Home Networking
WiFi, 2.5 gig, mesh networks, routers
30 episodes
#3892: Unlocking Hidden Android Cellular Diagnostics
Fix slow Android data by using hidden settings like dialer codes, APN configs, and band selection—no root required.
#3884: Why Your Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Might Make Things Worse
Most people either under-provision or over-provision their home networks. Wi-Fi 7 makes both mistakes more expensive.
#3808: Tracing a Packet: 3 Home Switches vs the Internet Backbone
Three home switches add 36 microseconds. Your cable modem adds 5-15 milliseconds. Let's follow a packet from phone to Google News.
#3787: Proxmox vs Stock Linux for Home Servers
When rebuilding a home server, should you install Proxmox or just use stock Linux with KVM? We break down the tradeoffs.
#3786: When Your DNS Dies: Home Network Failure Cascade
One dead server, ZFS corruption, and a DNS collapse that takes down everything—including your ability to fix it.
#3785: Standalone GPON ONTs: Your Fiber Upgrade Guide
Fiber-to-fiber SFP sticks vs traditional ONT bridges — what works, what doesn't, and why your ISP might block you.
#3738: How to Run Ethernet Through Walls (Without Tearing Everything Open)
Conduits, fish tape, and the difference between DIY and calling a pro — a practical guide to running cable through walls.
#3554: VLAN Tagging on ISP Fiber: Why Your Router Won't Connect
Why you need a VLAN tag for your ISP connection — and how authentication fails when you bring your own router.
#3544: What 4U Actually Means: Rack Gear for Home Labs
Rack height units, case costs, and cabinet types explained for home users and small businesses.
#3535: Fiber vs Copper: Wiring Your Home Network Right
Fiber backbone or copper Ethernet? How to wire a modern home network from the ONT to every room.
#3425: How Cellular Coverage Fails in Tunnels and Skyscrapers
Why your signal drops between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — and how leaky feeder cables fix tunnels.
#3228: Bulk Ethernet by the Reel: Where to Buy, What Size, Is It Worth It?
Where to buy bulk Ethernet cable by the reel, what spool sizes exist, and whether crimping your own beats pre-made cables.
#3227: Reading the Blink Codes on Your Network Switch
Your switch LEDs tell you exactly what's wrong — if you know how to read them. Here's the diagnostic language of blinking lights.
#3226: Why Your Phone Must Stay in Airplane Mode (Even With Starlink on the Roof)
The paradox of phone bans vs. onboard Starlink, explained through physics, paperwork, and Swiss cheese safety models.
#2985: The Hidden Architecture of the Sky
How thousands of planes navigate invisible highways without colliding — over land, ocean, and through wake turbulence.
#2916: Why Your MTU Setting Is Probably Wrong
That 1492 MTU everyone recommends? It's likely costing you performance on modern fiber.
#2806: The CNAME Trap: How a DNS Rule Shaped the Web
Why CNAMEs can't live at the apex, how flattening works, and modern DNS best practices.
#2764: Weatherproofing Electronics: Beyond the IP Rating Trap
How to run Ethernet outdoors without destroying your gear. Cable types, conduit tricks, and the condensation trap.
#2763: Do You Really Need VLANs at Home?
Is VLAN segmentation worth it for home networks, or is it just sysadmin cosplay?
#2671: How Your Phone Helps Strangers Find Lost Wallets
Your phone silently helps strangers find lost items. Here's how the cryptography and mesh networks actually work.
#2587: Where to Draw the Line on DNS Blocking
DNS-level ad and tracker blocking compared — where each tool shines, where they fall short, and the real tradeoffs.
#2505: How Self-Hosted Search Actually Works for AI Agents
SearXNG isn't a crawler — it's a metasearch router. Here's how it works and why AI agents change everything.
#2448: Who Gets the Bandwidth at Sea
How packet-level bonding and QoS keep thousands of passengers streaming while navigation systems stay safe.
#2370: Morse Code and Telegrams: The Tech That Won’t Die
Morse code and telegrams, relics of the past? Think again. Discover where these technologies still thrive and why they refuse to fade away.
#2126: Why Auto Wi-Fi Settings Fail You
Stop screaming at your phone: how UniFi transmit power settings actually cause dead zones.
#1933: Building a Phone Chain to Signal Underground
Old phones can create a lifeline when signals fail, but physics and hardware impose harsh limits.
#1878: The Packet-Level Magic of Unbreakable Connections
Combine Starlink, 5G, and LTE into one unbreakable stream, even from a mountain peak.
#1877: The Invisible Real Estate War
From submarine commands to credit card taps, explore the invisible physics dividing the radio spectrum.
#1876: Signal Bars Are a Lie: How to Read Your Real Connection
Those signal bars are a lie. Learn the real numbers—RSRP, RSRQ, SINR—that tell you if your connection is actually good.
#1871: The Physics of a Lifeline: Signal Loss in a Bomb Shelter
Stranded in a bomb shelter with no signal? Here’s the engineering to get internet through two meters of concrete.