"Older homes can be tricky, but once you find the right solution, it's pretty satisfying to finally get stable internet everywhere..."
Totally agree with this. Have you noticed if your mesh setup improved connectivity for smart home devices too? I've found that older houses sometimes have weird dead spots or interference issues that mess with smart bulbs or cameras. Mesh networks seem to smooth that out nicely... though I still wonder if there's a point where adding more tech just complicates things again. Ever feel like you're chasing your tail with upgrades?
I've definitely felt that way—like every upgrade just leads to another issue popping up somewhere else. My mesh setup did help smooth things out for smart bulbs and cameras, but weirdly enough, I've noticed some older smart plugs still randomly disconnect. Makes me wonder if it's just the age of the devices or if there's something else going on with interference from walls or wiring. Have you run into any older smart gadgets that just refuse to play nice, no matter what you do?
I've had pretty similar experiences with older smart plugs, actually. I don't think it's always the age of the device itself—though that can definitely play a role—but more about compatibility with newer network setups. Some of my oldest plugs just don't seem to handle mesh networks well, especially if they're limited to 2.4 GHz bands. Mesh systems often broadcast both 2.4 and 5 GHz under the same SSID, and I've noticed older devices sometimes struggle to stay connected consistently when that's the case.
One thing that helped me was setting up a separate guest network strictly on 2.4 GHz for those stubborn older gadgets. It sounds like extra hassle, but it really smoothed things out for me without having to replace perfectly functional (but slightly outdated) tech. Also, placement can matter more than you'd think—walls, wiring, even certain appliances like microwaves or cordless phones can cause interference. I moved one plug just a few feet away from a metal filing cabinet once and suddenly it stopped disconnecting randomly... go figure.
On the other hand, some devices just seem destined to be finicky no matter what you do. I had an older smart bulb that would randomly reset itself every few weeks—tried firmware updates, resets, different locations... nothing worked consistently enough for me to trust it anymore. Eventually replaced it with something newer and haven't had issues since.
So yeah, it's probably a mix of age-related quirks and environmental factors. If you're not ready to replace them yet (I totally get that), maybe try isolating them on their own dedicated network or experimenting with placement first before giving up entirely?
- Totally agree about the separate 2.4 GHz network—did the same and it saved me from tossing out some perfectly good plugs.
- Hadn't considered interference from metal cabinets or microwaves though... interesting, might explain a few mysteries around here.
- Glad I'm not alone in this struggle!
- Yep, microwaves are sneaky little gremlins. I spent a whole weekend troubleshooting my kitchen lights randomly flickering, convinced my wiring was haunted or something. Turns out, every time someone nuked popcorn, the microwave was messing with the Wi-Fi signal to my smart bulbs. Go figure.
- Metal cabinets though... hadn't even thought of that one. Makes sense now why the garage sensor acts possessed half the time.
- Anyone else notice weirdness with mirrors or big glass surfaces? I've got a huge mirror near a smart thermostat and sometimes it acts like it's getting signals from another dimension. Or maybe my house really is smarter than me and just messing with my head at this point...
