Last week I mentioned solid state batteries.
For years, we have heard a lot of hype about these that promise lower costs, greater range and no rare earths.
It would appear we are now getting closer. I saw this video which compares various approaches.
If I was ICOM develepment now I would be working on a true handheld version of the IC-705. They have the electronics, so just need to re-develop the mechanics. There has never been a decent replacement of the FT817 by Yaesu.
Should such a product come to market, ICOM could make a killing.
See https://yo6dxe.com .
To finish today, I went on 6m 5W FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.
UPDATE 1904z: Just the usual English spots.
After going QRT on 10m I went to 2m 10mW FT8 using to big-wheel omni antenna. Although barely visible on the grabber at G0LRD (25km) the other side of Cambridge, it was decoded.
If you look on YouTube you could believe anything.
Many of the videos are now created using AI, so the only thing you can be sure of is "this could be incorrect". It is getting harder and harder to tell what is real and what is fake.
Unless you are absolutely sure it is safer to assume everything is fake!
Recently, quite by accident, I found an old letter supposed to have been written by the editor of RSGB RadCom inviting me to write a series of articles. I recall being very flattered at the time and boasting to my family.
Then the boys told me it was an elaborate hoax!! They made a very convincing letter as I was quite taken in!
