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.
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 … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
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,” … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
ASUS today issued a public response to recent online reports that “thousands of ASUS routers” have been at risk of a vulnerability that potentially allows remote parties to gain access to the hardware’s administrative access. The company told me that it “remains fully committed to ensuring the security of its … Continue Reading
If you’ve never heard of the ASUSwrt-Merlin firmware, know that extra magic can be available to a select group of ASUS routers. Extra from what, though, you might ask? From the stock firmware, called ASUSWRT. However, things are not as simple as one being better than the other. This post … Continue Reading
Looking to access your home computer remotely without using a third-party service? You’re reading the right post. I’ll explain here in simple terms how to handle port numbers and port forwarding when configuring a router. When you’re through, you’ll have an idea about how to open a port to gain … Continue Reading
