Lab Dad // Smart home, servers & family approval
Tech checks for homes where things actually have to work.
I use DadChecks.tech as my practical dad lab for smart home gear, CCTV, Home Assistant, Proxmox, gaming and family tech — with clear labels for what I actually own, what I have tested, what is only researched, and what is just a tempting used-market find.
No fake hands-on claims. No influencer panic. Just my nerdy notes, spouse-acceptance checks, kid-safe thinking and honest buying-guide drafts before I recommend anything.
What gets checked
Smart Home
Home Assistant ideas, sensors, automations and reliability checks that pass the real test: people in the house still understand them.
CCTV & Security
Cameras, NVRs, privacy trade-offs and “can I actually find the clip when I need it?” checks.
Homeserver Lab
Proxmox, backups, storage, Docker, tiny servers and the little maintenance chores that keep home infrastructure boring in a good way.
Family Tech
Tablets, trackers, printers, chargers, kid-safe settings and the question every spec sheet avoids: will this survive family life?
Gaming
Consoles, handhelds, Minecraft servers, family multiplayer and sane setup notes for parents who still like to play.
Buying Guides
Clear pros, cons and labels: owned, tested, researched-only, affiliate-ready, or time-sensitive used-market opportunity.
DadChecks rules
- If I have not actually tested something, I say so.
- Reliability beats cleverness. Jenny should not have to debug the house.
- Kid-safe and spouse-acceptable details matter.
- Affiliate links, sponsored notes and used-market finds get clear labels from me.