it might be a cabled link, an outdoor access point or a point-to-point wireless link. I will recommend what suits the property rather than the most expensive option.
Is my old computer worth fixing?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I will tell you honestly which it is, and I won't sell you a new machine you don't need.
How do you charge?
You get a clear quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises. Get in touch and I can talk you through what your job is likely to involve.
Something not working at home?
Tell me what is happening and where you are, and I'll let you know what it will take to fix.