The $10 ESP32 board has been a complete game-changer. It has helped transform my approach to building a reliable, ...

Manufacturer apps exist for good reasons—firmware updates, advanced features, and detailed controls. For everyday use, though, they're way more than necessary. I just wanted the lights on or off, ...

Until recently, my smart home setup was in chaos. After years of testing, buying, and upgrading to the latest smart home gadgets in an attempt to make my life easier, it became a bloated mess that was ...

Password management is key for the smart home -- and also a major security vulnerability if passwords get bad or lazy. It can be easy to make password mistakes when first setting up new devices, but ...

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter.