I moved my smart home off Wi-Fi and onto Thread, and my router finally stopped crashing

Key Points:

• The author experienced frequent router freezes due to congestion from about 30 Wi-Fi smart home devices, which was resolved by moving many devices off Wi-Fi onto a Thread network instead of upgrading the router.
• Thread is a low-power wireless mesh network that runs separately from Wi-Fi, reducing bandwidth competition and improving device response times, battery life, and network stability for smart home devices.
• Matter, a universal smart home standard supported by Google, Apple, Amazon, and Samsung, enables seamless setup and control of Thread devices directly through the Google Home app without needing separate apps or unstable integrations.
• The author successfully migrated 14 devices from Wi-Fi to Thread using brands like Nanoleaf, Eve, and Aqara, resulting in no router crashes for three months and faster automation triggers, though Google Home's Matter support still lacks some advanced features.
• For new users, starting with a Thread border router-enabled device like Nest Hub (2nd Gen) or Nest Wifi Pro and migrating devices gradually is recommended, as Wi-Fi devices like cameras remain necessary but Thread offers a superior solution for many smart home products.