Practical, Neutral, Useful

Clear, Neutral IT Knowledge for Everyday Decisions

Learn practical concepts in networking, security basics, productivity, documentation, backup strategy, and digital wellbeing. No vendor pushes. No hype. Just calm, neutral guidance that helps you move forward with confidence.

Networking Productivity Digital Hygiene Documentation Backups

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1‑minute readEveryday IT

What you'll find here

Topics, short reads, and tools you can reuse at work or at home.

Plain‑Language Explanations

We explain concepts in simple terms first, then provide optional depth. Skim or dive in — your choice.

Checklists & Templates

Copy‑paste checklists for backups, incident notes, meeting minutes, and routine maintenance.

Small, Handy Scripts

Tiny snippets that save minutes daily: file naming helpers, text cleaners, time zone converters.

Articles

Wi‑Fi Basics: Channels, Interference & Placement

Networking~3 min

A calm guide to why some rooms have weak signal and how channel overlap, walls, and placement change coverage.

Start by placing your router as centrally as possible, elevated, and away from thick walls and large metal objects. Use the least congested channel. For 2.4GHz, non‑overlapping channels are 1, 6, and 11. For 5GHz, most channels do not overlap. If you can, rename your networks so you can tell 2.4 and 5 apart. Test at a few spots and adjust placement before buying extra gear.To improve Wi‑Fi, use the non-overlapping channels 1, 6, and 11 on the 2.4 GHz band and wider, non-overlapping channels on the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, but monitor for interference. Place your router centrally and high, away from obstructions and other electronic devices like microwaves and Bluetooth devices that cause interference. Use a Wi‑Fi analyzer to identify crowded channels and other interference sources, then switch to less crowded channels in your router's settings. 1. Understand Wi-Fi Channels & Interference Wi-Fi Channels: Your network's signals travel on channels within frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz). Interference: Interference occurs when your signal is disrupted by other signals, including your neighbors' Wi-Fi, or by devices like microwave ovens, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices. 2. Choose the Right Channels 2.4 GHz Band: This band is limited, with only three non-overlapping channels: 1, 6, and 11. Always use these, selecting the least crowded channel. 5 GHz & 6 GHz Bands: These bands offer more channels and support wider channels, which can improve speed. Use non-DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels first, like 36-48 and 149-165, to avoid complications. Channel Width: Wider channels provide faster speeds but are more susceptible to interference. Adjust channel width based on the number of access points and density of your environment. 3. Analyze & Select Channels Use a Wi-Fi Analyzer: Download a Wi-Fi analyzer app for your smartphone or computer to identify which channels are most crowded in your area. Change Router Settings: Log into your router's control panel and manually select a less crowded, non-overlapping channel. 4. Optimize Router Placement Central Location: Place your router in a central location in your home or office to provide the best coverage. Elevate the Router: Position the router as high as possible, ideally out in the open. Avoid Obstructions: Keep the router away from thick walls, metal surfaces, and other potential obstacles like large appliances. Reduce Interference Sources: Move your router away from other electronics, such as microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices. 5. Monitor and Adjust Test Your Connection: After making changes, test your Wi-Fi speed and reliability in different areas of your space. Observe Performance: Monitor your connection over time to see if your adjustments have improved performance.

  • Keep firmware up to date.
  • Use a short, unique network name (no personal info).
  • Change default admin passwords.

Backup Strategy: 3–2–1 without the Jargon

Backups~3 min

A practical pattern: keep 3 copies of important files, on 2 different types of storage, with 1 copy off‑site.

Decide what you cannot lose (IDs, photos, work docs). Automate a daily backup to a second device, and a weekly off‑site copy. Test a restore monthly — it’s the only way to know a backup really works.

  1. Name folders by date: YYYY‑MM‑DD_backup.
  2. Encrypt archives before moving them off‑site.
  3. Keep a small printed sheet describing how to restore.

Simple Documentation that People Actually Read

Documentation~4 min

Make short docs with a goal, steps, and a last‑updated date. Use headers and examples; keep each page single‑purpose.

Structure: Why (1–2 lines), When, Steps (numbered), Checklist, and Troubleshooting. Use screenshots sparingly, with captions. Review quarterly to remove stale lines.

Template:

Title: One task, one page
Goal: What success looks like
Steps:
1) ...
2) ...
Updated: 2025‑08‑11

Meeting Notes that Reduce Follow‑up

Productivity~2 min

Keep a tiny template: purpose, decisions, owners, due dates. Share within 30 minutes to maintain momentum.

  • Start with the decision, then context.
  • Assign a single owner per task.
  • Use clear due dates (YYYY‑MM‑DD).

Strong, Memorable Passphrases & Small Habits

Digital Hygiene~3 min

Use long, unique passphrases and avoid reusing them. Turn on two‑step verification wherever available.

Pick 4–5 unrelated words, add a number and a symbol. Example: kiwi‑window‑river‑8!. Store recovery codes safely. Review accounts twice a year and remove ones you no longer use.

Focus Blocks: A Simple Schedule that Sticks

Productivity~2 min

Work in short blocks with a single outcome, then take a real break. Protect deep‑work time on your calendar.

Try 40/15: forty minutes of focused work, fifteen minutes away from screens. End each block by writing the next small step so you can resume quickly.

Guides & Tiny Tools

Interactive, brand‑neutral helpers you can use in‑browser.

Human‑Readable File Names

Convert a title into a tidy filename. Useful for docs, screenshots, and exports.

Time Zone Quick‑Convert

Paste a date/time and pick an offset to see the converted time — no accounts required.

Text Cleaner

Remove extra spaces and line breaks; turn smart quotes into plain ones.

About ortelaf.online

Neutral by design

This site focuses on evergreen practices and everyday skills. Topics avoid brand comparisons and marketing claims. Our goal is clarity and calm.

Built for re‑use

Everything is short, copy‑friendly, and adaptable. Use the templates, tweak the checklists, and share the tiny tools with your team.

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