Is my software slowing down? - NOT amateur radio

I have had an Asus Chromebook since November 2019 and it has been simply brilliant. It was fast, responsive and did everything I needed. 

The free online support stops soon. In the last few days, it has become noticeably slower. I am wondering if the Chromebook OS has a timer that says after x years slow the machine down to encourage people to buy new machines?

My intention was to check all I need is saved on Google Drive, Google Photos or on a flash drive and then do a reset to factory conditions. I do not think it is bloatware or rubbish.

Quantum mechanics - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago (late 1960s) I did a course on quantum mechanics at university. If I remember correctly, everything can be thought of as a wave function that exists in all space and all time. What we think of as the "here and now" is the most probable.  Tunnel diodes only work because of quantum mechanical tunneling.

According to quantum entanglement, particles at opposite ends of the universe can have some sort of affinity, which would not conform with relativity.

What is certain is how little we know.

GE3XBM?

 One of the recent UK amateur radio licence changes mean I can use GE3XBM instead of G3XBM.

I doubt I shall bother!

Sunspots - Friday 1st March

 Solar flux is 164 and and the SSN 107.  A=4 and K=3.

137kHz QRSS test

On my ‘to do’ list are some QRSS tests at 137kHz using my earth-electrode ‘antenna’ in the ground and SpectrumView software on my iPhone.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

Overnight 17 stations spotted my 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

Rallies this weekend

 The following rallies have been notified to me. As usual, it is advisable to check before going any distance.

Saturday March 2nd - Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Annual Rally, near Belfast, BT26 6AR. See www.lvars.uk .

Sunday March 3rd - Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally , EX4 8PX. Contact g3xvi@yahoo.co.uk

P***ing in the wind? 10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR (Thursday)

My QRPP 10m WSPR is on again, although I have not had any reports for a few days.  I just leave it running ...... in hope! 

The fact I got any reports at all amazed me.

UPDATE 1845z:  No spots.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna has been on since about 1030z.  So far, 8 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1425z: 10 stations have spotted me so far and 3 stations have been spotted here.

UPDATE 1601z: 12 stations have spotted me today.

Squirrels - NOT amateur radio

We have lived in our present home for about 10.5 years. It is about 300m from where we used to live and where we had lots and lots of squirrels. Until this morning, despite there being lots of trees, we had never ever had a single squirrel in the garden. I cannot understand why. This morning we had our first. Apart from a few areas most are grey squirrels.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel .