Signs your computer needs a technician (and what to try first)
Slow, noisy, overheating or full of pop-ups? What you can safely try yourself, the warning signs that need a professional, and how to prepare for a repair.
1 min read
Guides
Tech guides for businesses and homes
Practical advice on IT, networks, computers, sound and screens for cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms, offices and homes, written for the people who use them.
Latest guide · Offices & Meeting Rooms
Meeting room AV for small offices
A practical set-up for small office meeting rooms: the right screen size, camera and microphone placement, wireless presentation and keeping it simple.
Keeping your POS and payment systems running on busy nights
How cafes, bars and restaurants can make point-of-sale and card payments more reliable: wired connections, backup internet, power protection and offline modes.
1 min read
Microphones for quiz nights, speeches and events
Choosing wired and wireless microphones for a venue, avoiding feedback, and making quiz nights, speeches and functions sound clear.
1 min read
Guest Wi-Fi for cafes and bars: fast, safe and separate
How to offer free Wi-Fi to customers without slowing down your business or exposing your staff computers and payment devices.
1 min read
Live music and DJ nights: what your bar's AV needs
What a bar or cafe needs to host bands, solo acts and DJs: power, a mixer, monitors, connection points, and protecting your house sound system.
2 min read
Why your Wi-Fi has dead spots, and how to fix them
The common causes of weak Wi-Fi in homes, cafes and offices, what you can try yourself, and when a mesh system or wired access points make sense.
1 min read
The IT checklist every small business should run through
Backups, passwords, updates, staff accounts and who to call: a plain-English IT checklist for cafes, shops, gyms and small offices.
1 min read
Commercial speaker types explained: ceiling, wall, pendant and subwoofer
A plain-English guide to the speakers used in bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms and shops, and where each type works best.
1 min read
Getting tech help for older family members
How to help parents and grandparents feel confident with computers, phones and video calls, avoid common scams, and find a patient local helper.
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Why your restaurant is too loud, and how to fix it
Hard surfaces, crowd noise and badly placed speakers make dining rooms loud. How acoustic treatment and a better sound set-up bring the noise down.
1 min read
Outdoor speakers for beer gardens, patios and courtyards
Choosing and placing weatherproof speakers for outdoor hospitality areas, keeping neighbours happy, and wiring that survives the weather.
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AV maintenance checklist for venues: weekly, monthly and yearly
A simple routine that keeps screens, speakers and media players reliable in bars, cafes, restaurants and gyms, and catches problems before a busy night.
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Gym sound systems: music, instructor mics and class studios
How to set up sound in a gym: zones for the floor and studios, instructor headset microphones, durable mounting and keeping music energetic without being harsh.
1 min read
Commercial displays vs consumer TVs for your business
Why screens that run all day in cafes, bars, restaurants and gyms are often better as commercial displays, and when a consumer TV is fine.
2 min read
Music zones explained: different music in different areas
What audio zones are, why bars, restaurants, cafes and gyms use them, and how a zoned system lets you control volume and music area by area.
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12 questions to ask before hiring an AV installer
The questions that separate a reliable AV installer from a risky one: experience, insurance, equipment, warranty, documentation and support after the job.
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Sports bar TV setup: screens, sources and sound for game day
How to plan screens for a sports bar or pub: placement, sending different games to different TVs, keeping sound in sync and getting the right subscriptions.
2 min read
How AV technicians price their work
Hourly rates, day rates, call-out fees and fixed quotes explained, plus what drives the cost of an AV job and how to compare quotes fairly.
2 min read
Playing music in your business: licences, streaming and hardware
Why personal streaming accounts are not for business use, what a public performance licence is, and how to set up a reliable music source for a venue.
2 min read
Digital menu boards for restaurants, cafes and takeaways
Planning digital menu boards: screen choice, placement over the counter, content that sells, scheduling breakfast to dinner, and keeping prices up to date.
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What does an AV technician do? A guide for venue owners
What audio-visual technicians install, fix and maintain in bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms and offices, and how they differ from electricians and IT support.
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Cafe sound systems: getting background music right
How to set up background music in a cafe so it lifts the room without drowning out conversation: speaker placement, volume, zones and the gear that lasts.
2 min read
When to call an AV technician (and what to check first)
Screens dark, speakers silent or crackling? A quick checklist venue staff can run in five minutes, and the signs that mean it is time to call an AV technician.
2 min read
What is digital signage and why your business needs it
An introduction to digital signage, what it is, how it works and when a screen network is worth the investment for a small business.
1 min read
AV checklist for new venues
A checklist for planning audio, video and network infrastructure in a new office, cafe, gym or bar before the fit-out is signed off.
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Common audio issues in restaurants and how AV techs fix them
The audio problems restaurants run into most often, from feedback and dead zones to clipping and background music that is too loud.
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Digital signage setup guide for gyms
A practical guide to planning, mounting and running digital signage in a gym, including content scheduling, screen placement and maintenance.
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How to choose an AV technician for your bar or cafe
What to check before hiring an audio or video technician for a bar or cafe, from venue experience to response times and insurance.
1 min read