Before buying a smart speaker, security camera, streaming device, smart thermostat, mesh Wi-Fi system, or connected appliance, it is easy to focus on features and overlook how they fit into your overall home technology setup. A device may look impressive on its own but become frustrating if it does not work with your existing network, … Read more
A modern connected home can look deceptively simple from the outside. You might see a smart thermostat adjusting the temperature, lights responding to an app, a television streaming content, or a security camera sending an alert to your phone. What you do not see is the infrastructure making all of those actions possible. Behind the … Read more
If your home Wi-Fi connection is strong, installing Ethernet cables might not seem like an immediate priority. However, the situation often changes as the number of devices grows. A home office may need a dedicated network connection for video conferencing, a TV may need to stream HD video for hours, and a ceiling-mounted Wi-Fi access … Read more
Most smart home issues aren’t caused by buying too many smart devices. The problem often lies in the poorly designed network supporting those devices. While a few phones and laptops might only require a simple internet gateway, the situation changes drastically when you add TVs, cameras, game consoles, smart speakers, printers, thermostats, computers, and other … Read more
Modern homes can have more electronics than a few years ago. TVs can sit next to streaming boxes, game consoles, soundbars, and charging stations. The home office can feature a computer, monitors, printer, speakers, router, desk lamp, and other equipment. With smart-home hubs, cameras, network equipment, chargers, and kitchen gadgets, a room can rapidly become … Read more
A smart home can start innocently. You buy a smart bulb to manage bedroom lighting from your phone. You might also add a coffee maker smart plug, a front door sensor, a hallway camera, and possibly a smart speaker to control everything by voice. A few months later, you may have many apps, accounts, chargers, … Read more
A connected home can generate a surprisingly detailed picture of daily life. A door sensor may record when someone leaves or returns. A thermostat can reveal patterns of occupancy. A smart plug may show when someone uses a particular appliance. A voice assistant can process requests, while a security camera can collect information about activity … Read more
A connected home can become surprisingly dependent on a handful of small devices. The router keeps internet access available; the Wi-Fi system connects everything else; phones provide communication; smart locks may control entry; cameras monitor the property; and computers hold documents that may be difficult to replace. Then the power goes out. Suddenly, the problem … Read more
When someone visits your home and asks for the Wi-Fi password, the easiest response is often to give them the same credentials used by everyone in the household. It works, but it also creates an unnecessary security problem: the guest is now connected to the same network as your computers, phones, printers, smart-home equipment, storage … Read more