// tested by a real IT dad
Home tech that actually works.
Explained by someone who runs it.
WiFi troubleshooting, NAS builds, home lab gear, smart home, and home office setups — from 30 years of real IT experience. No account. No email. No paywall.
// browse by topic
Find what you need
// editor's picks
Start here
Highest-engagement content — pieces readers actually finish.
// guides
Stop Renting Your Modem: How Much It's Costing You in 2026
ARRIS SB8200 at $140.99 pays for itself in under 12 months vs. ISP rental fees. Should you buy your own modem? For most cable customers, yes.
Read article →How to Back Up a Synology NAS to Backblaze B2 Without Paying for a Third-Party App
Back up your Synology NAS to Backblaze B2 for free using Hyper Backup. No paid apps, no subscriptions. Here's exactly how to set it up.
Read article →// reviews
Motorola MB8611 Modem: Buy or Rent? DOCSIS 3.1
At $244.99 with a 2.5 Gbps port and DOCSIS 3.1 support, the MB8611 pays for itself in roughly 20 months and is the right buy for anyone on Xfinity, Cox, or Spectrum with a gigabit or multi-gig plan.
$244.99 Read review →Seagate IronWolf 8TB Review: The NAS Drive I Trust With 6 Years of Family Photos
The Seagate IronWolf 8TB is the most sensible long-term NAS drive for home use, with real health monitoring, solid vibration resistance, and a 5-year total cost that beats cloud storage handily.
$245.83 Read review →// free tools
Get a straight answer, not a list of options
// who built this
Tested by a real IT dad
30 years in enterprise IT. I research gear the same way I would for my own family: start with the spec sheet, verify with real-world numbers, give you the honest trade-offs. No filler, no recommendations I wouldn't make to a colleague.
About this site