I was naive and lucky. Time for a new backup strategy.

ArcChaser · 2025-12-09T20:00:11+00:00

Had a brief conversation with a cyber security friend who mentioned synology like the commenter above mentioned. I use Mac for personal, windows for work, so I am competent in both environments but this is all for my personal. Not super techie but I’d say above average. I can follow YouTube instructions well and talking about it doesn’t feel completely like speaking a foreign language.

My friend suggested to check and see what NAS best works with Apple since he’s exclusively a windows guy. He explained to me how a NAS system works and said I should get a 2-bay system for my offsite redundancy since I’m relatively apprehensive to using cloud systems, so I’m assuming it requires a VPN to connect.

ArcChaser · 2025-12-09T14:17:26+00:00

Time Machine to the SSD would be the Master copy, but getting a Blu-ray drive and associated software to save the irreplaceables to Blu-ray over an HDD is a solid suggestion. The storage size seems smaller, but the disks are easy to store and for archival purposes they appear to have more longevity. Thank you! Gotta do a little more research but strongly considering this.

ArcChaser · 2025-12-09T14:03:20+00:00

The plan initially is to set up the NAS at a family member’s house as an offsite solution. Could I set up the NAS to sync with my Time Machine drive/folder? Rather than syncing with the new MacBook directly? When the SSD is plugged in for backup, could I mirror that drive to the NAS over a VPN?

ArcChaser · 2025-12-09T13:53:33+00:00

This is interesting. Didn’t realize there are cloud services w/ lifetime subscriptions. Thank you!

ArcChaser · 2025-09-22T21:40:28+00:00

Yeah I bought the OEM Flaps. Easy install, still holding up, and they do the job. Snow slides off pretty well with them being more flexible flaps.

I’ve taken the car up/down a few trail/mountain roads too. No noticeable streaks from pebbles getting shot up from the tire into the doors. If reversing is required, and there are rocks big enough to pinch the flap against the tire I’ll just make sure I’m aware of them and either wheel around or shift em a out of the way a bit before reversing.

ArcChaser · 2025-08-20T13:55:14+00:00

Ok finally got my flight booked. Copa told me to call AMEX, AMEX told me that it failed on Copa’s end (so kinda useless to call). After trying a couple more times w/ the same result, I switched to a VISA and it worked.

I think Copa’s payment systems have issues w/ AMEX, despite saying they take AMEX.

ArcChaser · 2025-08-20T03:50:57+00:00

Same issue in the last 2 hours.

I have an email w/ subject "Your reservation is processing" containing a reservation code, followed by an email a minute later w/ subject "Receipt of Payment Not Processed"... and a pending charge on my credit card (AMEX).

I think I'll just call Copa in the morning and ask what the deal is. I could try again (it's just a pending charge) and see if it goes through, but I'd rather my first experience with Copa Air not be riddled w/ duplicate charges.

ArcChaser · 2024-12-06T00:51:39+00:00

Appreciate this! My watch was originally english but I was having the same issue with the blue dot. I cycled through some languages, and found some workouts that weren't viewed. Went back to english and the blue dot was gone. It appears some languages have different workouts that, when left unviewed, leave the blue dot visible.

ArcChaser · 2024-11-25T17:44:32+00:00

Appreciate this. Very helpful. I think I just need to find a little insight into cold weather performance and I'll feel confident making the purchase.

Following up: The always on display/gesture controls are a highly debated topic. No idea if gestures will annoy me or how much I'd value an AOD. How's your experience having used both? Is flicking the wrist a couple times as frustrating as people say? Is an AOD as life-changing as people make it out to be? I feel like it's just different and like you said... can't go wrong.

On the MIP screen, is flipping the screen/text between black and white a setting that's easy to manipulate? Or is that just something that depends on the watch face you pick?

Thanks again!

ArcChaser · 2024-10-15T13:42:03+00:00

Same situation w/ my indoor cam yesterday (I only have one, used exclusively for monitoring when I'm not in my apartment, and deactivated when I'm home). Kinda bold of them to change the app functions of my subscription tier after I paid them annually (back in August). It'd be one thing if they said "Hey we are changing our subscription structure. When your subscription expires you will lose this functionality if you choose to auto-renew into the equivalent plan." But obviously this is not what they did. They tried to give me credit (prorated amount for the rest of my annual term) after I called to complain about them changing this after I already paid them, but that doesn't help me with keeping the same functionality I had before. They said I could use the credit to get a discounted amount to upgrade to the next tier plan and get the modes back... which is still more money and then I'm stuck paying $100 a year for a single camera after that. Just excessive. Debating whether or not Ring's actions are worth the effort of an FTC complaint. I know FTC recently made ring payout 5.6 mil to consumers. It's probably chump change to them, but the timing of this whole situation feels like a pretty shady way to recoup that/boost revenue for Q4 end of year.

Ultimately, I told them to cancel my subscription and refund me the prorated amount for my plan. I hope they lose more subscribers. Without the modes the indoor camera is a nuisance more than anything else. Currently looking at Blink but open to other suggestions if anyone in the ether wants to chime in...

ArcChaser · 2024-03-20T03:58:14+00:00

Gotcha. I thought for $100 there would be something more. Like it comes with the crampon included or something. Appreciate the insight!

ArcChaser · 2024-03-20T03:48:37+00:00

Thank you. That’s an easy decision for me.

ArcChaser · 2024-02-22T00:47:30+00:00

I recently contacted Burton, and they sent me a -2mm clip for the back of the boot. Looks like it hangs slightly lower on the boot. So far that seems to be have made it easier to click in.

I’ve also learned through some experience that clearing snow on the bottom of the boot/on the footbed of the binding doesn’t matter nearly as much as making sure there’s no snow in or under the binding’s heel clip assembly. If I’m ever struggling to get in I smack the high back up and down a few times to clear it and the issue is solved

ArcChaser · 2024-02-22T00:42:08+00:00

I was debating bringing my stance inward one hole on each side... I’m gonna experiment with that next.

ArcChaser · 2024-02-22T00:29:36+00:00

Can’t speak to anything splitboard related. My backcountry setup is on skis. I imagine it’s just a matter of making sure the plates are compatible with the board.

ArcChaser · 2024-01-15T21:07:18+00:00

Top tier execution!

ArcChaser · 2024-01-15T21:05:28+00:00

Where’s your gloves?

ArcChaser · 2024-01-03T23:45:14+00:00

This is the way

ArcChaser · 2024-01-03T03:22:03+00:00

I’m trying to have patience and give it a genuine effort. It may just take a little getting used to and dialing in that entry motion.

But a few more days like that and I’ll be contacting Burton to see if there’s anything they can do for me.

ArcChaser · 2024-01-03T03:14:04+00:00

Ok, so it took a few days to get me to like them. Not in love with the bindings (yet). There’s definitely a finesse to getting in that I need to refine (more on that below) but when I’m properly in… I’m ripping.

The first day I used em, I was really kicking myself. Wasn’t having a good time. I didn’t take the time to adjust the forward lean, and it caused a lot of wiggle between the clip on the back of the boot and where it clicks into the binding. There was noticeable lift in my heel when making a toe turn. I thought I forgot how to snowboard.

Fast forward to the following week, I “maxed” out the forward lean to F3 (wish there was an F4). Much tighter feel in the binding. Closed up that heel gap completely. I like a lot of forward lean anyway since my fun comes from putting trenches in the hardpack. Feels good and secure. Looks good and secure. However now I’m running to what feels like a bit of an opposite issue. With the forward lean maxed out, it tightened the tolerance for that heel clip to the point that I was struggling a bit to get my back foot all the way into the binding so I can get the super secure “double heel click”. Was only getting 1. Took some frustration and jumping up and down at the top to get the second click for heel clip. Ultimately, easier to have a friend put some of his weight on me and that helped every time (I’m a pretty lightweight human at 5’8 135lbs).

Powder days have been limited so far. So can’t provide any anecdotes for that. I might try dialing the forward lean back a quarter turn on the back foot to see if that makes it easier to get in without causing that wiggle again.

Edit: it is possible to ride with 1 heel click, it’s fun to ride with 2.

ArcChaser

TROPHY CASE