Networking · Infrastructure

Home networking: why your smart home needs a real network.

2026-09-20 · Obsidian Audio Video · Houston

Every smart home system runs on your network. Every light, speaker, thermostat, camera, and TV sends data through your router and switches. A consumer-grade router from Best Buy was never designed for a home with 60+ connected devices. When the network fails, everything fails.

The problem with consumer routers

• Device limits: Most consumer routers handle 30–50 devices before performance degrades. A smart home easily has 60–100+ devices.
• No VLANs: Professional networks separate IoT devices from your main network. Consumer routers don't support this.
• Weak Wi-Fi: A single router can't cover a 5,000+ sq ft home.
• No QoS: Quality of Service prioritizes critical traffic. Consumer routers don't do this well.

What a real home network looks like

1. Router: A commercial-grade router (Ubiquiti UniFi, Araknis, or Crestron).
2. Switch: A managed PoE switch. Provides power and data to access points, cameras, and AV equipment.
3. Access points: 2–4 ceiling-mounted Wi-Fi access points for full-home coverage.
4. VLANs: Separate networks for IoT, AV, cameras, and guest.
5. UPS: An uninterruptible power supply keeps the network running through power outages.

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