Technodabbler

Homelab and Projects

Printing a 3.7 Litre Game Console

A 3.7 L printed case, an old Core i7, and Batocera Linux became an exercise in fitting a complete game console into as little space as possible.

Homelab and Projects

The Complicated Relationship between Hexos and TrueNAS

Explore how TrueNAS, HexOS, and TrueNAS Connect approach storage, simplicity, and paid convenience in the evolving home NAS market.

Tech Trends

Extra Life 2026: Five Games, Five Challenges, $50 Per Failure

Extra Life returns November 6 with five secret gaming challenges, a $1,500 goal, and a new rule: every challenge I fail costs me $50.

Homelab and Projects

Is CrunchLabs Hack Pack Worth It? A First-Year Retrospective

After six CrunchLabs Hack Pack kits, this retrospective looks at what worked, where the learning faltered, and whether the first year is worth the cost.

Flashing the eMMC of a Radxa Rock Pi 4B Plus

Learn how to flash the eMMC of a Radxa Rock Pi 4B Plus. This guide covers the hardware, flashing process, and essential details for successful installation.

Building a 3D Printed NAS with ModCase MASS and UnRAID

A spare RAM purchase becomes a 3D printed NAS, revealing the trade-offs of AliExpress hardware, modular case design, and UnRAID.

Homelab and Projects

Meshtastic in an Urban Environment

Meshtastic makes LoRa mesh networking feel simple until the city gets involved. This field test explores what worked, what failed, and why MeshCore may be next.

Homelab and Projects

How Tubbo Became a Hosting Provider: Inside PlayHosting's 2026 Infrastructure

Inside PlayHosting’s 2026 infrastructure: Ryzen compute, large-scale storage, DDoS protection, and the VPS business funding free Minecraft hosting.

Gaming Experience

What Is a Flashcart? A Practical Guide to Playing Retro Games

Discover how flashcarts work on original retro consoles. Learn about compatibility, legal considerations, and whether a flashcart is right for your gaming needs.

Gaming Experience

DOSBox: How an Emulator Saved PC Gaming History

DOSBox recreates the MS-DOS era on modern PCs. Discover how this open-source emulator preserves classic games and powers platforms like GOG, Steam, and Origin.

Homelab and Projects

CrunchLabs Balance Bot: Build, Balance and Tune

CrunchLabs Balance Bot turns feedback control into a hands-on robotics lesson, using an MPU, PID tuning, and autonomous balance.

Gaming Experience

What Happens When You Play Sifteo with 12 cubes

Sifteo supported up to 12 cubes, but few players likely tried it. This hands-on test explores what the full setup adds, and where it falls short.

Tech Trends

Beyond Vibe Coding: Building Software With AI as a Collaborator

TechnoQuiz started as a reader activity for Technodabbler. It became a case study in product judgment, audits, mistakes, and disciplined AI-assisted development.

Homelab and Projects

The Ultimate Guide to Having a Website

A practical guide to website ownership, from domains and hosting to discoverability, monetization, backups, and long-term control.

Tech Trends

What Happened to Qardio? When Connected Health Devices Stop Working

Qardio devices stopped working as apps vanished. This article examines what happened, what still works, and how to evaluate risks in connected health devices.

Homelab and Projects

CyberBrick: Bambu Lab’s Answer to Printed Robotics

Explore CyberBrick, Bambu Lab's modular ecosystem for 3D printed robotics. Combines printable designs with standardized electronics to streamline robot building.

Homelab and Projects

LoRaWAN in Practice: Building Long-Range Wireless for IoT

LoRa is just the radio. LoRaWAN turns it into a network. Here’s what it adds, and what it takes to get long-range IoT data flowing from sensor to screen.

Homelab and Projects

Crunchlabs Laser Tag: Build, Aim and Fire

Laser Tag Hack Pack explores IR, lenses, and polarization in a two-player build. It works, but lacks the depth of earlier kits.

Gaming Experience

Why Game Engines Overwhelm Beginners, and MakeCode Arcade Doesn’t

Popular game engines overwhelm beginners with flexibility. MakeCode Arcade narrows the focus, teaching core game structure through sprites, events, and tangible hardware.

Tech Trends

IPFS Explained: A Protocol Built to Make Data Tamper-Proof

IPFS is more than just a tool for NFTs. Discover how the InterPlanetary File System redefines how we share, store, and preserve data on a decentralized web.

Homelab and Projects

Upgrading the Original Game Boy with Modern IPS LCD and USB Power

Transform your original Game Boy with modern IPS LCD screens and USB-C power kits. No cutting or invasive mods needed—just drop-in upgrades for today's expectations.

Homelab and Projects

Inside LoRa: Exploring the Future of Wireless IoT with the SX1262

Discover how LoRa bridges the IoT connectivity gap with long-range, low-power wireless transmission. Explore the SX1262 and real-world LoRa performance limits.

Homelab and Projects

CrunchLabs Sand Garden: Build, Sweep, and Draw

A look at the Sand Garden’s polar gantry, stepper logic, and pattern code. An interesting build, though the advanced math places it beyond typical Hack Pack difficulty.

Homelab and Projects

How to Tell If an Antenna Actually Works

Learn simple methods to test if your antenna is functioning properly. Ensure optimal signal reception with our easy-to-follow tips and troubleshooting advice.

Gaming Experience

The Hardware Behind Skylanders, a Teardown

Skylanders merged physical toys and digital worlds through NFC innovation. Explore the hardware behind the magic and how it changed the gaming industry forever.