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.
Here’s some exciting news for fans of UniFi Network. Ubiquiti today announces the release candidate (RC) of its UniFi Network 9.4 application with a host of improvements and new features. Among those, there’s an all-new feature called Object Oriented Networking (OON) that makes access management effective and super easy to …
This post will give you an overview of the Orbi mesh family, NETGEAR’s popular purpose-built Wi-Fi system for the home. While a specific Orbi mesh set or router’s performance depends on the particular hardware, it generally shares common attributes across all variants in the lineup. So, this post is about …
A Wi-Fi system generally includes two or more access points, specifically the primary router unit and one or more satellite units. If you get a purpose-built solution, it’s often available in a 2-pack or 3-pack. Setting up these units to form a well-performing Wi-Fi system can get tricky. The main …
Years ago, somebody asked me about my most important piece of tech and was surprised when I said it was my NAS server—the Synology DS410, to be specific—and not the iPhone I was holding. That was true then. And it’s even more so now. In fact, with the benefits of …
In March 2022, Wi-Fi routers supporting the 5.9GHz portion of the 5GHz frequency officially became available. Since then, this “final frontier” of the spectrum, known in the US as the UNII-4 group, has proved to be of limited use. This post will explain, in simple terms, UNII-4, the reason behind …
Together with the 2025 NAS models, starting with the DiskStation DS925+, Synology has an unpleasant surprise for its fans: The NAS maker now implements a strict hardware compatibility (HCL) policy, which, for the time being, is basically a storage lock-in approach. To put it bluntly, apart from the server, you …
You might have run into a scenario where you’ve upgraded your broadband to faster-than-gigabit speeds, namely Gig+ or multi-Gigabit Internet, yet can’t seem to “see” it on any device. Sure, your connection is faster, but not as fast as you had been prepared to be wowed. This quick post will …
If you have replaced a Wi-Fi router before, such as when you moved from an ISP-supplied gateway to a retail router, you already know how tedious the process can be. Swapping one Wi-Fi router for another can be a pain when you have to reconnect many existing devices, especially those …
If I put “TP-Link” and “mesh” in a sentence, you’d likely think of the popular Deco family. And you’re not wrong. That’s the networking vendor’s most recognizable brand name in the realm of home Wi-Fi systems. However, unbeknownst to most, the company had another lesser-known do-it-yourself alternative, called “TP-Link OneMesh,” …
You may have noticed that I’m not a fan of using VPNs unnecessarily to be “secure” or “private” online, even when you’re at home. However, when used for its factual purposes, a VPN connection offers undeniable benefits. For example, when you’re traveling (such as during summer vacations), it can be …
