Explainer Networking
How a Home Network Works: IP, DHCP, DNS and NAT
The four jobs your router does behind the scenes, handing out addresses, translating them, finding websites and routing traffic, explained in plain English.
Section
Networking
The concepts underneath every home network — addressing, NAT, ports and wired connections — explained for people who want to understand what their equipment is doing.
Start here
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How-to Networking
How to Change Your DNS Server (Router or Device)
Switch your home network to another DNS service such as Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google 8.8.8.8: where the setting is, what to note first, and when it is locked.
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Troubleshooting Networking
Not Getting the Internet Speed You Pay For? Find the Bottleneck
Why a speed test comes in below your plan, how to test fairly, and how to find the bottleneck in the modem, router, ports, cables or provider.
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Guide Networking
What Internet Speed Do You Need?
Work out the internet speed your home actually needs: add up what you do at the same time, compare with the FCC benchmark, and check your router can keep up.
Understand
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Explainer Networking
2.5G, 5G and 10G Ethernet: What You Need for a Multi-Gig Plan
Multi-gig Ethernet explained: which cable each speed needs, why your connection runs at the slowest link, and what to check before paying for a 2 Gig or faster plan.
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Guide Networking
Backup Internet for Working From Home: Failover, Dual-WAN and Hotspots
How to stay online when your home internet drops, from a phone hotspot to a dual-WAN router that fails over automatically, and what failover doesn't do.
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Guide Networking
Can You Use Ethernet With a Fire TV Stick, Chromecast or Roku Stick?
Which Fire TV Stick, Chromecast and Roku models can use wired Ethernet, what Amazon, Google and Roku document for each, and why the exact model matters.
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Comparison Networking
Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a: Which Ethernet Cable Do You Need?
Which Ethernet cable category your speed and run length need, why Cat6a is advised for 10 Gb/s at 100 m, and why to avoid copper-clad aluminium cable.
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Guide Networking
Ethernet, MoCA or Powerline: Getting a Wired Connection Where You Need It
Three ways to wire a room without new Wi-Fi: Ethernet cable, MoCA over TV coax and powerline over electrical wiring. How each works and which to try first.
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Guide Networking
How to Give a Device a Fixed IP Address (DHCP Reservation)
How to make a printer, NAS, camera or console keep the same local IP address with a DHCP reservation in your router, and why phones can break it.
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Explainer Networking
IPv6 at Home: What It Is and Should You Turn It On?
IPv6 gives every device its own address instead of sharing one through NAT. What changes at home, how privacy addresses work, and whether to leave IPv6 on.
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Comparison Networking
Remote Access to Your Home Network: VPN Server, Tailscale or Port Forwarding?
Three ways to reach your home devices from anywhere: a router VPN server, a mesh VPN like Tailscale, or port forwarding. What each needs and exposes.
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Explainer Networking
What Is PoE? Powering Access Points and Outdoor Units Over Ethernet
How Power over Ethernet works, PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++, what your access point or outdoor unit needs, and when to use a PoE switch or an injector.
Fix problems
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Troubleshooting Networking
Double NAT: How to Tell If You Have It and How to Fix It
Double NAT happens when two routers translate addresses in a row. How to check your router for it, how it differs from carrier-grade NAT, and how to fix it.
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How-to Networking
How to Add More Ethernet Ports to Your Router
Out of Ethernet ports? How to add more with a network switch: which router port to use, how many ports you gain, and the mistakes to avoid.
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How-to Networking
How to Set Up MoCA: Filters, Splitters and Your Cable Modem
How to connect MoCA adapters over your home's coax: the filter, MoCA-rated splitters, where each adapter goes, and fixing a link that won't come up.
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How-to Networking
Port Forwarding: When You Need It and How to Do It Safely
Port forwarding lets connections from the internet reach one device at home. When you need it, how to set it up, why it fails behind CGNAT, and how to keep it safe.
Choose equipment
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Buying guide Networking
Best 2.5G and 10G Ethernet Adapters for PCs
Three multi-gig Ethernet adapter picks, from a 2.5G USB adapter to 10G over USB-C or PCIe, plus how to check your PC's port and match the router and cable.
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Buying guide Networking
Best MoCA Adapters: Wired Speed Over Your Coax
Three MoCA 2.5 adapter picks for wired connections over coax, plus which TV and internet services conflict with MoCA and what else you need.
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Buying guide Networking
Best Multi-Gig Switches for Home: 2.5G and 10G Picks
Five multi-gig switch picks, from quiet 2.5G models to 10G, plus how to tell whether your router, devices and cabling can use the speed.
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Buying guide Networking
Best PoE Switches for Access Points and Cameras
Four PoE switch picks for powering access points, cameras and outdoor units, sorted by how many devices you power, how much power they need and port speed.
Topics we cover
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Backup internet and power outages
Keeping a home connection up when the ISP or the power fails: failover, dual-WAN routers, hotspots and battery backup for the modem and router.
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Home networking
How a home network fits together — IP addresses, DHCP, DNS, NAT, switches and cabling.
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Ethernet and cabling
Ethernet cable categories, switches, MoCA and powerline — the wired side of a home network.
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Ethernet cables
Cable categories (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and beyond), what each supports, and which to buy for gigabit and multi-gig.
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Home Ethernet wiring
Running Ethernet through a house and getting wall jacks and media panels working.
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MoCA and coax networking
Ethernet over the coaxial cable already in your walls — MoCA versions, adapters, filters and sharing coax with cable internet or TV.
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Network adapters
Wired network adapters for computers — USB and PCIe cards that add 2.5, 5 or 10 Gbps Ethernet so a PC can use a multi-gig connection.
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Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Powering access points, mesh units and cameras over the Ethernet cable — PoE standards and classes, injectors and PoE switches.
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NAT and ports
Network address translation, double NAT, bridge mode, port forwarding and NAT type for games.
- How to Give a Device a Fixed IP Address (DHCP Reservation)
- Double NAT: How to Tell If You Have It and How to Fix It
- IPv6 at Home: What It Is and Should You Turn It On?
- Port Forwarding: When You Need It and How to Do It Safely
- Remote Access to Your Home Network: VPN Server, Tailscale or Port Forwarding?
Recently published or updated
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Guide Networking
Backup Internet for Working From Home: Failover, Dual-WAN and Hotspots
How to stay online when your home internet drops, from a phone hotspot to a dual-WAN router that fails over automatically, and what failover doesn't do.
Published
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Buying guide Networking
Best MoCA Adapters: Wired Speed Over Your Coax
Three MoCA 2.5 adapter picks for wired connections over coax, plus which TV and internet services conflict with MoCA and what else you need.
Updated
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Guide Networking
Can You Use Ethernet With a Fire TV Stick, Chromecast or Roku Stick?
Which Fire TV Stick, Chromecast and Roku models can use wired Ethernet, what Amazon, Google and Roku document for each, and why the exact model matters.
Published
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Comparison Networking
Cat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6a: Which Ethernet Cable Do You Need?
Which Ethernet cable category your speed and run length need, why Cat6a is advised for 10 Gb/s at 100 m, and why to avoid copper-clad aluminium cable.
Published