Mesh Networks, iCloud Bandwidth Fixes, and Must-Know Mac Tips

In this episode of Mac Geek Gab, the hosts dive into a variety of practical tips and troubleshooting advice for Mac and Apple users. The show opens with a listener tip on keeping network drives mounted in Finder by adding them to the sidebar—eliminating the need for repeated remounting. The team then tackles several listener questions, including how to stop iCloud downloads that won’t cancel, how to fix remote Plex access issues, and whether to upgrade a five-year-old Netgear Orbi mesh system. They discuss the pros and cons of mesh routers, especially when paired with T-Mobile’s cellular gateway, highlighting the challenges of double NAT and DHCP reservations. The hosts also explore the use of Homebrew for app updates via Updatist, cautioning about potential conflicts from blanket upgrades. A major concern is raised about the recent FCC rules potentially restricting new Chinese routers, with TP-Link’s Deco Pro 7 receiving mixed reviews due to RCS messaging issues. The episode concludes with a spotlight on a security vulnerability in Apple Pay’s Express Transit feature that allows theft of $10,000 from Visa cards—though Visa claims fraud is reversible. The hosts warn users to switch to Mastercard or disable the feature. Finally, they share a fun new app, Tick IQ, which uses an iPhone’s microphone to measure the accuracy of mechanical watches. The episode ends with a call to share the show and support the hosts through sponsorships. Key takeaways include: (1) Use Finder’s sidebar to keep network drives permanently mounted; (2) Stop iCloud downloads by turning off iCloud Drive or using Trip Mode; (3) Fix remote Plex access by checking remote access settings and ensuring correct IP forwarding; (4) Avoid using Visa cards with Apple Pay’s Express Transit due to a known exploit; (5) Use Homebrew’s `brew update` and `brew upgrade` commands carefully to avoid breaking dependencies; (6) Consider a UPS to protect NAS and other electronics from power fluctuations; (7) Use Tick IQ to measure mechanical watch accuracy; (8) Be aware that Backblaze no longer backs up iCloud-synced files stored locally.