Professional Ethernet & Network Cabling for Your Home
Lord knows how frustrating it can be to suffer internet dropouts mid-way through streaming your favourite show and having to endure the “spinning wheel of anger… I mean buffering”. If your internet is fast but your Wi-Fi isn’t reliable, running a network cable could be the simplest and most effective solution.
At Internet Magic Gold Coast, we install data cabling, Ethernet network points and wired connections for homes across the Gold Coast. We know the pain and we have the solution!
Whether you need an Ethernet connection for a gaming PC, smart TV, home office, Wi-Fi access point, security camera or another part of your home, we can work out the best way to get a reliable wired connection from your router to where you need it.
So, let us do your dirty work, crawling through your hot box ceiling cavity, fending off spiders and touching the occasional snake skin, all in the name of getting your new data cable from A to B, professionally, through the walls and roof cavity.
A fast internet connection is only useful if your devices can actually make the most of it.
Call us on 0452 525 615 For Internet Cabling Help Today!
Why Install Data Cabling?
Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, but it isn’t always the best connection for every device.
Walls, floors, dungeons, distance, interference and the location of your router can all affect Wi-Fi performance. A device might show a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to connect, but still experience inconsistent speeds, high latency or dropouts.
A wired Ethernet connection removes many of those variables.
With a properly installed network cable, your device has a direct connection back to your router, network switch or access point.
This can make a particularly big difference for devices that need a fast, stable connection, including:
- Gaming PCs and consoles
- Smart TVs and streaming devices
- Home offices and work-from-home computers
- Wi-Fi access points and mesh systems
- Security cameras
- NAS and network storage devices
- Desktop computers
- Printers and other network devices
For many homes, the best network isn’t Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet.
It’s Ethernet where you need maximum reliability, with Wi-Fi filling in the rest.
Do You Need a Data Point or Better Wi-Fi?
This is something we look at on-site rather than simply assuming you need more Wi-Fi equipment.
For example, if your router is located at the front of the house and your home office is at the back, you could install a mesh system and hope the wireless connection between the mesh units is good enough.
Or, we could run an Ethernet cable to the home office and give that area a proper wired connection.
That same cable could potentially be used to connect a Wi-Fi access point, giving you both a strong wired connection and excellent Wi-Fi coverage in that area.
The right solution depends on the layout of your home and what you’re trying to achieve.
Common Data Cabling Jobs We Do on the Gold Coast
Ethernet Connections for Smart TVs
Smart TVs are often installed in rooms where Wi-Fi isn’t particularly strong.
If you’re experiencing buffering, poor streaming quality or inconsistent connection speeds, a wired Ethernet connection can be a much more reliable option.
This is particularly useful for large TVs, streaming devices and home theatre systems where you want the connection to simply work without having to worry about Wi-Fi signal strength.
Gaming PC and Console Cabling
Screaming at your game because your connection lagged leading to your beloved character to die? I can relate! Gaming is one of the biggest reasons people ask us about Ethernet cabling.
Wi-Fi can work perfectly well for gaming, but a wired connection generally provides a more consistent network path with lower and more predictable latency.
If you’re experiencing lag, disconnects or inconsistent performance, hard-wiring the gaming setup is often worth considering.
I remember doing one installation at a home in Burleigh Heads where the whole family was really into gaming. Our job was to run new data points to every family member’s PC throughout the home.
Home Office Data Cabling
Working from home puts much more importance on having a reliable internet connection.
Video calls, remote desktop connections, cloud applications and large file transfers can all be affected by an unreliable network.
Rather than relying on a Wi-Fi connection from the other side of the house, we can install a dedicated Ethernet connection at your desk or home office.
This can also be useful if you are installing a dedicated Wi-Fi access point in the office.
Cabling for Mesh Wi-Fi Systems
This is one area where Ethernet cabling and Wi-Fi work extremely well together.
A mesh Wi-Fi system can provide excellent coverage throughout a home, but if the mesh units communicate with each other wirelessly, they still rely on the wireless connection between each unit.
Where practical, Ethernet backhaul can connect the mesh units together.
That means the mesh system can use the wired network to communicate between access points instead of relying entirely on Wi-Fi.
For larger Gold Coast homes, multi-storey homes or properties with difficult layouts, this can make a significant difference.
Phone 0452 525 615 for help hard-wiring your home internet!
Real Gold Coast Data Cabling Job – Maudsland
Recently we completed a job for a customer in Maudsland who was running their home office via WiFi and really needed the best, most stable internet connection possible for his office computers and online conference video calls. His modem was located in his living room which was okay for WiFi coverage, but after comparing speeds of WiFi vs a hard-wired ethernet cable (we carry a 30m cable with us for comparing) the difference was black and white.
So, for this home, because it was slightly raised and had a fairly inaccessible roof space, we put on our overalls and did the army crawl under the house through the dirt and dog hair to run the new ethernet cable from the living room up into the office. Happy customer, filthy technicians 😉
Ethernet Cabling for Wi-Fi Access Points
If you’re trying to improve Wi-Fi throughout your home, installing more wireless equipment isn’t always the answer.
Sometimes the better solution is to install Ethernet cabling to strategic locations and connect properly positioned Wi-Fi access points.
The result is a network where the Wi-Fi is still wireless for your phones, tablets and other devices — but the access points themselves have a reliable wired connection back to the network.
Security Camera Cabling
Network cameras can also benefit from Ethernet cabling. If you can’t spy on the neighbourhood without interruption, what’s the point? Mrs Mathers’ doggie doo-doos on your lawn is going to need some video evidence before you go door knocking!
Depending on the camera and system being installed, a single Ethernet cable can potentially provide both network connectivity and power using Power over Ethernet (PoE).
This can be particularly useful when installing cameras around a property where reliable connectivity is important.
What Type of Network Cable Should You Use?
For most new residential network installations, Cat6 Ethernet cabling is an excellent choice.
Cat6 provides plenty of capability for modern home networks and can support Gigabit Ethernet connections and higher-speed networking over appropriate distances and equipment.
For a typical home installation, we don’t believe you should simply install the most expensive cable available without considering what the network actually needs.
The cable is only one part of the system.
Your internet connection, router, network switches, Wi-Fi equipment and the devices connected to the network all need to work together.
Can Data Cabling Be Installed in an Existing Home?
Yes.
You don’t need to be building a new house to have network cabling installed.
A lot of the data cabling work we do involves existing homes where the customer wants to improve their internet or network.
The challenge is working out how to get the cable from the router or network location to the destination without creating an ugly installation.
Depending on the property, cables may be routed through roof spaces, wall cavities, under floors, along suitable pathways or using carefully concealed cable management.
Every house is different.
A single-storey home with accessible roof space can be very different from a two-storey home, an apartment or a house with difficult access.
That’s why we assess the property and work out the most practical installation method before recommending a solution.
Today in Palm Beach I installed network cabling to two bedrooms, straight into their children’s gaming PCs. Our customer was sick and tired of their kids whinging about their inconsistent WiFi signal. Being a single storey tiled roof, we had no trouble running new data cabling through the roof and wall cavities like magicians and said “hey presto! The whinging will be no more!” when the job was done without dramas.
Does Data Cabling Fix Slow Internet?
Sometimes — but not always.
This is an important distinction.
If your NBN connection is already slow when tested directly from the modem or router, installing Ethernet cabling won’t magically increase the speed coming into your property.
However, if you’re getting excellent speeds at the router but experiencing poor performance elsewhere in the house, the problem could be your Wi-Fi coverage or the connection between your devices and the router.
For example:
500 Mbps at the router + poor Wi-Fi in the home office
may be a network/Wi-Fi problem rather than an NBN speed problem.
Running Ethernet to the office could give the computer a much more reliable connection to that 500 Mbps internet service.
That’s why we prefer to diagnose the network first rather than automatically recommend cabling.
How We Approach Data Cabling Jobs
We don’t believe in simply running a cable from A to B and calling the job finished.
Before installing anything, we look at:
- Where your modem or router is located
- Where your network equipment is located
- Where you actually need the connection
- The layout of the property
- Available roof and wall access
- Existing cabling
- Whether a wired connection, Wi-Fi access point or mesh system makes the most sense
- How the finished installation can be kept as neat as practical
The goal isn’t just to install a cable.
The goal is to build a network that works properly for the way you use your home.
Neat Data Cabling Matters
A network cable is only useful if it gets to where it needs to go without turning your house into a construction site.
We take the finished appearance into account when planning the installation.
Where possible, cabling can be concealed through suitable wall cavities or roof spaces. Where a cable has to be visible, we look for the neatest practical route.
We’ll also explain the options if there is a choice between a completely concealed installation and a simpler, more cost-effective cable route.
An installation comes to mind that I came across in Pacific Pines recently, where we found Ethernet data cables coming out of a window, strewn across the roof and then back in through other windows of the home. I give them A+ for solving the issue 😊 I left them a business card and hopefully we get the job of re-running those cables out of sight properly.
Data Cabling vs Wi-Fi: Which Is Better?
There isn’t really a winner.
Wi-Fi is great for mobile devices. Ethernet is great for devices that stay in one place.
A good home network will often use both.
For example:
| Device | Recommended Connection |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone | Wi-Fi |
| Tablet | Wi-Fi |
| Smart speaker | Wi-Fi |
| Gaming PC | Ethernet |
| Games console | Ethernet |
| Smart TV | Ethernet |
| Home office PC | Ethernet |
| Wi-Fi access point | Ethernet |
| Security camera | Ethernet / PoE where suitable |
The important thing is designing the network around how you actually use the home.
Do You Need More Ethernet Points?
If you’re renovating, building, moving into a new home or simply upgrading your network, it can be worth thinking about where you’ll need wired connections in the future.
A few strategically placed data points can provide a lot of flexibility.
For example, you might want Ethernet available in:
- The home office
- Living room
- Media room
- Gaming room
- Bedrooms
- Study
- Ceiling locations for Wi-Fi access points
- Locations for security cameras
You don’t necessarily need a data point in every room.
The right number depends on the property, your devices and how you intend to use the network.
Not sure how many data points you need or where they should go? Call us on 0452 525 615
Our Internet Technicians are available for an onsite assessment if you’re not confident in your network cabling plan.
Professional Data Cabling on the Gold Coast
Internet Magic Gold Coast provides data cabling and network solutions for homes across the Gold Coast.
We can help with everything from a single Ethernet connection to a more comprehensive home network upgrade involving multiple data points, Wi-Fi access points, mesh systems and network equipment.
We also don’t assume that cabling is always the answer.
Sometimes your existing cabling is fine and the real problem is your router placement, Wi-Fi configuration or network equipment.
We’ll work out what’s actually causing the problem and recommend the solution that makes sense for your home.
How Much Does Data Cabling Cost on the Gold Coast?
There is no set price for data cabling, as every home and every cable route is different. We provide a fixed price upfront once we’ve assessed the job, so you know what the cost will be before we get started.
Things that can affect the price include the number of data points, the distance the cable needs to run, access to roof and wall cavities, the difficulty of the cable route and your existing network equipment.
And, of course, whether there are any cupcakes and coffee on offer. You get the idea. 😉
We can’t give you an exact fixed price over the phone because we need to know what we’re actually dealing with, but we can generally give you a ballpark cost based on what you tell us.
For more complicated installations, we’ll assess the property and cable route first, then provide the fixed price before any work begins.
Need Ethernet or Data Cabling?
If you need a new Ethernet point, want to hard-wire your home office or gaming setup, or you’re looking to improve Wi-Fi throughout your Gold Coast home, get in touch with Internet Magic Gold Coast.
We’ll assess what you have, work out what you need and provide a practical solution to get your home network working properly.
Call Internet Magic Gold Coast to discuss your data cabling requirements.