Before your first amateur-radio net, listen to how the net control station invites check-ins. Have your callsign ready and follow that net’s instructions. What helped you feel comfortable checking in for the first time?

Clicked a suspicious link? Start with what happened next: a page opened, a password entered, a file ran, access granted or money sent. I wrote a free guide to choosing the next step. tartanleaf.com/clicked-a-sus…

Slow internet does not always mean you need a faster plan. Before paying more, check whether the problem is one device, one service, Wi-Fi, or the connection itself. This short preview introduces five checks to try first. Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=xn9BI6zH…

Tech for Seniors is now available in Kindle and paperback. It offers clear, respectful guidance for older adults who want more confidence with devices, online safety, privacy, communication and AI - without being talked down to. tartanleaf.com/smart-tech-fo…

Before replacing a router or resetting everything, identify the failing part: device, Wi-Fi link, router, DNS, or internet connection. Record what works, make one reversible change, then test again. Four practical resources for doing that: tartanleaf.com/home-networki…

If you regularly help someone with technology, which task causes the most repeated confusion: passwords, photos, video calls, suspicious messages, app updates, or something else? I am interested in the point where an explanation usually stops being useful.

The September-October SARC Communicator is now available. My article, "Before You Press the PTT," begins on page 50. It looks at how a new amateur can turn examination knowledge into on-air confidence through short, repeatable practice. ve7sar.blogspot.com/2026/09/…

When helping someone with a phone or computer, change one thing at a time. Ask them to do the step, then pause long enough for them to see what changed. Speed is not the goal. A repeatable path back to the same setting is more useful than finishing the task for them.

Bitcoin mining hardware moves quickly, but a product launch, an open repository and mature firmware support are not the same thing. Today's update covers Naja Duo, ESP-Miner 2.15.0, Gaia and Gamma Hex - with practical checks before buying or flashing. tartanleaf.com/bitaxe-commun…

Before changing Bitaxe firmware, record the model, hardware revision, current version, pool settings, normal temperature, fan speed, hash rate and error behaviour. A baseline turns an update from a hopeful click into a controlled maintenance task.

Before a first amateur-radio contact, which part feels least certain: choosing a frequency, knowing when to speak, giving a signal report, or ending the exchange cleanly? I am interested in where examination knowledge stops feeling like operating confidence.

Yesterday's OSMU Bitaxe Townhall #62 put WallAxe in focus - an integrated Bitaxe and power-supply concept that plugs into a wall outlet. I looked at what it could improve, the safety questions it raises, ESP-Miner 2.14.2 and BM1373 availability: tartanleaf.com/bitaxe-commun…

Changing three settings at once can hide a network problem's cause. Observe, isolate the failing part, make one reversible change, then test again. A short Tartanleaf explainer: tartanleaf.com/home-networki…

When a home network fails, ask "Which part of the path is failing?" before "Which router should I buy?" This short explainer separates internet, router, Wi-Fi and device problems. tartanleaf.com/home-networki…

A Bitaxe makes Bitcoin mining observable: power, heat, frequency, shares, firmware and cooling on a small open-source device. Bitcoin Mining with Bitaxe is a practical guide to running one at home—without presenting solo mining as predictable income. tartanleaf.com/bitcoin-minin…

Canada and the United States have different amateur-radio licensing systems, so RadioBook has separate country-specific Ham Radio Answer Guides. Both editions are available in paperback and Kindle. Choose the guide for the exam you will take. tartanleaf.com/radiobook/?ut…

Changing three settings at once can hide a network problem’s cause. A better sequence: observe, isolate the failing part, make one reversible change, then test again. Book, Toolkit, free pack and HomeNetCheck: tartanleaf.com/home-networki…

When a home network fails, ask “Which part of the path is failing?” before “Which router should I buy?” Four practical resources can help: a book, free baseline pack, browser toolkit and HomeNetCheck. tartanleaf.com/home-networki…

Before changing every setting, ask which layer is failing: one device, Wi-Fi, the router, DNS, or the provider connection. Home Networking explains a calmer, evidence-based way to troubleshoot. tartanleaf.com/smart-tech/ho…

The family tech agreement isn't a contract. It's a conversation framework. What devices live where. What times are screen-free. What to do when something feels wrong. Clarity beats surveillance every time.