Gear I've Used or Researched
Everything below is something I run myself unless marked Recommended - gear I've researched closely enough to vouch for, even where it's not (yet) in my own stack. Items with a writeup link go deeper into how I've actually used them; most - not all - of what's here has one.
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Networking
Enterprise-grade router running RouterOS, with granular VLAN and firewall control.
MikroTik Router Configuration From Scratch24-port managed switch, RouterOS-based, VLAN trunking and LACP support.
Setting up LACP bonding on my QNAP NAS and MikroTik switchCompact 5-port router/switch with PoE output, RouterOS-based.
The Mystery of the 5.5 Second SSH Delay on a MikroTik CRS326UniFi's mid-tier WiFi 6 access point, managed through the UniFi Controller.
Monitoring UniFi Devices with Prometheus and GrafanaOlder UniFi AC-generation access point, still solid for basic coverage.
UniFi WiFi Optimizations For Better Bufferbloat And Apple DevicesPocket travel router that turns a phone's tethered connection into Ethernet.
WAN Failover On MikroTik With A Travel RouterAdapter pair that turns existing coax wiring into a wired Ethernet link.
MoCA Adapters In A Concrete HomeCompute
The board I actually run for lightweight, always-on services.
Migrating Home Assistant from Raspberry Pi to ProxmoxRaspberry Pi 5
RecommendedA solid pick if you're starting fresh - I run Pi 4s and haven't personally moved to this generation.
Self Hosting MDM In A Raspberry Pi And Mac Mini HomelabSmall enough to tuck next to a UPS for always-on monitoring without dedicating a full-size board to it.
Runs GPU-accelerated workloads (local LLM, image generation) through Apple's Metal.
Running a local LLM on an 8GB Mac Mini with OllamaMac Mini M4
RecommendedWorth considering for a low-power, silent ARM homelab box - not one I currently run.
Self Hosting MDM In A Raspberry Pi And Mac Mini HomelabCoral USB TPU
RecommendedDedicated ML accelerator for object detection. I use an idle Intel iGPU instead, but it's a fine option if you don't have one.
Adding AI object detection to my cameras with FrigatePowers a Raspberry Pi over the same cable as its network connection.
Researching BirdNET-Pi for backyard bird detectionStorage & Backup
My main NAS - ZFS-based, handles bulk storage, container workloads, and Time Machine backups.
Setting up LACP bonding on my QNAP NAS and MikroTik switchSimplest option for direct-attached Time Machine backups, no network required.
AFS and SMB: Why Apple's Time Capsule Era Is EndingRated for continuous read/write - built for DVR-style recording workloads, not general use.
Researching BirdNET-Pi for backyard bird detectionUSB-attached NVMe SSD, used as ZFS pool storage.
Consolidating audiobooks and ebooks into a single AudiobookshelfCameras & Security
Video doorbell with an RTSP-accessible stream, works outside a proprietary app ecosystem.
BirdNET-Go, a doorbell cam, and a dynamic mic from the drawerBudget WiFi camera. Works with third-party NVR software like Frigate, less reliably than a wired camera.
Stabilizing flaky Wyze cameras in Frigate, up to a pointPoE NVR for wired cameras, paired with Frigate for real-time AI detection instead of just raw recording.
Adding AI object detection to my cameras with FrigateSmart Home & Health
Home Assistant's official Zigbee USB coordinator (formerly SkyConnect).
Migrating Home Assistant from Raspberry Pi to ProxmoxWiFi hub for Govee's water leak sensors, reports readings to Govee's own app.
Selective internet access for IoT devices with RouterOS address listsSmart scale that syncs body composition data to Garmin Connect.
Syncs readings to Garmin Connect over WiFi.
Integrates into Home Assistant for playback state and control.
Getting Apple TVs and HomePods into Home Assistant across VLANsUsable as a Home Assistant text-to-speech announcement target.
Getting Apple TVs and HomePods into Home Assistant across VLANsAudio
USB audio interface with clean preamp gain and phantom power, good for basic recording.
BirdNET-Go, a doorbell cam, and a dynamic mic from the drawerDynamic cardioid mic, budget-friendly, low self-noise.
BirdNET-Go, a doorbell cam, and a dynamic mic from the drawer