Archives - Smart Home


Adjust Quality of Service in your router

Some internet routers provide advanced settings that let you determine how certain types of traffic are handled by your network. This functionality, usually called Quality of Service, is useful for ensuring that demanding applications like online games and VoIP or video conferencing get priority.

What to look for in a 5G laptop when you upgrade your work-from-home equipment

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly hastened the trend toward working from home (WFH). As employees across the country adapt to remote working environments, some users may have become a bit uncertain about their tech options. If you find yourself looking for an upgrade when it comes to your home office equipment, consider how the 5G […]

Mute smart speakers during sensitive conversations

Have an Amazon Alexa, Google Nest Mini or other smart speaker? You probably want to mute it if you join a lot of phone calls or video conferences while at home. This is easy in most cases; for example, the Nest Mini’s mute switch is on the back. While muted, speakers won’t listen for their […]

Use Ethernet if you’re working from home

As work-from-home arrangements become increasingly common, the quality of home internet connectivity is more important than ever. A direct Etherent connection to your router or switch will provide better stability and possibly faster speeds than Wi-Fi – plus it’s immune to certain types of cyberattacks against Wi-Fi security mechanisms. If your laptop lacks a built-in […]

Unplug smart home devices when you’re not using them

If you’re leaving town and won’t be using your smart TV or other devices for several days, disconnect them. This will help not only save energy, but also keep hackers away.

If you work from home, create a separate Wi-Fi network

Remember, when one IoT device becomes compromised in a digital home, all the other devices on that network are also at risk. So if you deal with confidential information for your job, make sure your network is secure and not too crowded. In most cases, you’ll be able to set up a secondary network with […]