Rob Evans
@internetplumber.bsky.social
Chief network architect for Jisc, working on the UK’s National R&E Network, Janet. Adoptive Dad. Enjoy beer. Love travel. Trying to balance all of those and generally failing.
Lad came back from somewhere or other with a clicky fidget device. First glance it is obviously 3D printed. It didn’t last for long, but what slightly surprised me was what they were using for the click. Not a small bit of metal and a spring, but a mechanical keyboard switch.
October 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Lad came back from somewhere or other with a clicky fidget device. First glance it is obviously 3D printed. It didn’t last for long, but what slightly surprised me was what they were using for the click. Not a small bit of metal and a spring, but a mechanical keyboard switch.
“A single device can make use of […] the 800MHz of spectrum we bought in 26GHz.”
I remember when the carrier frequency phones used was 800MHz, not the width of the channels — though that was mainly in North America. Europe used 900MHz and 1900MHz, leading to fabled ‘tri-band’ phones for the jetset.
I remember when the carrier frequency phones used was 800MHz, not the width of the channels — though that was mainly in North America. Europe used 900MHz and 1900MHz, leading to fabled ‘tri-band’ phones for the jetset.
October 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
“A single device can make use of […] the 800MHz of spectrum we bought in 26GHz.”
I remember when the carrier frequency phones used was 800MHz, not the width of the channels — though that was mainly in North America. Europe used 900MHz and 1900MHz, leading to fabled ‘tri-band’ phones for the jetset.
I remember when the carrier frequency phones used was 800MHz, not the width of the channels — though that was mainly in North America. Europe used 900MHz and 1900MHz, leading to fabled ‘tri-band’ phones for the jetset.
If you are changing from S Bahn to Intercity trains at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and Google Maps is telling you to do almost anything other than get off the S Bahn at Hauptbahnhof, there is a reason for that (and I should learn not to be so stubborn).
October 6, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you are changing from S Bahn to Intercity trains at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof and Google Maps is telling you to do almost anything other than get off the S Bahn at Hauptbahnhof, there is a reason for that (and I should learn not to be so stubborn).
I have a Kobo Glo e-reader that is at least 11 years old. It is still getting software updates, such as the most recent one to replace the defunct read-it-later service Pocket with Instapaper. Kudos, Kobo.
August 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I have a Kobo Glo e-reader that is at least 11 years old. It is still getting software updates, such as the most recent one to replace the defunct read-it-later service Pocket with Instapaper. Kudos, Kobo.
Today marks the first release of images from the Vera C Rubin observatory in Chile. The Janet network is involved in getting the data to storage and researchers in the UK.
The Janet Network will transfer 6 petabytes of data annually from Chile's Rubin Observatory, like its ultra-wide, ultra-high res images of the night sky. Janet has capacity to transfer the data to be analysed in real-time: www.jisc.ac.uk/news/all/jis...
Photo:© NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Photo:© NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
June 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Today marks the first release of images from the Vera C Rubin observatory in Chile. The Janet network is involved in getting the data to storage and researchers in the UK.
Just when you thought your MP was at least trying to be one of the good ones. Sigh.
February 8, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Just when you thought your MP was at least trying to be one of the good ones. Sigh.
Place your bets…
January 19, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Place your bets…
“Would all passengers for flight … please proceed to gate A3. Your aircraft has not yet landed, but your flight will shortly be ready for boarding.”
January 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
“Would all passengers for flight … please proceed to gate A3. Your aircraft has not yet landed, but your flight will shortly be ready for boarding.”
Did a UK minister just suggest on Radio 4 that he was feeding (confidential?) briefing documents into a Google AI to get a summary? :-)
January 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Did a UK minister just suggest on Radio 4 that he was feeding (confidential?) briefing documents into a Google AI to get a summary? :-)
Watching the first episode of Dexter: Original Sin, and pleased they’ve cast Ed Byrne in the role of young Dexter.
December 13, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Watching the first episode of Dexter: Original Sin, and pleased they’ve cast Ed Byrne in the role of young Dexter.
This one is mainly for Jisc/Janet customers and those in IXPs. A few notes from last week's LINX member meeting: shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org/wp/meetings-...
LINX 123 - Shaping the future of Janet
The 123rd member meeting of LINX (formerly the London Internet Exchange) took place on the 20th and 21st November, 2024. This also marked the 30th anniversary of the creation of LINX. For those that d...
shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org
November 26, 2024 at 8:59 AM
This one is mainly for Jisc/Janet customers and those in IXPs. A few notes from last week's LINX member meeting: shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org/wp/meetings-...
Number of LINX members: > 900
Number of people present on day 1 of member meeting: 350
Number of votes cast in EGM: 58
Number of people present on day 1 of member meeting: 350
Number of votes cast in EGM: 58
November 21, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Number of LINX members: > 900
Number of people present on day 1 of member meeting: 350
Number of votes cast in EGM: 58
Number of people present on day 1 of member meeting: 350
Number of votes cast in EGM: 58
On a bit of a YouTube vintage computer binge that largely seems to consist of how best to wash and clean various bits of plastic and electronics, and lots of electrolytic capacitor replacement.
November 19, 2024 at 11:55 PM
On a bit of a YouTube vintage computer binge that largely seems to consist of how best to wash and clean various bits of plastic and electronics, and lots of electrolytic capacitor replacement.
Wrote a few notes on last week’s #RIPE89 meeting. shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org/wp/meetings-...
RIPE 89 - Shaping the future of Janet
Introduction The last Monday in October saw my alarm set for 02:45 in order to catch a 05:55 flight from Manchester Airport to head to Prague for RIPE 89. There are a number of reasons I participate i...
shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org
November 6, 2024 at 8:23 AM
Wrote a few notes on last week’s #RIPE89 meeting. shapingthefutureofjanet.jiscinvolve.org/wp/meetings-...
TNC last week, Networkshop this. All filled with lovely people, but I may be peopled out for now.
June 20, 2024 at 6:41 PM
TNC last week, Networkshop this. All filled with lovely people, but I may be peopled out for now.
Credit where it is due. New scanners at Manchester Airport T2 work. Liquids still need to be improved, but I could leave my collection of laptop, iPad, phones, cables and chargers in my bag and didn’t get sent to secondary.
June 9, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Credit where it is due. New scanners at Manchester Airport T2 work. Liquids still need to be improved, but I could leave my collection of laptop, iPad, phones, cables and chargers in my bag and didn’t get sent to secondary.
US: Election in November 2024. Primaries start 11 months before. Conventions to select candidates start four months before election.
UK: Let’s have an election in 43 days!
UK: Let’s have an election in 43 days!
May 22, 2024 at 9:29 PM
US: Election in November 2024. Primaries start 11 months before. Conventions to select candidates start four months before election.
UK: Let’s have an election in 43 days!
UK: Let’s have an election in 43 days!
I mean, I had to walk though the rain today, but that was just because I wanted to get to the tram. It’s not like it was a planned press conference that had been given due consideration and lengthy planning to choose the next parliament.
May 22, 2024 at 8:32 PM
I mean, I had to walk though the rain today, but that was just because I wanted to get to the tram. It’s not like it was a planned press conference that had been given due consideration and lengthy planning to choose the next parliament.
“The new optical clocks are accurate to about 1 in 10^18 seconds. It is about 10^18 seconds since the Big Bang, so if you’d started an optical clock then it would only about a second out now. So that’s quite accurate.”
April 18, 2024 at 10:16 AM
“The new optical clocks are accurate to about 1 in 10^18 seconds. It is about 10^18 seconds since the Big Bang, so if you’d started an optical clock then it would only about a second out now. So that’s quite accurate.”
Me: I refuse to pay the hotel €1 for the two more Nespresso capsules I’ll need for the time I am here.
Also me: Goes to local shop and pays nearly €5 for 10, of which I’ll only use 2-3.
Also me: Goes to local shop and pays nearly €5 for 10, of which I’ll only use 2-3.
April 17, 2024 at 4:08 PM
Me: I refuse to pay the hotel €1 for the two more Nespresso capsules I’ll need for the time I am here.
Also me: Goes to local shop and pays nearly €5 for 10, of which I’ll only use 2-3.
Also me: Goes to local shop and pays nearly €5 for 10, of which I’ll only use 2-3.
Apparently copyright infringement is up substantially under the Tories… www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Tories delete Sadiq Khan attack ad showing New York instead of London
Footage of people panicking, designed to attack the London mayor’s record on crime, was filmed in a New York subway station
www.theguardian.com
March 26, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Apparently copyright infringement is up substantially under the Tories… www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
“You have been added to a team in Microsoft Teams” is rapidly becoming the new “could this have been an email instead?”
March 11, 2024 at 8:17 PM
“You have been added to a team in Microsoft Teams” is rapidly becoming the new “could this have been an email instead?”
Yikes. “…it appears that the more someone is engaged with the IETF […] the lower they rate the behaviour of participants…” www.ietf.org/media/docume...
www.ietf.org
March 8, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Yikes. “…it appears that the more someone is engaged with the IETF […] the lower they rate the behaviour of participants…” www.ietf.org/media/docume...
Every one of these. www.washingtonpost.com/travel/inter...
The 52 definitive rules of flying
A handbook for behaving like a civilized person, from airport arrival to landing.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 5, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Every one of these. www.washingtonpost.com/travel/inter...