FAQ

Straight answers. The questions we get asked most, answered the way we would answer them on the phone.

Getting started

Do I need to be technical?: No. If you can use a phone app, you can use what we install. We set everything up, walk you through it, and leave written notes. If something confuses you later, call.
How do I get started?: Call or email. We will talk for fifteen minutes about what you are paying for now and what you want, and go from there.
Do you come to me?: Yes. We work in Your Town and everything within about an hour of it. Repairs are handed off by arrangement.
What does it cost?: It depends on the job, so we quote it before we start and stick to the number. A home setup is a one-time cost for hardware and labor. Ongoing support is optional and separate.

Can I still get to my stuff when I am away from home?: Yes. We set up a private tunnel (Tailscale or WireGuard) so your phone reaches your server from anywhere, the same as if you were on the couch. Nothing gets opened to the public internet.
What happens when my internet goes out?: Everything inside the house keeps working. Cameras keep recording, locks keep working, your files are still there. Remote access comes back when the internet does.
What happens if the server dies?: You restore from the backup. We set up backups on day one: a second drive in the house and, if you want it, an encrypted copy somewhere else. Hardware fails eventually. Losing data is a choice.
What hardware do you use?: Usually a refurbished small business desktop or a mini PC, a couple of hard drives, and for security, wired cameras and a local recorder. We prefer parts you can buy anywhere, so nothing depends on us.
Can you use hardware I already have?: Often. An old desktop with a working drive is a fine starting point for a home server. We will tell you if it is not.
Is this software any good, or is it a hobby thing?: It is the same kind of software that runs in big companies, packaged for a house. Immich, Nextcloud, and Home Assistant each have large communities and full-time developers behind them. We only install things we would run ourselves.

What about the Ring, Nest, or other cloud cameras I already have?: Some can be made to record locally, some cannot. We will tell you which is which and will not pretend otherwise. Often the simplest path is wired cameras that cost about what a year of the cloud plan does.
Will my phone still get alerts?: Yes. Motion alerts, door open alerts, smoke alarm alerts, all of it. They come from your own system instead of from a company server.
Who can see my footage?: You, and whoever you give access to. That is the whole list. It is stored on a recorder in your building, not on a company cloud.

Is it worth fixing, or should I just buy a new one?: We look before we quote, and we will say so if replacing makes more sense. A lot of dead machines need a drive, a battery, or a cleaning.
Can you get my data off a dead computer or phone?: Usually. We will be straight about the odds before we start.
Can my old computer become a home server?: Very often, yes. A desktop from the last ten years with a solid state drive added is plenty for photos, files, and backups. It is one of our favorite jobs.

Ask it. Call, email, or send a note and you will get a real answer.