Home Networking Tips for Non-Techies
A mashup of obvious and not-so-obvious networking tips
This is a short list of things I do when setting up a new home network. They’re largely borrowed from my time working in enterprise IT shops. Without further ado-
If your home consists of multiple levels, invest in a mesh system for better coverage. Ubiquiti, Asus, and Linksys make well-performing mesh systems. Avoid TP-Link, as they’ve been in the news quite a bit lately over security and privacy concerns. You’ll also notice I didn’t mention Amazon or Google. That’s because…
Don’t purchase networking equipment that requires a subscription. Networking equipment should be cheap and minimally fussy. Subscriptions are neither.
Here’s what those numbers in router models mean.
If you’re looking for a single WiFi router, here are some features you should be on the lookout for:
MIMO or multiple antenna technology
WiFi 6 or later
Guest or multiple network capability.
Speaking of which, lots of systems come with Guest network capability. This allows you to separate devices you don’t fully trust from the rest of your network. Those devices can only see and talk to each other and the internet. If you buy a dodgy piece of equipment from a shady site, you can connect it to your guest network and not worry about it compromising your home network.
MoCA adapters are a great way to connect two rooms or floors of a rental unit with cable tv connections, but no network jacks (great for renters). These are good for the price and almost foolproof.
Invest in a Raspberry Pi or two and spend a weekend setting up Pi-Hole. This one’s a bit more involved technically speaking, but I can’t stress enough how awesome it is to browse the internet without being bombarded with ads. Well worth the money and time spent.
That’s all I can think of for now, without getting too deep in the weeds. Happy computing!