[Milsurplus] A New Concept: Virtual Spectrum

[David Stinson]

Thanks for reading this.
I have today submitted an article to QST magazine entitled 
"Virtual Spectrum: Beating BPL at its own game,"
detailing a concept that can greatly impact our radio hobby.
I wanted to "put down a marker" to date the introduction 
of a new ham-radio innovation, and to officially place
the idea in the public domain, so the maximum amount of
"tinkering" with it can happen.

This concept uses the bandwidth available on the Internet
and some simple circuitry to create a replica of a segment of 
the radio spectrum, stream it live or prerecorded to another 
internet-connected computer and reconstruct that radio spectrum
at your location.  *Any* radio equipment you wish to use
(given an Internet connection with sufficent bandwidth)-
from modern PSK-31 rigs, SSB nets, WW-II modulated oscillators
all the way back to ancient spark transmitters
with crystal receivers; all can legally communicate just as though
you were on-the-air.  The system is bi-directional, allowing 
QSOs between stations that normally could not communicate.
If you can't hear weak signals because of noise in your area,
the concept allows you to build a "remote front end" and 
transport the radio spectrum in a quiet area right to your rig,
bypassing the problems in your location.

I believe this concept can be the answer to BPL, "noise holes,"
antenna restrictions, HF "jammers" and many other obstacles to 
using our radios.  There is great potential for many uses,
and a possible niche market for someone with the resources 
to develop the equipment.  
I have already built prototype equipment to prove the concept 
and it works splendidly.  The article includes construction
details.  The circuits are simple and you can get
95% of the parts at Radio Shack.
By the time QST publishes (assume they accept the work),
we should have completed the first Virtual Spectrum QSO:
two World War 2 BC-611 handie-talkies (output: about 60 milliwatts)
will communicate over a path of about 2000 miles.

If QST does not publish the concept, 
I will publish it myself on the web 
immediatly after hearing from them.
I am indebted to Mike Hanz, aafradio@cox.net 
for invaluable suggestions and encouragement.

TNX ES 73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S