Joel Crane
@potatofi.bsky.social
Idahoan 🥔 living in Finland 🇫🇮, working at Hamina Wireless. CWNE #233. I'm into old computers, retro videogames, 3D printing, and fixing stuff.
Shoutout to Chrome's "Relaunch to update" button for ruining countless documentation screenshots.
November 3, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Shoutout to Chrome's "Relaunch to update" button for ruining countless documentation screenshots.
In 2010, I bought 20 iMac G3's for $20. I gave most of them away as gag gifts, but kept one and still have it today.
It lived on the kitchen counter for about a year for recipes and music.
It lived on the kitchen counter for about a year for recipes and music.
November 2, 2025 at 9:09 AM
In 2010, I bought 20 iMac G3's for $20. I gave most of them away as gag gifts, but kept one and still have it today.
It lived on the kitchen counter for about a year for recipes and music.
It lived on the kitchen counter for about a year for recipes and music.
This evening, I'm implementing subcarrier drawing for S1G (802.11ah) for my interactive spectrum chart. It looks like my spectral mask guesses for 1 MHz 802.11ah channels weren't quite right!
October 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This evening, I'm implementing subcarrier drawing for S1G (802.11ah) for my interactive spectrum chart. It looks like my spectral mask guesses for 1 MHz 802.11ah channels weren't quite right!
A new-old-stock Nokia 6300 from eBay. I still have mine in storage in the US, but have been planning to pick up another for awhile. I carried it for 5 or 6 years. I do wonder if Elisa (Finnish carrier) offers any 2G service, and if it would be expensive.
Next, I’d like to find a NOS Motorola Razr.
Next, I’d like to find a NOS Motorola Razr.
October 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
A new-old-stock Nokia 6300 from eBay. I still have mine in storage in the US, but have been planning to pick up another for awhile. I carried it for 5 or 6 years. I do wonder if Elisa (Finnish carrier) offers any 2G service, and if it would be expensive.
Next, I’d like to find a NOS Motorola Razr.
Next, I’d like to find a NOS Motorola Razr.
Transferring a CD-ROM image over 802.11b at 11 Mbps with a Mist AP12. -69 dBm with 27 dB SNR. FTP throughput is 250-265 Kbps.
Encrypted with WEP, and using Juniper Mist VxLAN rules to block access to the rest of my network. Insecure SSID is disabled whenever I’m not using it.
Encrypted with WEP, and using Juniper Mist VxLAN rules to block access to the rest of my network. Insecure SSID is disabled whenever I’m not using it.
October 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Transferring a CD-ROM image over 802.11b at 11 Mbps with a Mist AP12. -69 dBm with 27 dB SNR. FTP throughput is 250-265 Kbps.
Encrypted with WEP, and using Juniper Mist VxLAN rules to block access to the rest of my network. Insecure SSID is disabled whenever I’m not using it.
Encrypted with WEP, and using Juniper Mist VxLAN rules to block access to the rest of my network. Insecure SSID is disabled whenever I’m not using it.
I love that my 14-year-old found the LEGO Game Boy at the store today.
October 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I love that my 14-year-old found the LEGO Game Boy at the store today.
Thanks for posting this, Eric! I wore it all afternoon on accident, only switching back to a real Pebble when I looked down to see what time it was.
September 24, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Thanks for posting this, Eric! I wore it all afternoon on accident, only switching back to a real Pebble when I looked down to see what time it was.
I played with Icon Composer today. I think it would be nice for iOS/iPadOS 26 users who want a home screen shortcut for spectrum.potatofi.com. The problem is that I probably can't pass a .icon file through Safari for iOS/iPadOS to use.
September 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I played with Icon Composer today. I think it would be nice for iOS/iPadOS 26 users who want a home screen shortcut for spectrum.potatofi.com. The problem is that I probably can't pass a .icon file through Safari for iOS/iPadOS to use.
Replaced. The Anker A1384 adds another USB-C port, bumps from 24 to 30W, has a percentage indicator screen, and supports all of the PD voltages. The formfactor isn’t as nice (doesn’t sit on the bottom of my backpack, isn’t as nice to hold), but at €60 it will do the job. Gloss plastic is awful, too.
September 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Replaced. The Anker A1384 adds another USB-C port, bumps from 24 to 30W, has a percentage indicator screen, and supports all of the PD voltages. The formfactor isn’t as nice (doesn’t sit on the bottom of my backpack, isn’t as nice to hold), but at €60 it will do the job. Gloss plastic is awful, too.
After 8 years of service, my Anker 20100 Nintendo Switch Edition no longer charges or outputs from the USB-C port. There’s a weird charging/not charging loop, as if it can’t negotiate and output the right voltage. USB-A output still works, but this seems to be the end of the line for it.
September 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
After 8 years of service, my Anker 20100 Nintendo Switch Edition no longer charges or outputs from the USB-C port. There’s a weird charging/not charging loop, as if it can’t negotiate and output the right voltage. USB-A output still works, but this seems to be the end of the line for it.
Three years ago now, I got to spend some time in a Beech 18. Probably the biggest plane I'll ever be at the controls in.
August 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Three years ago now, I got to spend some time in a Beech 18. Probably the biggest plane I'll ever be at the controls in.
Following the Pebble 2 redesign announcement by @ericmigi.com, there were some questions on Reddit about how older apps will look on the bigger screen. Here's how my app looks with zero effort or forethought. A few things (Status Bar, Action Menu) are automatic. Some need slight changes. Easy fixes.
August 14, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Following the Pebble 2 redesign announcement by @ericmigi.com, there were some questions on Reddit about how older apps will look on the bigger screen. Here's how my app looks with zero effort or forethought. A few things (Status Bar, Action Menu) are automatic. Some need slight changes. Easy fixes.
My very first Pebble app ("Departures" for Helsinki Regional Transit busses and trams) is "done"! That's always more to do, but it's usable. I'll test it for a few days, and then release it on the @rebble.io App Store.
August 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My very first Pebble app ("Departures" for Helsinki Regional Transit busses and trams) is "done"! That's always more to do, but it's usable. I'll test it for a few days, and then release it on the @rebble.io App Store.
I grew up on these streets
July 31, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I grew up on these streets
This was even more unexpected: it works on the Switch Lite with a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Wild!
July 29, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This was even more unexpected: it works on the Switch Lite with a USB-C to USB-A adapter. Wild!
Supporting USB mice on Switch with Mario Paint was a very nice gesture from Nintendo.
July 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Supporting USB mice on Switch with Mario Paint was a very nice gesture from Nintendo.
Hey @cabel.panic.com, @thelinengirl.bsky.social and I spotted this retro Jello packaging in Helsinki 🇫🇮. I wonder if they’re doing the same thing in the PNW?
July 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Hey @cabel.panic.com, @thelinengirl.bsky.social and I spotted this retro Jello packaging in Helsinki 🇫🇮. I wonder if they’re doing the same thing in the PNW?
Total novice, here. With these instructions, I got a Hello World. With a bit of help from ChatGPT, I got something running on real hardware, and almost actually working!
July 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Total novice, here. With these instructions, I got a Hello World. With a bit of help from ChatGPT, I got something running on real hardware, and almost actually working!
A few years ago, I repaired and restored a rusty Macintosh SE that had spent time in a flooded basement. Originally, I logged it on TinkerDifferent, but recently copied it over to my blog to make it easier to find and reference.
📓 Flooded Macintosh SE Restoration: www.potatofi.com/posts/floode...
📓 Flooded Macintosh SE Restoration: www.potatofi.com/posts/floode...
July 9, 2025 at 7:13 AM
A few years ago, I repaired and restored a rusty Macintosh SE that had spent time in a flooded basement. Originally, I logged it on TinkerDifferent, but recently copied it over to my blog to make it easier to find and reference.
📓 Flooded Macintosh SE Restoration: www.potatofi.com/posts/floode...
📓 Flooded Macintosh SE Restoration: www.potatofi.com/posts/floode...
“Amerikkalainen” 🇺🇸 pickles at a grocery store in Helsinki 🇫🇮. We have no idea what makes them “American”. I guess they’re similar to a sweet pickle?
July 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
“Amerikkalainen” 🇺🇸 pickles at a grocery store in Helsinki 🇫🇮. We have no idea what makes them “American”. I guess they’re similar to a sweet pickle?