[Distance increases by 3 sec daily (but increase decreases slightly), so distance at Aug.18th will be 13 min 2,5 sec and information round trip then will be 26 min 05 sec]
By convincing the Ipsos, that we do not have FTL comm systems and are not in the area, as Mission Control suggested, and by testing the probes in an Faraday cage, as Bombardier mentioned, makes it possible for them to prove that the Probes are acting independently, but it does not prove, that they are really sentient in the meaning of being self-aware, conscious and of self determination. All what the Ipsos can find out definitely is, that the Probes are acting like sentient beings. That's not much more, than the Turing test does by classifying a program as intelligent, if it can fake to be sentient.
However, these indication will be of good help for the Ipsos to find the same mental approach to the Probes we have and to find the difference between the EU-probes and our friends up there.
Though the Ipsos never will be able to know, if the Probes are sentient or not, our conversation with them is proceeding in such a good way, so I'm sure they will be going to deal with them as sentient beings and soon they will find out about their different character and their moral accountability, as we have done already.
m.f.g.
Xanthos.