From the very beginning it was stated that TCIskimmer would not repeat what is already on the market, in any aspect. And this is not about decoders working "on a different principle" - that is true as well, of course, but it is not the main thing. The really main thing sits exactly where nobody seems to think of looking. Or where it just isn't obvious.

That "main thing", by the way, is also the reason why the release took so long: the conditions that would make the product unique simply weren't there. The conditions under which the features built into it could actually come alive.

The first condition is Expert Remote. Look at it objectively - there is no skimmer for remote operation that actually works without glitches. (Oops, correction - now there is.)

The second condition is the current ESDR3 feature set. Some people keep sayng nothing in the world beats ESDR2 - belongs to the same category as "whatever track you give them, they still look for a place to harness the horse into it". But the EE devs have been genuinely and persistently polishing ESDR3 (and still do), so the upcoming 1.2 is very good. However - not the main point either. The main point is that ESDR3 1.2 works VERY well with the skimmer.

So now when both pre-conditions are met, it is time to release the skimmer :)

You think that's it? Install the TCIskimmer and nothing more? Well... Nope. The skimmer release is where its all only begins.

What's ahead - is the Expert Remote Skimmer Network. Now TCIskimmer was a necessary condition for it.

And here is the thing: many people will have to unlearn (nobody will be forced, though) the scheme imposed on them by earlier ideas multiplied by numerous clones. In essence, if you look at the situation impartially, nothing has changed since Alex VE3NEA released CWskimmer. Everyone who did 'next' skimmer after him - simply copied the style, the layout and the output. And - most importantly - copied the features. More or less. But the idea laid down by VE3NEA has limped all the way to the present day, even though redisign was long due. In everything. Starting with the layout (I am not going to talk you into using a horizontal bandmap - see it yourself that it is more convenient, if you bother to try it).

There is not much point in saying a lot about the features integrating the skimmer with contests and DXpeditions - those who need them will appreciate them.

But the Skimmer Network is an interesting beast, one that became possible only now, as a result of the ESDR3 - ExpertRemote - TCIskimmer alliance. To many it is simply not obvious right now what it is really going to be and how it was designed in first place. And what it will become, given proper attention - far more powerful than all the RBNs and other aggregators. You will be able not only to build a mini-network of skimmers across "home - country house - office", but also to connect your friends to it and to join the global Skimmer Network. And you will be able to set global filters in your Expert Cloud account, and local filters in your own skimmer - which spots from whom to show, when and how.

So the most interesting part is still ahead.