u/Crazy-Border-9579

Hi again, I did have another discussion post I wanted to ask about...

I want to access my home network remotely (NAS / devices / maybe smart home stuff), and I’m trying to decide between port forwarding and setting up a VPN.

From what I’ve read, VPN seems safer, but port forwarding looks simpler.

For people who actually run home networks long-term:

• Do you still use port forwarding, or have you fully switched to VPN?
• Are there cases where port forwarding is still “safe enough” if configured properly?
• Any recommendations for a simple but secure VPN setup for home use?

Trying to avoid doing something insecure just because it’s easier to set up.

Thanks in advance :)

I live in a two-story house with thick concrete walls, and I currently struggle with weak Wi-Fi upstairs. I’m trying to decide between a Mesh system or running wired access points from the main router.

For those who have tested both:

• Does Mesh actually hold up well in homes with concrete walls?
• Or is wired backhaul + access points always the better solution when possible?
• Any real-world advice on node placement for stability (especially for gaming / low latency)?

I’d rather not overcomplicate things if Mesh is “good enough”, but I also don’t want to waste money if it performs worse in this type of building.