Yeah, interference is a sneaky one—had something similar happen when I first set up my smart plugs. Thought I'd scored a deal with some super cheap ones online, but they kept dropping out randomly. Drove me nuts. Eventually figured out it was partly interference and partly just low-quality hardware. Like you said, shifting things around helped a bit, but honestly, upgrading just slightly made a huge difference.
I get the whole budget thing though...smart home stuff can feel like a money pit if you're not careful. But it's definitely doable without emptying your wallet. I've found the trick is to prioritize—spend a bit more on the stuff you really rely on daily (like lighting or thermostats), and go cheaper on less critical gadgets. And yeah, orientation matters more than you'd think—I had to angle my hub weirdly behind some furniture to get stable connections. Felt silly at first, but hey...whatever works, right?
Totally agree with you on prioritizing certain devices. When I first got into smart home stuff, I went through a similar phase—cheap plugs, bulbs, the works. It was tempting to build it all out fast and cheap, but man...did I pay for it in headaches later. The constant disconnects and random resets were beyond frustrating.
I learned pretty quickly that not all budget-friendly gear is created equal. Some brands are surprisingly solid even at lower price points, while others...well, let's just say there's usually a reason they're dirt cheap. After some trial and error (mostly error), I started focusing more on quality for things that matter most—like security cameras and thermostats—and going cheaper on stuff that's more of a nice-to-have. Smart bulbs, for example: I found that mid-range brands often strike a good balance between price and reliability. Sure, they're not as flashy or feature-rich as the premium ones, but they get the job done without constantly dropping off my network.
Also, you're spot-on about positioning making a huge difference. I used to roll my eyes at friends obsessing over router placement until I saw firsthand how much it mattered. Now my router sits awkwardly perched on top of a bookshelf in the corner of my living room—it's not exactly aesthetic perfection, but it's the only spot that gives me stable signals throughout the house. A few inches really can make or break a connection.
One other tip I've found useful: buying gradually instead of all at once. Spreading out purchases helps avoid impulse-buying cheap gear just because it's on sale. Plus, spacing it out gives you time to research and catch good deals on better-quality stuff when prices dip.
At the end of the day, building a reliable smart home on a tight budget is definitely doable—it just takes patience, some careful planning, and being willing to tweak and adjust things until you find what works best for your space. And hey, if your family teases you about your weirdly angled hubs or routers...just remind them who's responsible for their seamless Netflix streaming experience.
You're right about investing in quality, but honestly, I've had pretty good luck with budget security cams. If you pick carefully and don't need super advanced features, cheaper models can be surprisingly reliable...haven't had any major hiccups yet. Maybe I've just been lucky though?
"Maybe I've just been lucky though?"
Could be luck...or maybe you're onto something. I've had mixed results with budget smart bulbs—some flicker randomly, others work perfectly fine. Wonder if certain brands are consistently better than others for budget smart gear?
I've had mixed results with budget smart bulbs—some flicker randomly, others work perfectly fine.
I've had similar ups and downs with budget bulbs...but honestly, I've found that sticking to brands like Wyze or Sengled usually gives me better consistency. They're affordable but seem to have fewer quirks like the random flickering you mentioned. Might be worth checking those out?
