Ping Success

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Mark Rushton’s Curator Mindset is a place where I talk in 2026 about my ongoing work as a recording artist and visual artist, tech things, and provide music recommendations. This is being released on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

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This week’s topics:

• Ping Success with Meshcore

• 88.5 FM Stickers

• Resto-Mod Philco

• Word Robot Wins

• Glåsbird - “Gunnbjørn Fjeld”

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Ping Success with Meshcore

I got the Fitch Repeater (a RAKwireless WisMesh Pocket v2 Handheld 915 Mhz Radio with an external antenna that’s currently indoors) set up for Meshcore for the western part of downtown Des Moines. Gemini Pro helped with the process of flashing the devices from Meshtastic to Meshcore, but it was fairly easy.

Using my other RAKwireless device, paired to my phone via bluetooth, I was able to ping it at SW 7th & Tuttle, over to the Gray’s Lake entrance on Fleur Dr, as far west as SW 30th & George Flagg Pkwy, south behind Terrace Hill, and most places west of 7th St downtown. I haven’t fully tested the range. Once I get an air conditioner in the window of my Fitch studio, I’ll place the antenna outdoors on it and that should help expand the range. I’d like to reach south of Gray’s Lake to Bell Avenue.

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88.5 FM Stickers

I used StickerYou, splurging with the state-specific cut.

They are in the vicinity of the Fitch Building - mainly along W. 15th, W. Locust St, and W. Grand Ave to W. 14th.

It’s always fun to hear the Timepieces soundtrack playing on my car radio when I’m driving by to work or just out the door on the way home.

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Resto-Mod Philco

Ordered speakers for the Resto-Mod Philco cabinet.

I’m going with the Mackie CR3.5BT from Sweetwater. They’ll be here next week.

I asked Gemini Pro about my specs (powered, will fit in the cabinet shelf, not expensive, 3.5mm, Bluetooth). This hit the targets. And it’s got RCA inputs.

It doesn’t need to rock the house. Just new guts for a decrepit antique.

I have some adhesive carpet squares to put on the shelves. Velcro the speakers down. I have extra rockwool that will be covered using cotton or some kind of airy fabric to create a sound baffle along the sides in the cabinet. I might add a power strip and semi-hidden USB-C charging. Maybe some other modern touches.

It’ll work. You’ll see.

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Word Robot Wins

I started subscribing a couple weeks ago to Gemini Pro, as I call it. “Google AI Pro” as they call it.

In the past week it helped me:

• Figure out how to remove the dead headlight bulb from my wife’s car.

• Translate some language

• Collage line drawings

• Define some legal terminology and processes

• Create an image for a playlist (via Nano Banana Pro)

• And many other things.

It’s not coming to take your job. I’m never using it to “make music”. I have zero interest in “vibe coding”. I’ll always be skeptical of it.

It’s helpful, but you have to be careful.

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Glåsbird - “Gunnbjørn Fjeld”

I recently reconnected with Harry Towell, who runs Whitelabrecs and is on Substack.

He released an EP of mine on one his early netlabels, around 2010.

I liked his project Spheruleus, which seemed to end a few years ago.

In addition to the label, he’s got a newer project, Glåsbird, which is a bit more “cinematic”, but fits comfortably alongside the Spheruleus music.

What I like most about his music is how it drifts.

There’s no formal arrangements. And yet it feels totally natural.

This gets classified as ambient, but I would contend that it’s closer to electronic classical.