Greetings

This group has so far shown a very large AND a very deep knowledge
base in most anything I've ever thought connected to computers and
computing.

I'm trying to educated myself on networking and am finding, so far at
least, that this is considered specialist only country. So when I
start asking questions I get ignored because my questions are too
basic (so they're considered boring) yet I can't find answers.

I'll start with one question I'm grappling with at moment.

Working on developing a networking system where there are a very large
number of sensors/inputs.
Trial version will have some at least 4 if not six such for one
'stall'. That's to make sure I can do what it is that I want to do.
Version 1 would have 12 'stalls' so that at least 50 odd sensors/systems.
(looking at having other functions so I'm loathe to think a limit of
'only' a couple hundred information points - - - that's for version
1(!!).)
Version 2 could have anywhere from 50 odd to almost 200 discrete
'stalls' - - - this is not a this year project but, hopefully, not too
far away.
(This would mean that 1500 to 2000 sensor/system points is not too far
into the future.)

So I've been thinking of using a 172.16.x.x network rather than a
192.168.x.x as it would seem to me that I can easily put over 300
sensors/systems on a 172.16.x.x system and I would need to be using
some kind of system of cascading routers to use a 192.168.x.x .

There is a change in ISP coming and I'm working on setting up a
opnsense router/firewall - - - at present I'm on fixed wireless (quite
pathetic internet service actually and far far too expensive for what
I get!!) but that change is still some time away - - - at least a few
weeks and maybe even a few months.

Should I switch my present router from 192.168.1.1 to my chosen
172.16.x.x (I'm running on dd-wrt)?

(Any suggestions for how to learn more about networking without buying
hugely pricey Cisco courses?)

TIA