Guides
How this stuff actually works.
No jargon, no sales pitch. What causes dead zones, what the numbers mean, how to keep your work separate from your kids, and what to ask anyone you hire — including us.
Why your WiFi dies in the back bedroom
Walls, stucco and foil insulation are why the far end of the house gets one bar. Here's what actually blocks a signal and what to do about it.
Read this → 6 min DiagnosticsWhat dBm means, and how to measure your own WiFi
Bars tell you nothing useful. dBm tells you exactly how good your signal is. Here's how to read it and what the numbers mean.
Read this → 5 min SecurityFour networks, one building: what actually goes where
Splitting your WiFi into separate networks isn't paranoia — it's the cheapest security upgrade available. Here's the sensible way to divide it.
Read this → 7 min Small businessRunning a business from home: what to separate and why
If your work laptop and your kid's console share a network, so does everything on them. What a home business should isolate, and how far to go.
Read this → 6 min DesignMesh or cable? How access points should connect
Mesh systems are sold as the no-cable answer. Sometimes they are. Here's the trade you're making and when it's worth it.
Read this → 5 min SecurityGuest WiFi without giving away your house
Handing out your main password gives visitors the same access you have. There's a better way, and it doesn't require a separate network.
Read this → 4 min HouseholdsParental controls that actually hold up
App-based limits get worked around within a week. Controls at the network level are harder to dodge — and easier for parents to manage.
Read this → 5 min SecurityYour smart devices are the weakest thing on your network
The $20 plug and the budget camera get security updates for about as long as it takes to unbox them. Here's how to keep them from becoming a doorway.
Read this → 5 min MoneyBefore you upgrade your internet plan, read this
Most people paying for faster internet to fix slow WiFi are solving the wrong problem. Here's how to tell which one you have.
Read this → 5 min HiringWhat to ask before you hire anyone to fix your WiFi
Twelve questions that separate someone who measures from someone who guesses — and what the good answers sound like.
Read this → 6 min