IoT VLAN Broke Chromecast and mDNS? Here’s Why
August 18, 2026
Isolating your IoT devices and losing casting and discovery at the same time isn't a bug. Here's the mechanism, and the general fix categories.
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IoT VLAN or Guest Network? The Actual Difference
August 17, 2026
A guest network and a real VLAN solve the same problem differently. Here's the configuration-level difference and which one your setup can actually support.
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Getting Wi-Fi to a Detached Garage for Smart Devices
August 16, 2026
A detached garage combines two problems: distance and a separate electrical circuit. Here's why the usual fixes don't apply cleanly, and what does.
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Powerline Adapter for a Smart Home Hub: The Honest Numbers
August 15, 2026
The Mbps number on the box is not what you'll get. Here's what a powerline adapter actually delivers, as reported by a manufacturer's own documentation.
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Mesh Wi-Fi Wired Backhaul for a Smart Home, Explained
August 14, 2026
Wired backhaul removes the wireless hop between mesh nodes. Here's what it actually fixes, and how to get it without running new cable through walls.
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Wi-Fi Extender for Smart Home Devices: The Real Tradeoff
August 13, 2026
An extender is a repeater, and repeaters have a throughput tradeoff. Here's when that tradeoff actually matters for smart home devices, and when it doesn't.
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2.4GHz Interference Sources at Home (And How to Find Yours)
August 12, 2026
Devices drop at the same time every evening? Here are the real active interference sources on 2.4GHz, including one almost nobody mentions.
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Your Thread Network May Have Split Into Two
August 9, 2026
Half your Thread devices talking to one hub and half to another is one of two different problems. Here is the test that tells them apart.
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IPv6 Disabled Is Why Your Thread Border Router Fails
August 8, 2026
A Thread border router bridges to your home network using IPv6. If your router has it off, that's why setup fails even with the right hardware.
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DHCP Reservations for Smart Home Devices, Explained
August 7, 2026
A device that "just worked" and now can't be found usually moved to a new IP. A DHCP reservation is the fix that keeps it from moving again.
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