Read this before you spend a dollar.
Every guide answers one buying decision with numbers and a verdict — including the verdict that you should buy less than you planned. Written by the people who install the gear, updated when the catalog changes.
The three decisions every network starts with
Gateway, access points, switch — in that order. Get these three right and the rest of the catalog is accessories.
The $129 Ultra covers most homes. We map the exact internet speeds and feature needs where each step up earns its price.
The square-footage rule of thumb, the wall-material multiplier, and the floor-count rule — with worked examples from real installs.
Count the powered devices, sum the real draw, add 20%. The full method — or use the calculator and let it count for you.
What the new standard genuinely changes, what's marketing, and the honest upgrade math for Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 households.
One gateway, one AP, $318 all-in. Why mesh kits are the wrong answer at this size, and the renter-friendly mounting options.
Concrete eats 5 GHz. AP-per-floor placement, the outdoor dead-zone fix, and why we spec one more AP than the square footage suggests.
From real installs2K covers a porch; 4K earns it at driveways and license-plate distance. Sensor math, storage sizing, and the NVR decision.
Where home gear stops being enough: client counts, VLANs for guests, and the AP density video calls actually demand.
Cat6 vs Cat6a, the runs to add while the wall is open, and the one drop behind the TV everyone forgets.
“Every guide ends with who should not buy the thing.”
— the editorial standard, enforced
Get a spec instead of a sales pitch