[Premium-Rx] Of general interest- "Virtual Spectrum"

[Greg W. Bailey]

Fellow Members:

Jan recently bounced this article to me.  I thought it may be of interest to some of our membership-  

Greg
San Diego

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From: David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>


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 sufficient 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 immediately after hearing from them.  I am indebted to Mike Hanz, aafradio at cox.net for invaluable suggestions and encouragement.

TNX ES 73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S
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