#build-in-public

The Battery Test: Runtime Is a Dial, Not a Number

“Runtime isn't a spec you read off the battery — it's a dial you set in firmware.”

Auditing the 95%: A Data-Driven Look at Amazon Sidewalk Before I Bet a SKU on It

“95% of the population doesn't mean 95% of where the dog goes. Coverage maps are static. Dogs are not.”

The City Walk: Path Loss ~4 in Dense Urban — and the Cache That Wouldn't Die

“The chip was telling the truth the whole time. The firmware just wouldn't repeat it.”

The Range Test: 1,250 Feet Direct — and Miles Through the Mesh

“Zero-hop is the floor, not the ceiling. The direct radio cleared the bar on its own — and the mesh I didn't build was already turning feet into miles.”

A Scorecard, Not a Vibe: How I'll Decide Whether to Build the Collar

“A dot moving on a map isn't proof. A dot that moves reliably at 300 meters, for a week on a charge, is.”

The Gear, the Bill, and a Six-Month Nights-and-Weekends Plan

“Step one isn't a product. It's a proof-of-concept I can strap to Quark the day it lands.”

Speccing a Pet Tracker That Doesn't Need a Subscription

“Everyone ships always-on cellular because it's the obvious spec. It's also over-engineered for a pet that's home 95% of the time.”

The Renewal Notice That Made Me Build My Own Pet Tracker

“I'm paying a cellular subscription to confirm a cat is asleep on the couch.”