Wi-Fi routers, home servers, virtual private networks, and more.
Networking
How can I rip all my DVDs and play them on a network?
Episode 1483
James from
James has 300 DVDs that he'd like to put on a media server and watch using Amazon Alexa to launch them. Rich says that the first thing James would need to do is "rip" them to a hard drive. He can use a combination of HandBrake and VLC Media Client to get them into digital files. Then he can put them on a network attached storage device.
How can I reduce latency on my network?
Episode 1481
Fred from
Fred bought a Plume Mesh router to improve coverage in his house and improve the latency. But the latency problem is still there while doing file sharing. What else can he do to stop it? Leo says that he should look at DSLReports bandwidth tester. It'll give him an accurate measurement of his latency issues. He should also run speedtest.net.
Why can't my printer print with my new router?
Episode 1481
Nam from
Nam bought a new router, but now he can't print. Leo says it's a good idea to delete the connection in his printer, then go into the printer settings of his computer and delete the connection there. Then reinstall. It could be it just needs to be reacquired by the OS.
Should I replace my router?
Episode 1479
Brian from
Brian wants to know why he should replace his router. Leo says that routers wear out, like when they are getting hot. That's an indicator it's working harder to push the traffic where it needs to go. He'll want to look for a router that that updates its firmware. He'll also want a reliable manufacturer who cares about updates. Leo also recommends a MESH router, which are great for homes that have issues with WiFi reception.
Get a mesh system at Eero's website (sponsor of TWiT)
Can I mix hard drives in my NAS?
Episode 1476
Josh from
Josh wants to know if he should buy all one brand of hard drives for his QNAP NAS or if he could mix them. Leo says that there's no problem with mixing drives, but he should make sure that the drive size is consistent, as most RAIDs will manage according to the smallest size. If he's buying it all at once, then it makes sense to buy the same drive, but if he's getting a great deal on different hard drives, then by all means, he should save the money.
Did I buy the right router?
Episode 1476
Kenny from
Kenny bought the TP-Link Archer C9 router. Was it a good buy? Leo says that they are very good and TheWirecutter.com gives it high marks.
Why can't I use DropBox as a file server?
Episode 1476
David from
David works with about ten other people in a small company, and they all share files using DropBox. They're getting conflicts, however with certain database files that they have stored on DropBox. Leo says if he has two programs accessing the same file at once, they will have problems. David wants to set up a VPN, and he was able to configure Hamachi. Leo says this won't fix the fundamental problem, though — it has to support record locking. David says that Microsoft Access supports locking, but it doesn't work with DropBox because people are accessing the file on their local systems.
Why is Wi-Fi so slow on my laptop?
Episode 1474
Beth from
Beth has a two story house and she has no problem streaming anything or using the internet, except on her laptop. Leo says that if her Roku is running HD, then she's getting decent bandwidth. Would a mesh router help? Leo says it may, but it's an expensive way to find out. Beth should run a speed test on her router to see how it goes. She should do it closer to her base station, and then again down into the lower floor and see if it improves or gets worse. That would tell her something. Leo says that since Beth is using Frontier, it could be her Frontier router. They're just terrible.
Is it more secure to have my devices connected to a separate guest network?
Episoide 1473
Andre from
Andre has a few Nest devices connected to his router, and one is connected to a guest network. Is that more secure? Leo says no. While guest access doesn't have access to passwords, they do have access to his entire network. Nest is secure, though. Plume offers a great feature - internet-only access to a guest network.
How can I extend Wi-Fi to my second floor?
Episoide 1473
Henry from
Henry wants to extend his Wi-Fi upstairs. What extender should he use? Leo says he has a few options. Mesh routers are great because they have satellites that he can plug into each room, creating a wireless grid for his home. These usually come with a base station and a few extenders. They're a bit pricey, but they have the advantage of having full duplex communication, so the speed isn't cut as it's passing along the signal. They also have great security features, they're easy to maintain through the app, and they update automatically.
