Notices by blinry (blinry@chaos.social), page 7

Let's install the RAM! I got 2 x 16 GB from a different vendor. My last laptop that had swappable RAM was my first Thinkpad 14 years ago.

I really hope that in another 10 years, we'll think of swappable laptop parts as totally normal again...

Here's the main component! Excited to peek inside...

I like how all components have links to documentation! Importantly, they publish the specifications of all the used connectors on GitHub: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13

Next, we attach the keyboard and the touchpad...

... and the bezel. I got a green one! 💚

First impressions of the #Framework laptop (in comparison to my previous X1 Yoga Gen 5)! First, the bad things:

Under load, the fan is really loud.

The speakers sound a bit tinny/compressed.

At first, I was extremely distressed because the Ctrl + Fn keys are swapped, but thankfully, you can revert that in the BIOS.

I miss the trackpoint. :( Think I'll have to learn even more keyboard shortcuts.

When I tried attaching two external screens via a docking station, the Framework crashed :O

Things I like:

The 3D performance of the integrated AMD GPU is a huge step up from the X1!

The aluminum body and the keyboard feel really nice.

The BIOS boots super fast!

I like the 3:2 screen ratio.

Super happy with my Framework laptop by the way!

The module system is great. I printed a snack drawer today! Now I can always take three peanuts with me!

"What should we have for lunch today?"

"Green."

28: Listen to AM radio from the other side of the world

At night, low-frequency radio waves can travel further around the world, because they're reflected by the layers of the ionosphere! There's something magical about this.

I put my antenna outside, and I can hear *a lot* of broadcasting stations! On https://www.short-wave.info, you can look up where they are located.

Some stations in China are broadcasting with very high power! Some are over 7500 km away.

Wow. It's full of stars! 🌌

Let's go on a field trip!

Ohhh, the balloon popped earlier than predicted! *frantically changes travel plans*

Some pictures from the landing site!

And I think I have earned this:

19: *Hunt* weather balloons!

It landed in a forest. Hope I can get to it.

Didn't find the sonde. But something that might be even better – a friend!

On my way back, will report more soon. Data volume is used up, smartphone battery is empty.

20: Receive amateur packet radio

In the 2-meter amateur band, there are certain frequencies for the "Automatic Packet Reporting System". It's a bit like IP – packets have a "from" and a "to". They can also broadcast their position, or weather data.

Some stations seem to announce themselves as repeaters, which probably help forward the packets to increase the range.

And two people seem to be on a "fieldday", and broadcast their location. :D

SDRangel can create a map automatically:

Good morning! Let's build an antenna!

So, the full story: I made my way up to the landing site by subway, train and bike.

As I circled the site, I encountered a person in their 60s, with a stubbly beard and a blue wool hat. He was looking in the direction of the crash site, and was holding a smartphone, so I asked him whether he also was looking for the radiosonde.

He was! We looked for it together for half an hour, jumping over small rivers and crawling through the woods, while he gave me a lot of tips related to hunting sondes.

This is going to be a simple "random wire" antenna, to allow me to get better reception in the lower wavelenghts, which I've omitted so far.

I've measured out 21.6 m of wire (which for ✨magic✨ reasons seem to be a good universal antenna length)...

He told me that he had found around 40 of them so far!

Usually, the sondes keep broadcasting after landing, but this one wasn't. So he quickly guessed that someone else could've taken it. Or maybe it landed in the water and died?

Eventually, we gave up, and walked back to our vehicles. He also is an amateur radio operator, and could answer a couple of questions related to building antennas!

And he was right: Someone had been faster than us! The status was changed: https://radiosondy.info/sonde_archive.php?sondenumber=V2930794