How-tos are detailed posts that explain how stuff works and how to get things done. All how-tos on Dong Knows Tech are based on real-world experience or hands-on testing.
Wi-Fi access points (WAPs, or APs) are wireless host devices that can handle multiple Wi-Fi-enabled clients simultaneously. In that sense, they are similar to extenders, with one significant difference: the way they connect to the network. An AP connects to the existing network, namely your router, using a network cable, … Continue Reading
You want to blanket your sprawling property with fast Wi-Fi, but extending electrical power to the far side of your yard or that tight attic corner proves mission (close to) impossible. Don’t give up! That is when PoE, or Power over Ethernet, comes into play. You’ll learn all about it … Continue Reading
The head says it. This post is part of a series that helps you set up a home network like a pro. It’ll work you through the detailed steps to get a home Wi-Fi router up and running using the web user interface. If you like using the phone’s mobile … Continue Reading
If you have been following my router reviews, you’ll note that I have increasingly mentioned the “online privacy risks” notion. An example is Amazon’s popular eero hardware. As I mentioned in some of those posts, I was so concerned about the privacy risks that I often felt hesitant to plug … Continue Reading
This post helps you deal with the situation where you want to improve your home Wi-Fi network yet can’t (or don’t want to) get rid of your ISP-provided gateway (or any existing router). It’s a question of Single NAT vs. Double NAT. If those “NAT” terms seem scary or strange, … Continue Reading
On January 8, 2024, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 program, making the standard official. However, the Wi-Fi 7 story started way before that. Since the second part of 2021, this latest wireless standard has been the talk of the town, with the first routers becoming available starting … Continue Reading
By now, you must have heard of 5G as a significant upgrade to how mobile devices—phones and tablets with data plans—connect to the Internet. As such, it’s slated to change how all devices connect. First available in the US in 2018, 5G has proven to have a relatively slow adoption … Continue Reading
When it comes to building a home mesh Wi-Fi system, you can pick an advanced approach using one of the five DIY options, or you can get a purpose-built (a.k.a. canned) system. This post includes the five most popular brands of the latter, ranking from the list recommended to the … Continue Reading
