hash browns

I know this is a pretty pedestrian topic for this sub but for the life of me, I can’t make hash browns. Whether I use a bag of frozen hash browns or grate my own potato; no matter which oil I use, no matter how big the pan, no matter how I try to adjust the heat, etc, I can never get “diner” quality hash browns that are an even coppery brown and in locked together into one crispy cake. They come out burned on the outside, barely done on the inside, oily sometimes, and a loose mess. Any suggestions on method(s) for this? I follow package directions, recipes, etc but can never get it right.