It would appear that lithium-ion batteries look optimal for range and weight. The disadvantage is that lithium is a rare earth material with limited supplies.
It looks like sodium-ion batteries might be answer. Sodium is widely available. CATL, the worlds's largest battery manufacturer, has a huge order for sodium-ion batteries.
Often you hear that renewable energy is OK, but what happens when there is no sun for solar panels or no wind for wind farms?
These are fair comments. Of course, this energy could be stored in chemical batteries, but people are looking for other solutions. One of these might be using old mines for gravitational energy storage. Around the world there are millions of abandoned mines.
As technology improves, I am sure solutions will be found.
When I was younger and fitter, I enjoyed experimenting "at the boundaries". These days I cannot do that much.
In the past I have enjoyed amateur radio below 10kHz, over the horizon with 481THz red light, experimenting with earth-electrode antennas, earth-mode VLF TXing with 5W, 8m, extreme QRP, etc.. Most of my fun has been pushing the boundaries.
Sadly, few in our hobby are interested these days, which is sad. At the moment I try to do things I can experiment with at home. I just wish I was younger and fitter!
Because of falling numbers and costs to keep it going I understand that the BBC is turning off its longwave broadcast transmitters towards the end of June. Sad, but understandable. I am not sure what is happening to the utilities that depended on the 198kHz signal
I wonder what will happen to LW spectrum? Maybe they will introduce a service like in the USA where anyone (part 15?) can operate a station as long as they run less than 1W to short antennas? Probably not in the UK!
Today I shall probably stick with 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 0500z: Just G8VER spotted so far.
UPDATE 0830z: 2 stations have been spotted with the best S57TW (1237km).
As Es seemed good on 10m and 6m, I thought I'd try 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1442z: So far, EA3GCV (1231km) spotted using the well off tune V2000 vertical.
UPDATE 1513z: 3 stations in Spain and 1 in Sardinia spotted.
UPDATE 2130z: 18 stations spotted in 4 countries.
My shack PC was not TXing. Following several suggestions (thank you) I reset the TX USB audio to default and that seems to have fixed it. As far as I could see the output and sound mixer settings were correct beforehand! Anyway, it is now working again.
I went briefly on 6m TX and was widely copied in Europe and the Canary Isles with 5W.
It would appear that lithium-ion batteries look optimal for range and weight. The disadvantage is that lithium is a rare earth material with...
