2. HamSphere 3.0
Chaz Cone W4GKF
V1.1

3. Created by Kelly Lindman 5B4AIT
HamSphere 3.0
..is an extremely clever, extremely capable simulator of the entire ham radio experience!
Created by Kelly Lindman 5B4AIT

4. HamSphere 3.0
Ham radio --

5. Ham radio -- without the radio!
HamSphere 3.0
Ham radio -- without the radio!

6. Ham radio -- without the radio! No, really!
HamSphere 3.0
Ham radio -- without the radio!
No, really!

7. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere Described
HamSphere is a virtual shortwave client that works in Windows, Linux, Mac, iPhone and Android.
It is a communication system simulating shortwave propagation over a virtual ionosphere.

8. 233(!) countries presently active.
HamSphere 3.0
History
Kelly 5B4AIT created HamSphere and it went online in late 2007.
There are presently 7,361 subscribers, 7,302 outside the US.
233(!) countries presently active.

9. The thing that makes it unusual
HamSphere 3.0
The thing that makes it unusual
Unlike Skype and other VOIP methodologies, HamSphere inserts QRM, QRN and uses simulated ionospheric models.

10. The thing that makes it unusual
HamSphere 3.0
The thing that makes it unusual
Unlike Skype and other VOIP methodologies, HamSphere inserts QRM, QRN and uses simulated ionospheric models.
For example, you can’t work DX from the US on 160 meters in the daytime.

11. The thing that makes it unusual
HamSphere 3.0
The thing that makes it unusual
Unlike Skype and other VOIP methodologies, HamSphere inserts QRM, QRN and uses simulated ionospheric models.
For example, you can’t work DX from the US on 160 meters in the daytime.
Sometimes condx are good, other times not so much.
You’d swear it was “real” radio!

12. How/Why did I get interested?
HamSphere 3.0
How/Why did I get interested?
I have an 11yr old grandson who lives in California. When visiting here, he’s made contacts on my rig and showed some interest.
I signed him up for HamSphere and he lit up!

13. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
Here’s how I used to do it (with this metaphor)…

14. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Imagine a long dog that reaches from New York to Chicago…”
Chicago New York

15. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“You step on his tail in New York and he barks in Chicago…”
Chicago New York

16. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“You step on his tail in New York and he barks in Chicago…”
Ruff, Ruff!
Chicago New York

17. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
That’s “TELEGRAPHY”.
TELEGRAPHY!
Chicago New York

18. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Radio is the same thing – without the dog.”
Radio!
Chicago New York

19. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Radio is the same thing – without the dog.”
Ruff, Ruff!
Radio!
Chicago New York

20. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Well, HamSphere is the same thing –
Chicago New York

21. HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Well, HamSphere is the same thing – without the radio.”
Ruff, Ruff!
HamSphere!
Chicago New York

22. WHAT?! HamSphere 3.0 Teaching about ham radio communications:
“Well, HamSphere is the same thing – without the radio.”
WHAT?!

23. HamSphere 3.0
Just what is
HamSphere?

24. HamSphere 3.0
The magic word is:
SIMULATOR

25. HamSphere 3.0
The magic word is:
SIMULATOR

26. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna

27. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required

28. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required
▄ Simulates 11 bands 6m through 160M

29. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required
▄ Simulates 11 bands 6m through 160M
▄ Phone, CW and SSTV

30. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required
▄ Simulates 11 bands 6m through 160M
▄ Phone, CW and SSTV
▄ Teaches proper operating protocol

31. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required
▄ Simulates 11 bands 6m through 160M
▄ Phone, CW and SSTV
▄ Teaches proper operating protocol
▄ Works over the internet

32. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ No RF, no radio, no antenna
▄ No license required
▄ Simulates 11 bands 6m through 160M
▄ Phone, CW and SSTV
▄ Teaches proper operating protocol
▄ Works over the internet
▄ Free client programs for PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone & Android

33. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!

34. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!
▄ Costs 30€ /year with a one week free trial

35. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!
▄ Costs 30€ /year with a one week free trial
▄ Certificates for 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 DX countries, WAS, WAC, etc.

36. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!
▄ Costs 30€ /year with a one week free trial
▄ Certificates for 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 DX countries, WAS, WAC, etc.
▄ Instant QSLs (with built-in design tool)

37. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!
▄ Costs 30€ /year with a one week free trial
▄ Certificates for 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 DX countries, WAS, WAC, etc.
▄ Instant QSLs (with built-in design tool)
▄ Logbook in the HamSphere cloud

38. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Ionosphere simulation – very cool!
▄ Costs 30€ /year with a one week free trial
▄ Certificates for 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 DX countries, WAS, WAC, etc.
▄ Instant QSLs (with built-in design tool)
▄ Logbook in the HamSphere cloud
▄ DX cluster

39. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing

40. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW

41. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW
▄ Digital/Analog SSTV

42. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW
▄ Digital/Analog SSTV
▄ Chat function

43. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW
▄ Digital/Analog SSTV
▄ Chat function
▄ Power setting from QRP to 2,500 watts

44. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW
▄ Digital/Analog SSTV
▄ Chat function
▄ Power setting from QRP to 2,500 watts
▄ Contests

45. HamSphere 3.0 HamSphere is an amateur radio simulator.
▄ Optional transmitter audio processing
▄ Double-sideband Phone + CW
▄ Digital/Analog SSTV
▄ Chat function
▄ Power setting from QRP to 2,500 watts
▄ Contests
▄ User Forums

46. HamSphere 3.0 What about call signs?
▄ If you have a ham radio callsign, you use it.

47. HamSphere 3.0 What about call signs?
▄ If you have a ham radio callsign, you use it.
▄ If you don’t, the system assigns one to you. The non-ham callsign consists of a country number, the letters “HS” (for HamSphere) and a serial number. The US is country number “2”.

48. HamSphere 3.0 What about call signs?
▄ If you have a ham radio callsign, you use it.
▄ If you don’t, the system assigns one to you. The non-ham callsign consists of a country number, the letters “HS” (for HamSphere) and a serial number. The US is country number “2”.
My grandson is 2HS153

49. Country prefixes (ISO codes)
HamSphere 3.0
Country prefixes (ISO codes)
Here are the first few HamSphere country prefixes:
1 Italy Peru 15 Switzerland
2 USA Canada Belgium
3 Brazil 10 Mexico Hawaii
4 Argentina 11 Puerto Rico 18 Greece
5 Venezuela 12 Uruguay Netherlands
6 Colombia 13 Germany Norway
7 Bonaire 14 France 21 Sweden

50. How can you be sure DX is really DX?
HamSphere 3.0
How can you be sure DX is really DX?
The system verifies each user’s location via his IP addresses.
The system ensures hams are who they say they are via the FCC database and QRZ.com

51. What does it look like on my computer?
HamSphere 3.0
What does it look like on my computer?

52. HamSphere 3.0
The “Radio”:

53. HamSphere 3.0 The “Radio”:
Analog S-meter, Tuning knob, digital frequency display, spectrum analyzer (band scope), Receive volume, transmit power level, mic level, indicator lights

54. HamSphere 3.0 The “Radio”: Server select, DX cluster, chat window
Presently five servers world-wide. US server
Server select, DX cluster, chat window

55. HamSphere 3.0 The “Radio”: Band select, filters, PTT button, and more.
You can turn off the ionosphere simulation on 6 and 10 meters to extend the usefulness of those bands.
VOX is there but I don’t find it all the useful nor do I find the compressor function useful.
Band select, filters, PTT button, and more.

56. What does it look like on my iPhone?
HamSphere 3.0
What does it look like on my iPhone?

57. HamSphere 3.0 Works on iPhone and Android devices.
No logging capability in this version.
Client app is free.

58. HamSphere 3.0
QSLs
▄ Each QSO can be confirmed instantly with a mouse-click, both directions.
▄ QSL cards can be designed online with an easy drag-and-drop interface.
▄ The system tracks awards for which you qualify.
▄ The awards program is automatic.

59. HamSphere 3.0
Here’s my QSL:

60. Here’s my grandson’s QSL:
HamSphere 3.0
Here’s my grandson’s QSL:

61. HamSphere 3.0 What’s the point? Who is this for?
▄ Young folks whom you want to interest in ham radio

62. HamSphere 3.0 What’s the point? Who is this for?
▄ Young folks whom you want to interest in ham radio
▄ Folks who just want to “sniff-test” the ham radio experience before deciding to pursue the hobby

63. HamSphere 3.0 What’s the point? Who is this for?
▄ Young folks whom you want to interest in ham radio
▄ Folks who just want to “sniff-test” the ham radio experience before deciding to pursue the hobby
▄ Hams who can’t have a rig/antenna where they live

64. HamSphere 3.0 What’s the point? Who is this for?
▄ Young folks whom you want to interest in ham radio
▄ Folks who just want to “sniff-test” the ham radio experience before deciding to pursue the hobby
▄ Hams who can’t have a rig/antenna where they live
▄ Active hams who want another challenge (Honor Roll on all bands? Want something else to do?)

65. HamSphere 3.0
My opinion?
It’s the most fun you can have with ham radio – without a radio!
The top DX score is presently 187 confirmed countries; not easy to do!
Every day at 0000Z they post on the HamSphere website the top 1,000 users with DX confirmations.

66. HamSphere 3.0
What’s coming?

67. HamSphere 4.0
Modularized transceiver you can configure in dozens of ways
New propagation Model based on maidenhead grid squares and recognizing backscatter, Sporadic-E, Tropo and Grey Line propagation using daily Solar Flux numbers
A Rag-chewing option
New Antennas, some rotatable
New Amplifiers

68. HamSphere 3.0
…Netting it all out…

69. HamSphere 3.0

70. HamSphere 3.0

71. HamSphere 3.0

72. ▄ HamSphere is fun and inexpensive.
Summary
▄ HamSphere is fun and inexpensive.
▄ All you need is a computer or an iPhone/Android
▄ You can try it for a week for free
▄ Everything you need to know is on the website:
▄ See you on the “bands”!

73. HamSphere 3.0
Chaz Cone W4GKF
V1.1

75. HamSphere 3.0

76. HamSphere 3.0