The Router From Hell, LTO Tape, and Other Bad Ideas

Is Linux Winbro Proof?

Do “Winbro proof” Linux reviews make sense in 2026? My native ARM port of Sonic Unleashed somehow turned into a high-frequency teenager repellent. The 2026 SBC drought, a looming US consumer router ban, and the Banana Pie R4 Pro going through my gauntlet of nope. SUPPORT Patreon ▶ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux⁠] PayPal ▶ ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZMNJFJULR8WJY⁠ [https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZMNJFJULR8WJY⁠] Wishlist ▶ ⁠https://throne.com/interfacinglinux⁠ [https://throne.com/interfacinglinux⁠] SOCIAL Xitter ▶ ⁠https://twitter.com/intlinux⁠ [https://twitter.com/intlinux⁠] Mastodon ▶ ⁠https://mast.interfacinglinux.com/@interfacinglinux⁠ [https://mast.interfacinglinux.com/@interfacinglinux⁠] Discord ▶ ⁠https://discord.gg/rW3hAV923Y⁠ [https://discord.gg/rW3hAV923Y⁠] YouTube ▶ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux⁠] Twitch ▶ ⁠https://www.twitch.tv/intlinux⁠ [https://www.twitch.tv/intlinux⁠] CONTACT Email ▶ ⁠https://interfacinglinux.com/contact/⁠ [https://interfacinglinux.com/contact/⁠] TOPIC LINKS LTT Linus vs Linux ▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kluoZ9RhmVo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kluoZ9RhmVo] Sonic on ARM ▶ https://interfacinglinux.com/2026/03/26/sonic-unleashed-running-natively-on-arm-linux-is-wild/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/2026/03/26/sonic-unleashed-running-natively-on-arm-linux-is-wild/] BPI-R4-Pro ▶ https://docs.banana-pi.org/en/BPI-R4_Pro/BananaPi_BPI-R4_Pro [https://docs.banana-pi.org/en/BPI-R4_Pro/BananaPi_BPI-R4_Pro] COMMENTS Feedback ▶ https://interfacinglinux.com/community/intpod/linux-2026-no-longer-for-weirdos/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/community/intpod/linux-2026-no-longer-for-weirdos/] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 00:01 The Linus Tech Tips Linux challenge 01:05 The problem with PopOS 02:19 When your co-host known Linux 03:09 The failures were pretty tame 03:29 Problems with normies running Linux 04:51 Hello! And welcome back. 05:12 No new single board computers in 2026 06:55 Building a XBOX 360 game on ARM Linux 07:23 What is Sonic Unleashed Recomp 07:50 Two strange comments on my latest video 08:19 I accidentally created a sonic weapon 10:09 BPI-R4-Pro Router Board review unit arrived 10:30 The US just banned all foreign routers 11:30 The BPI-R4-Pro needs time to cook 12:07 First rule of OpenWRT club 13:27 Comments! Smoke and FIRE! 14:17 Banana Pi PCB build quality 14:47 Have a witty retort?

The Router From Hell, LTO Tape, and Other Bad Ideas

When was the last time you visited a forum? A simple question about adding a front panel USB C hub to a motherboard without a Type E connector got me thinking about how differently we answer questions now. Discord replies are fast. Forum replies used to sit in your brain for a day or two while you worked out the best answer. Turns out that might be something we lost along the way. Also in this episode Five months of Interfacing Linux projects including the Orange Pi 6, Dragon Q6A, a Ryzen AI mini PC, a goth hedgehog, and a FireWire ZIP drive. Behind the scenes reality of TechTube which mostly involves answering emails from marketing and PR departments. Upcoming hardware nonsense including the BPI R4 Pro router and a possibly terrible idea involving an AMD Xilinx Alveo MA35D media encoder and OBS. Plus an upcoming Linux LTO tape backup project and where I actually buy audio gear without paying new gear prices. If you would like to support my work on Interfacing Linux: Patreon ▶ https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux [https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux] PayPal ▶ https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZMNJFJULR8WJY [https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZMNJFJULR8WJY] Wishlist ▶ https://throne.com/interfacinglinux [https://throne.com/interfacinglinux] SOCIAL Xitter ▶ https://twitter.com/intlinux [https://twitter.com/intlinux] Mastodon ▶ https://mast.interfacinglinux.com/@interfacinglinux [https://mast.interfacinglinux.com/@interfacinglinux] YouTube ▶ https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux [https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux] Twitch ▶ https://www.twitch.tv/intlinux [https://www.twitch.tv/intlinux] CONTACT Discord ▶ https://discord.gg/rW3hAV923Y [https://discord.gg/rW3hAV923Y] Forums ▶ https://interfacinglinux.com/community/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/community/] Email ▶ https://interfacinglinux.com/contact/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/contact/] TIMESTAMPS 00:00 A thought about thinking 02:55 It's only been what? Five months? 04:20 Reviewing an insane ARM router 05:00 Asking AMD for enterprise video encoder 07:22 Archival backups at home on Linux 09:04 Finding affordable recording equipment in 2026 12:00 Avoiding monitor reviews 12:26 Thanks for all the support over the past few months! 13:23 A place for upcoming Interfacing Linux projects 14:04 LTT vs Linux watch party next week, maybe?

When Review Samples EXPLODE

Going live for the first time in 2025, TechTube view counts crashing due to ad blockers, bizarre PR email about a Raspberry Pi 5, a 1991 Radio Shack ad showing a recording setup in your pocket, and my NAS kit review sample literally exploded. Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux] YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux] Website: ⁠https://interfacinglinux.com/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/] Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:09 Going live for the first time in 2025 01:52 A decade of podcasting 02:05 Rethinking streaming live setup and new gear  06:04 Welcome to episode 1 of IntPOD 06:25 Tech-Tuber view counts hit by adblockers 08:30 Why view count is super important  09:58 Story: Asking Intel for a GPU review sample 11:26 A sketchy Raspberry Pi 5 review offer, scam? 14:56 90’s Radio Shack ad has everything you need to get started  16:03 You don’t need to buy new equipment starting out  19:16 Publishing your content is the only way forward  21:09 What to do when the review sample EXPLODES  23:45 A Linux gaming PC headed my way for review 24:26 Thoughts, hints, suggestions? Story Links: Tech-Tube crash: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/digging-deeper-youtubes-view-count-discrepancy [https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/digging-deeper-youtubes-view-count-discrepancy⁠] 1991 Radio Shack: https://www.trendingbuffalo.com/life/uncle-steves-buffalo/everything-from-1991-radio-shack-ad-now/ [https://www.trendingbuffalo.com/life/uncle-steves-buffalo/everything-from-1991-radio-shack-ad-now/⁠]

Adventures In Small-Time Tech Tubing

In the first episode, I talk about working with companies as a small Tech Tuber, from honest gear offers to sketchy review demands. Then I chat about Valve’s Fremont appearing on Geekbench, modern digital effects pedals, and Framework’s upgradeable laptop GPU. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux [https://www.patreon.com/interfacinglinux] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux [https://www.youtube.com/@InterfacingLinux] Website: https://interfacinglinux.com/ [https://interfacinglinux.com/] Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:08 About the podcast 00:31 My background in media production 01:10 Origins of Interfacing Linux 02:06 Why make a podcast? 02:20 My history with YouTube content creation 02:43 Trying to make a proper Tech Tube channel 02:59 You get a lot of free products 03:17 Documenting what goes on behind the scenes 03:34 The two types of companies that offer review samples 03:53 The good 04:42 The bad 04:55 Companies reach out to you 05:17 Free stuff for a video review 05:25 They only want a review video 06:43 Beware the second email 07:46 Advice for review emails 08:56 Finding a compromise with the company 11:00 Welcome to In Exchange For Review 11:31 Mr. Ting and the Mele mini PC 14:41 Willing to negotiate? 16:17 Some of the good from Ice Whale 16:37 ZimaBlade DIY NAS kit 18:32 I want some of a product 18:49 Hey, I need a NAS anyway 20:29 Tale of the mystery review sample 21:23 Careful with your personal information 24:36 Vintage digital effects pedals 26:35 BOSS effect pedal runs plugins 27:45 Challenges making a DIY effects pedal 28:33 Is Valve working on a living room gaming console? 29:53 Valve Freemont appears on Geekbench 30:53 Quest for the PC living room console 32:11 It's all about the price 32:34 Upgradable laptop GPU from Framework 34:44 Next week: Getting the computer-2 and dodgy Amazon sellers