Josh DargieInfrastructure · Cloud · Software

Blog / networking

Notes from the field.

Short, practical pieces on the decisions I get asked about most. No news, no trends, no AI takes.

Sep 4, 2026
5 min read

Fixing UniFi Device Adoption Failures

A methodical way to fix a UniFi access point or switch that will not adopt: IP checks, VLAN gotchas, factory resets and SSH set-inform.

how-tounifinetworking
Sep 2, 2026
4 min read

UniFi's Whole-Home WiFi: my first take

Ubiquiti announced a WiFi 7 mesh aimed at regular houses today: the UniFi Express 7. Who it's actually for, how it stacks up against the pro setup and against eero and Orbi, and the catches.

UniFiWiFinetworkinghow-to
Aug 28, 2026
4 min read

How to set up VLANs on a UniFi network

A practical walkthrough of VLANs on UniFi: planning the segments, creating the networks, tagging Wi-Fi and switch ports, and firewalling between them.

how-tounifinetworking
Aug 21, 2026
4 min read

Setting up guest Wi-Fi on UniFi properly

How to build a guest network on UniFi that gives visitors internet and nothing else: isolation, bandwidth limits, and the portal question.

how-tounifinetworking
Mar 16, 2026
3 min read

Why good Wi-Fi starts with wires

Wireless is the last metre, not the whole network. Why access points need cables, what mesh can't fix, and where the wires should go.

networkinghome
Feb 9, 2026
4 min read

Decide these five things before the drywall goes on

Five low-voltage decisions to lock in before drywall: cable drops, conduit, camera positions, access point locations, and the network closet.

renovationnetworking
Jan 12, 2026
4 min read

Five red flags in a network cabling quote

How I read network cabling quotes: the five omissions that predict change orders, poor workmanship, and gear you can't maintain later.

networkingquotes

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