Overview
Living and working in the countryside has countless perks: peace, fresh air, and spectacular views. But when it comes to good internet for rural areas, the story is usually the same. Many of us experience poor speeds, unreliable copper lines, and a complete lack of mobile signal.
That was exactly the problem facing a private landowner on Dartmoor, Devon, who not only lived on site but also ran a business, managed a large biomass boiler system, and offered holiday accommodation. With internet speeds stuck at around 12 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up, the property couldn’t keep up with the demands of modern life and business. To put that into context, these speeds aren’t even enough to stream a single video in HD.
We were asked to design and install a solution that would transform the site’s connectivity. The result? A complete rural networking overhaul, including UniFi wireless access points, structured cabling, PoE switching, biomass boiler integration, and finally, a full Starlink installation to boost speeds to over 260 Mbps.
Initial Assessment
When we first visited, the challenges were obvious This was a large rural property with complex demands:
- Poor broadband speeds: A single overhead copper line prone to constant damage from trees, cows, and hedge trimmers.
- Zero mobile coverage: WiFi was the only option for calls, messages, and business operations.
- Complex site layout: A main house, large barn with a biomass boiler, multiple workshops, gardens, and a holiday let all needed consistent coverage.
- Messy, temporary wiring: Multiple routers, exposed cables clipped around walls, and old access points that barely worked.
- Future growth: A house extension was underway, meaning we had to design with expansion and Starlink compatibility in mind.
This wasn’t just a “stick in a router and hope” kind of job. It needed careful planning and a professional-grade installation.
Key Challenges
The main hurdles came down to three things:
- Connectivity reliability: With no mobile signal and poor broadband, everything depended on WiFi coverage.
- Infrastructure complexity: Large stone buildings and barns don’t make life easy for wireless signals or neat cable runs.
Future-proofing: The client was keen to avoid throwing money at stop-gap solutions that wouldn’t work long-term.
How We delivered Internet for Rural Areas
We approached the project in several phases, ensuring that each stage built a strong foundation for the next.
Phase 1: Barn & Boiler Plant Room
The first priority was the biomass boiler, which needed a secure, hardwired Ethernet connection for remote monitoring and diagnostics. We installed new cabling, access points, and a 130W Netgear PoE switch in an IP-rated enclosure to protect against the sawdust-filled workshop environment.
We then expanded WiFi across the barn, workshop, and surrounding yards using UniFi access points, neatly fixed with D-Line clips and metal ties. For the first time, the client could take calls and access the internet across the entire site, not just inside the house.
Explore our Home Network Installation services.
Phase 2: House Extension & Structured Cabling
As work began on the house extension, we installed first-fix structured cabling using Cat 6A shielded cable, routed correctly through joists (unlike the questionable electrical work we uncovered on site). This stage included:
- Wall plates with multiple wired outputs for printers and desktops.
- Hardwired points in the study and master bedroom.
- External access points for the new patio and garden.
- Flexible design allowing for future access points and voice-over-IP phones.
We ensured all cabling was routed cleanly, avoiding unsafe notching and protecting against future damage from screws or plasterboard.
👉 See how we future-proof properties with our Smart Home Automation Installation services.
Phase 3: Starlink Satellite Broadband
The final phase was installing Starlink satellite internet. Because of the property’s location and newly finished roof, the only viable option was to mount the dish on the chimney stack. Which meant hiring a cherry picker to safely reach the top.
We replaced the supplied bolts with heavy duty anchor fixings to withstand Dartmoor’s high winds, routed the cable into the loft, and installed a dedicated power socket and router shelf. The Starlink dish was then integrated into the existing UniFi network, instantly boosting speeds from 12 Mbps to over 260 Mbps download.Learn more about our Starlink Installation service.
Results
The transformation was dramatic:
- Full WiFi coverage across the main house, barns, gardens, workshops, and holiday let.
- Hardwired connection to the biomass boiler, enabling remote monitoring and control.
- Clean, safe cabling throughout, removing years of messy external runs.
- Future-proofed infrastructure, ready for additional access points, Starlink upgrades, and VoIP.
- Blazing fast speeds — from 12 Mbps to 260 Mbps, with reliable coverage everywhere on site.
For the client, this meant more than just faster internet for this rural area. It meant the ability to run multiple businesses, provide reliable WiFi to holiday guests, monitor the heating system remotely, and finally enjoy seamless connectivity across their land.
Why This Matters
This case study shows exactly why internet for rural areas needs more than a quick fix. It’s about designing systems that are reliable, safe, and future-proof. Copper lines in remote locations will always struggle, and mobile coverage often isn’t an option. But with professional installation, Starlink, and smart network design, rural properties can achieve the same — or even better — connectivity than urban homes.
At Heritage Electrical Automation, we specialise in tackling these complex, large-scale projects. While most of our work is across Devon and the South West, we’re happy to travel for challenging installations that others can’t fix.
Ready to Upgrade Your Rural Internet?
If you’re struggling with poor speeds, patchy coverage, or unreliable copper lines, you don’t have to put up with it. We design and install smart rural networks that transform how you live and work.
Discover our Smart Home Automation services.
See our full Home Network Installation solutions.
Future-proof your home with our Starlink Installation services.
Don’t let poor connectivity hold you back. Get in touch today and let our network/internet electrical engineers design an internet for rural areas solution that really works.
