antennaweb.org has all the info you need to make the right choice. It also will tell you how high and what direction to point.

Why not use a pi or some other sbc?

Check alternativeto.net. Search for any software and it will give you a list of other options and what they are all about.

Use NewPipe

Not your keys, not your coins.

Sell all your shitcoins for bitcoin and self custody your sats.

There would be mass confusion if the US went metric.

I have a qnap. I have had no issues. It runs its own qts OS so no need to figure out what you want to run. Make sure the hardware is x86. Plex runs better on x86.

I assume the disco fever is all the pairs shorted together. Is this cable buried or run through the house? I would start by redoing your ends. Make sure they are crimped fully and both sides are identical.

How do you know the cable is damaged? If you have a toner you can hook the generator to the damaged pair and listen along the length of the cable to where the tone changes. It’s not as fool-proof as a tester, but much cheaper.

I use Shelly and Home Assistant. Set up takes 5-10 minutes. Mine have been plugged up and running for 2 years with no flaws.

Libreoffice is free and open source.https://www.libreoffice.org/