Hey, I’m Dave
I spent 15 years as a network engineer, running cables through office ceilings and troubleshooting switches at 2 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. Turns out, home networking is just as broken as enterprise networking – except nobody teaches you how to fix it.
That is why I started Severn Link. I write about the stuff nobody else covers: why your smart home devices keep disconnecting, how to actually set up a mesh network that works, which protocols (Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread) matter for your setup, and how to build a connected home that does not fall apart when your internet hiccups.
No sponsored content. No affiliate links disguised as reviews. Just a network guy who got obsessed with making his house smarter and wants to save you the headaches I went through.
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 Posts
- 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 strengths. Home Assistant Automations Use…
- 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 what actually protects your network…
- 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 later, every single one has…
- 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 Sonoff for years and most…
- 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 running as if nothing happened….
- 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 is premature. How Thread Works…
- How to Set Up VLANs for IoT Devices at HomeYour smart light bulb should not have access to your laptop. Sounds obvious, but on most home networks, every device can see every other device. VLANs fix that, and they…
- 5 WiFi Mesh Systems That Actually Handle Smart Home LoadsMost mesh WiFi reviews test speed with 2-3 devices. That is useless if you have 40+ smart home devices competing for bandwidth. I tested five popular mesh systems under real…
- Matter Protocol: What It Actually Means for Your Smart HomeEvery tech site has been hyping Matter as the future of smart home. After testing it for a year, here is my honest take: it is promising but not ready…
- Home Assistant on a Mini PC: Why I Ditched the Raspberry PiI ran Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi 4 for two years. It worked, mostly. Then I switched to an Intel N100 mini PC and I am never going back….
- Setting Up a Home Network for 50+ Smart DevicesWhen I hit 50 devices on my network, everything started breaking. Cameras would buffer, automations would lag, and my wife’s Zoom calls would drop. Here is how I rebuilt my…
- Zigbee vs Z-Wave vs WiFi: Which Protocol for Which DeviceEvery smart home article tells you to “pick an ecosystem” but nobody explains what that actually means for your network. Here is the real breakdown based on running all three…