Hey, I’m Dave
Network engineer turned smart home nerd. I write about the stuff nobody else covers: why your devices keep disconnecting, which protocols actually work, and how to build a home network that does not fall apart.
Home Networks
WiFi 6/6E mesh systems, network switches, access points, and how to stop dead zones from ruining your smart home.
Smart Protocols
Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, WiFi – which protocol for which device, and how to make them all play nice together.
Automation
Home Assistant, Google Home, Alexa routines – practical automations that actually save time, not just look cool.
Latest Articles
- Node-RED vs Home Assistant Automations: When to Use WhichHome Assistant has built-in automations. Node-RED is a visual programming tool that can also control your smart home. I use both, and each has clear…
- Smart Home Security: Practical Steps That Actually MatterMost smart home security articles tell you to “change the default password” and call it a day. That is step one of twenty. Here is…
- Why I Stopped Using Smart WiFi BulbsI started my smart home with WiFi bulbs. Seemed like the easiest entry point – screw them in, connect to the app, done. Three years…
- The Best Zigbee Sensors for Under $15 EachYou do not need to spend $40 per sensor to build a solid smart home. I have been running cheap Zigbee sensors from Aqara and…
- Building a Smart Home That Works Without InternetLast month my ISP went down for six hours. My neighbor’s smart home was completely dead – no lights, no thermostat, no locks. Mine kept…
- Thread vs Zigbee: Is It Time to Switch?Thread is the network protocol underneath Matter, and some people are calling it the Zigbee killer. After running both on my network, I think that…
About Dave Severn
I spent 15 years as a network engineer running cables through office ceilings and troubleshooting switches at 3 AM. When I finally left the corporate world in 2019, I thought I was done with networking for good.
Then I bought a smart plug. Then a second one. Then a WiFi camera. Then suddenly I had 40 devices on my home network and everything was buffering. No sponsored content. No affiliate links disguised as reviews. Just a network guy sharing what actually works.