Repairs & upgrades
"it just won't turn on"Slow, broken, or won't start? I'll find out what's actually wrong and either fix it or tell you straight if it's not worth it. Often it's a cheap part or a clean out, not a new machine.
Mackay · Whitsundays · Remote Australia wide
Farr from your
Farr from your
average IT support
Friendly, plain-English IT support for homes and small businesses. The computers, networks and devices that won't behave, back in line. Two ways in:
something's not right
Fix it for me
Slow, broken, won't connect, full of pop-ups, or a new device to set up. The everyday stuff, sorted.
See what I fix
// take back control
Level me up
A faster machine, real privacy, smaller bills, your own data on your own terms. The deep end, as far down as you want to go.
Take back control
What I can help with
Tech support without the hold music
(nothing against you, Opus No. 1)
The everyday stuff that makes you want to throw the bloody thing out the window. Tell me what it's doing in your own words and I'll sort it. No jargon, no being talked down to.
$110/hr·No local call-out fee·Evenings & weekends, same rate
Setup & installation
"I got a new laptop"New computer, printer or phone set up the way you actually use it. Need your old stuff? Files, photos and email all moved across, nothing left behind on the old one.
Networking & WiFi
"the wifi drops out in the back room"Dead spots and dropouts sorted so the internet reaches the back room and just works. Often it's placement and setup, not paying for a faster plan.
Virus removal & security
"a pop up says I've been hacked"Pop ups, scam warnings and the "Microsoft" phone calls. I'll check what's real, clean out what isn't, and lock your accounts down so it doesn't happen again.
Data & backups
"is everything backed up?"Lost photos and files recovered where I can, and a backup set up so a dead drive or stolen laptop never wipes you out again.
Remote support
"can you just look at it from there?"For a lot of stuff I can hop on securely from here, no call-out needed. You watch the whole time and I talk you through it as we go.
NB
If the fix is cheap or there isn't one worth paying for, that's what I'll tell you. I'd rather you trust me with the next thing than oversell you on this one.
For small business
IT support for businesses too small for an IT department
You don't need a server room or a lock in contract with a call centre. You need someone who keeps the essentials running and actually picks up when you ring. No five figure "solutions", no account managers, no tech-talk. Just the gear that keeps you trading, looked after.
Backups that actually work
Set up and tested so a ransomware hit, a dead drive or a stolen laptop doesn't take you down.
Kept running, not just fixed
Network, email and devices looked after so a small glitch doesn't turn into days offline.
One person to call
No account managers and no ticket queue. One person who knows your setup and can explain it to your team so everyone's on the same page.
I am selective about the businesses I support. Some businesses are big enough to need a full IT team, and that's a good problem to have! If that is the case, I'll say so plainly and point you to a reputable local MSP I'd trust with my own gear, rather than stretch myself thin and do you a worse job.
Talk through your setup
Why Farr Systems
Tech help that treats you like a person
Hi, I'm Jack.
I'm the whole company. The person who picks up the phone, turns up at your door, and fixes the thing. I started Farr Systems because I was tired of watching tech conglomerates sell services and gear to Aussies who were left in the dark, paying for something they didn't need, or didn't understand. A pensioner doesn't need a 180GB mobile plan to call the grandkids on the weekend, or multiple feature-saturated antivirus subscriptions to play Microsoft Solitaire. Tech shouldn't work like that. So I built the opposite: one person who turns up, tells you straight what's actually going on, does the job properly, and says plainly when something isn't worth your money. No call centres, no jargon, no "listen carefully as our menu options have changed". Just your problem sorted, by the same bloke every time.
Jack Farrugia, Mackay
Plain English, always
I'll tell you what's wrong and what I'm doing, in words that make sense.
Local & onsite
Based in Mackay and covering the Whitsundays. I'll come to you, at home or at work.
Remote, Australia wide
Further afield? A secure remote session sorts most things without a call out.
Honest & upfront
Flat, clear pricing and no upselling. If the cheaper fix is the right one, or there's no fix worth paying for, that's what I'll tell you.
How it works
Three steps, no fuss
01
Get in touch
Tell me roughly what's going on, in your own words.
02
We take a look
I'll have a look onsite or remotely and walk you through your options.
03
Sorted
I fix it, make sure you're happy, and leave you knowing how to use it.
Questions, answered
The things people usually ask
What do you charge?
$110 an hour, flat and clear. Bigger jobs like builds, network hardening or migrations are a fixed price, quoted upfront so you know the cost before I start.
Do you mark up parts?
Never. Parts go through at cost and I'll show you the receipts. You're paying for my time to spec, build and tune it, not a markup.
How and when do I pay?
Invoice on completion, by bank transfer, PayID or cash. For bigger builds a deposit covers the parts upfront.
Do you come to me?
Yes. Onsite across Mackay and the Whitsundays, home or business. For trips further out I'll quote any travel upfront. Plenty I can also sort remotely, Australia wide.
How does remote support work, and is it safe?
I connect to your screen only with your okay, you watch the whole time, and access ends the moment we're done.
Evenings or weekends?
Yes. I'm around evenings and weekends at no extra charge. Same rate, whenever suits you.
What sorts of problems do you handle?
Repairs, setup, networking and WiFi, virus and scam clean-ups, backups and recovery, moving you onto a new device. And if you're the technical type: custom builds, Linux, self-hosting and security hardening.
Is my data safe with you?
Privacy is the whole point of how I work. I only touch what I need to, with your say so, and I don't keep your data or passwords once I'm done.
Do I need to know what's wrong?
Not at all. Describe it however makes sense ("it's slow", "the internet keeps dropping"). Working out the cause is my job.
Will Linux run my games and my usual programs?
Most of it, yes. Web, email, documents, streaming, video calls and a big chunk of your Steam library all run well on Linux now. The honest exceptions are a few competitive games with strict anti-cheat, Adobe's apps, and the odd bit of specialist work software. That's why I check what you actually use first, and if Windows still suits you better, I'll say so.
Does blocking ads stop everything tracking me?
In two layers, ads go almost completely. Network-wide blocking kills the bulk across every device, and a hardened browser handles the rest. The honest distinction is ads versus tracking: while you're signed into Google or Facebook, they still log what you do on their own platforms, and no ad-blocker changes that. So I aim for "ad-free and far less tracked" rather than "invisible". If you want the logged in trail cut down too, that's the footprint clean up.
Do you work with businesses, not just homes?
Yes. Small business is a big part of what I do: backups that survive a disaster, keeping your network and email running, new device setup, and an ongoing arrangement if you'd rather not think about IT at all. One person who knows your gear, with no queue and no handoffs.
Get in touch
Let's get it sorted.
Skip the call centres. Tell me what's playing up and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Prefer to talk?
0485 835 817
Call or text. If I can't pick up, leave a message and I'll get back to you. No phone tree, promise.
Email meSend me the details
A few lines is plenty. I'll take it from there.