DadChecks // 2026 — the lab is open
JOSH “TECH DAD”
Smart-home builds, a self-hosted homelab, retro gaming on the family TV. Real recommendations — owned, tested, researched-only, or a used-market find. No fake hands-on. No influencer panic.
DadChecks.tech is the place I publish what actually runs in the basement rack — Proxmox, NAS, Home Assistant, network gear — and the gear I would buy again.
DADCHECKED ✓
Four pillars, one blog. Each recommendation is labeled. Nothing sponsored without a clear note. Pick a starting point:
Smart Home
Shelly, Zigbee, Home Assistant. Wires and rules that survive a 4-month-old.
Home Lab
Proxmox, NAS, networking, Docker. The rack behind me, with the exact gear listed.
Retro Gaming
Batocera, handhelds, family multiplayer, self-hosted Minecraft. The play side of the stack.
Indie Games
Indie picks, family-friendly titles, the side of gaming that doesn’t need a 4090.
House Rules
- If I haven’t actually tested something, I say so.
- Reliability beats cleverness. The house should not need debugging at 02:00.
- Concrete recommendations beat spec-sheet cheerleading.
- Affiliate links, sponsored notes, and used-market finds get clear labels.
— Tech for real homes. Games for real life. —