Thoughts so far: Pixel 9 Pro XL

 I've had my Pixel 9 Pro XL for a few days now and I will toss out some thoughts that I have.   Most of these will likely be negative thoughts without a bunch of positives,  (though some) but it's not because the phone sucks or anything.  It's just the fact that when you switch to a new phone, the bad points tend to bubble to the surface.

Price - Good

Google offered me $350 off because I was a Google Fi customer without a trade-in and offered to double my memory for free.  So, I paid about $750 for the Pixel 9 Pro XL with 256GB of internal storage.    They offered me another $125 off for my Pixel 7 Pro that has no damage on it.    I opted to keep my Pixel 7 Pro as my wife tends to break her screens within a year.  (she gets a new phone every year because of this, I get one every two years)

Phone Size - Good

So, I generally do not buy the big jumbo phones.  I normally get the normal sized version.  That said, the offer above was for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, and not the other versions that I could tell.   That said, when it arrived I was thinking it was going to be a big hulking phone, but instead it's very close to the same exact size as my Pixel 7 Pro was.

Heavy - Not Good

The phone is definitely heavier than the Pixel 7 Pro.  It just flat out feels more dense.  I won't say it's absurdly heavy, but you can definitely notice the extra heft.

Squared Off Sizes - Not Good

The Pixel 7 Pro had sort of rounded off sides of the phone.  The Pixel 9 Pro XL is more boxy which I immediately deem as less comfortable to hold.  (especially combined with the extra weight)

Physical Side Buttons - Not Good

The side buttons are lower down on the phone and I have far more difficulty using them.  I usually fail more than once trying to hit the volume or power buttons.   I'm not sure if it's the buttons, the location of the buttons, or just the silicone case I use, but they are much more of a pain to use.    It's likely just because I'm not fully used to it yet, but we shall see.

Camera - Good

I'm not a big picture taking guy, but I went to see Joe Bonamassa the day that I got the phone and I took several pictures and I must say.  The pictures quality in a dark theater was much improved over the Pixel 7 Pro quality of photos in that setting. 

Touch Screen Accuracy - Not Good

I've considered this a few times and what I believe the issue I'm having is is due to the higher resolution that this phone is set at than my Pixel 7 Pro.   I use the Nova launcher and the grid now has five slots across the home screen rather than four.    So it's definitely a higher resolution and I believe that is what is causing the accuracy issue.  (to be clear, I'm talking about playing Bejeweled Blitz only)  

So, this issue is definitely not a deal breaker and I will likely adapt to it with time.

Fingerprint Sensor - Not Good

I'm unclear as to why, but sometimes it takes me several attempts to unlock the phone with the fingerprint sensor.  This is increasingly annoying.

Helpful Hint for PIA VPN Users

When I copied all my things to the new phone, my PIA VPN application kept crashing as soon as I tried to open it.   I was thinking maybe it was an incompatibility with this phone / Android version.   Though, after going into Android Settings -> App -> PIA -> Storage and dumped the cache and data and then re-entered my credentials.  The VPN returned to normal operation.

I hope this helps someone.

HAM Radio: Why Upgrade Your License?

 Recently, we've had a nice influx of people interest in ham radio with our radio club.   Our club has provided some training classes and several people have punched their ticket and obtained (or is in the process of) their technician license.

Several of the seasoned hams push really hard to get the newly licensed hams to upgrade to general to obtain more HF spectrum access.   Some of them are so adamant that it becomes awkward and uncomfortable.  While I know these hams are just trying to push to get hams more active in the hobby, I don't so much agree with pushing so hard.  Especially when it's around the reason they are hams.

Ham radio has a ton of different paths you can take.  CW, DXing, contesting, rag-chewing, repeaters, simplex, and even building / repairing electronics and antennas.

I've met a lot of hams and there in some cases are huge differences in how they apply their hobby.  For rag-chewers, SSB HF is like the internet, but for like-minded people.  It brings people who like to socialize and radio together.  Some people will say, this is what ham radio is about, but that's not true.  It's only one aspect of ham radio!

I am more introverted and therefore, small talk doesn't come easy for me.   When I really started to get into HF, I chose to do digit modes over voice. (SSB)  It was easier for me and I didn't have to have uncomfortable chats with people I really didn't know.  Over time, this changed.   I still do not like to have uncomfortable conversations, but I also lost interest in digital modes like FT-8 except for chasing DX in countries or great distances.  Today, if I turn on my HF radio, it's almost certainly for SSB and it's usually just to make a brief contact (usually DX) with or talk with friends whom I'm already comfortably acquainted with.

Many other aspects of what I consider ham radio do not even require a license.  For instance, I hosted an ADS-B monitor / tracker and used to enjoy seeing the planes and their locations and seeing how many planes  I could track in a day. (it can be competitive)

I also have owned two SDRPlays and monitor ham radio and other bands like AM, FM radio stations, local emergency services, catching satellite weather images as they are transmitted to Earth and even listening to the very same airplanes I used to track with ADS-B talk to airport tower control.  These do not even require a ham radio license and couldn't be a cause to upgrade.

The point that I'm making is, while other hams can show you the possibilities.  It's your interest that should drive whether you want to upgrade your license.  I obtained my Extra license, but not really for any specific "radio need" that the license offered except that I could now transmit anywhere in the allotted band without risking fines and I could learn something in the process.  (I'm a habitual hobbyist)

So to existing hams, I suggest show new hams why you love the hobby, but don't push them into something because you love it.  Share it with them and if they show real interest.  Bring them along for the ride and teach them your hobby.

For the new hams, find what interests you and learn from the hams that are knowledgeable in that area.

I love electronics and tend to befriend those in the hobby that also dabble (or in some cases are seasoned professionals) in electronics. For me, it's about the physics and technology it drives.  Not chatting or making a billion FT-8 contacts.   Though I fully respect those that do that as that's their way of enjoying the hobby.  You should fine your way.