G'day! You're setting up the new home office. You've positioned the desk perfectly for the light, you've got your computer sorted, and then you go to plug in the internet cable and... bugger. It won't bloody reach. It's about a metre too short.

It's a fair dinkum frustrating moment. You could go out and buy a whole new 10-metre cable, or you could muck around moving all your furniture. But before you do that, there's a simple, cheap-as-chips little gadget that can save your bacon: the RJ45 coupler.

So, What is an RJ45 Coupler, Exactly?

An RJ45 coupler (also known as an 'Ethernet joiner' or an 'inline coupler') is a simple little plastic box. On the inside, it's basically just two RJ45 sockets (the female ports) wired straight through, back-to-back.

Its one and only job is to let you plug one Ethernet patch cable (with an RJ45 plug) into one side, and another patch cable into the other side. Click, click. Job done. You've just joined them together to make one longer cable. Too easy!

The Ripper Benefits (When to Use One)

This little bit of kit is a proper lifesaver for a few common situations:

• The Quick Extension: This is the big one. Your NBN modem is on one side of the room, and your computer is just that little bit too far away. A coupler and a second cable sorts it out in seconds.
• A Temporary Fix: Perfect for when you're moving a desk or a smart TV just for the weekend and don't want to run a whole new cable.
• Joining Two Spare Cables: You've got two short 3-metre patch leads, but you need a 5-metre run. A coupler gets the job done without you having to drive to the shops.

The Big Catch: A Join is Still a Join, Mate

Righto, here's the catch, and it's an important one. While an RJ45 coupler is a fantastic quick fix, a professional cabler will tell you that any extra connection in a line is a potential point of failure.

A coupler introduces two new connection points (a plug and a socket on each side). This can (in some cases) slightly slow down your signal or introduce a weak point where a connection can get a bit dodgy if it's knocked.

For the absolute best, most rock-solid, high-speed connection, a single, unbroken cable from the wall plate to your computer is always the go-to. But for 99% of home jobs, a good quality coupler will work a treat.

The CRITICAL Safety & Compliance Warning: DIY vs. Pro

This is where we get dead serious, mate.

• DIY (Go for your life!): Using an RJ45 coupler to join two loose patch cables (the ones outside your wall) is 100% fine. It's a simple, low-voltage DIY job.
• PRO ONLY (Stop, mate!): Are you thinking of using a coupler to join two cables inside your wall cavity to save running a new line? DO NOT DO THIS. It's dodgy, it's unprofessional, and it's against the Aussie cabling rules. It will create a hidden point of failure that will be a nightmare to find later.

Any fixed data cabling inside your walls must be installed by a licensed cabler (registered with ACMA). A pro will never join a cable in a wall; they will always run a new, solid cable from the patch panel to the wall socket.

A Professional Job Needs Professional Gear

A licensed cabler or licensed electrician knows that a reliable network depends on high-quality, compliant components from end to end. They can't risk a job on a cheap, dodgy coupler that will just fail in a year. This is why they source their gear from a trusted electrical wholesaler.

As one of Australia's most comprehensive electrical wholesaler and supplier networks, Schnap Electric Products stocks the lot for the professional installer. They've got a massive range of high-quality, professional-grade data gear, including reliable RJ45 couplers (Cat6 and Cat6a), wall mechanisms ('mechs'), data cable, and all the specialist tools a qualified professional needs to do the job right. For a connection that won't let you down, the pros start with quality gear from a supplier like Schnap Electric.