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5B4AIT How to operate the HamSphere 2009-11-27 23:48	Admin Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 1,061

Welcome to HamSphere HamSphere is a communication platform for both licensed Amateur Radio operators as well as Radio Enthusiasts who have the ambition of becoming licensed. The "Enthusiasts" are granted a so called "HS-callsign" that indicates the country code as well as a numbered suffix (In example 110HS101 where 110 means Cyprus and 101 is the unique suffix) See the complete Country List with codes If you are an enthusiast and just been given a new "HS-Callsign", please study the Ham Radio communication ethics below. It will make your experience with HamSphere better. The true Ham Radio spirit Please make yourself comfortable with the "HamSphere code of conduct" before you start operating. See link: http://www.hamsphere.com/5_5662_read.html HamSphere Mobile and Portable operation When using HamSphere in a moving vehicle you should add the suffix "Mobile" or "Portable" to your callsign. If you use the iOS or Android phones and tablets, always add "Portable" at the end of your callsign. HamSphere transmitting power The Transmitter allows operation between 10 watts (Low power, Knob setting 2) and 2.5 kW input (High power, Knob setting 11). Sometimes, when conditions are bad, you might need to increase your power (QRO), and when the conditions are better you would need to decrease your power (QRP). Please understand that increasing your power will only make the transmitter splatter. Splatter = Your signal with will emit noise at frequencies other than your own. Keeping good ALC levels are also essential for trouble free operation. HamSphere AGC The AGC, Automatic gain control can be set in both a slow or fast mode. It will limit the incoming signal when the signals are strong and amplify the signals when they are low (producing more noise). AGC Fast is good when receiving low signal stations, working a Pile Ups or CW. AGC slow is good for normal voice operation with normal to strong signal levels. The AGC will also control the S-meter response time to Fast / Slow. The S-meter shows the signal in dBs (Decibels = A logarithmic unit of measurement). The scale goes from S1 to S9. After S9, the scale shows 10 dB increments up to S9+60dB. HamSphere Modulation warning system HamSphere has a built in warning system for over modulation or excessive audio input. Your HamSphere transmitter is transmitting in DSB mode, which means double side band modulation. (Modulation = combining an information signal with a radio signal) The DSB signal is wide, it uses both side bands and thus it is prone to splatter (Adjacent frequency interference from over modulation) if you inject too much audio or power into the transmitter. Hence you will be given 3 warnings and after that the system will automatically kick you off the system. The remedy is to lower the microphone input either by using the mic setting or mic volume mixer. You should always strive to produce to a clear audio sound with good speech. Speaking in a good clear tone and signal strength is also favorable. HamSphere Cluster. The Cluster shows activity by other users frequency / messages /alerts etc. You can click on a frequency directly in the cluster window to make a quick jump to that users frequency. HamSphere Filter. Hamsphere has 3 filters. Wide (3.8 kHz), Narrow (2.8kHz) and CW (800Hz). The filters are used to remove QRM and to enhance readability of weak stations. The CW filter will only be on in CW mode. HamSphere Bands. The VFO (Variable Frequency Oscillator) can be tuned to the following frequencies: 160 m: 1801-1896 kHz 80 m: 3701-3796 kHz 48 m: 6201-6296 kHz (BC Broadcast band. The only band where music is allowed) 40 m: 7001-7096 kHz 30 m: 10.101-10.196 MHz (WARC Band) 20 m: 14.201-14.296 MHz 17 m: 18.101-18.196 MHz (WARC Band) 15 m: 21.301-21.396 MHz 11 m: 27.501-27.596 MHz (11m DX band) 10 m: 28.401-28.496 MHz 6 m: 50.101-50.196 MHz The VFO is displaying XX.YYY.ZZ (Example 07.055.00) where XX = Mhz, YY KHz and ZZ Hertz. 07.055.00 is equal to 7055 kHz in the 7 MHz Band (40 meter) 10 MHz = 10000 kHz BC Broadcast Band. The BC Band can be a good band to get away from QSO's and only listen to live and preloaded Broadcast Stations. Users can also experiment as DJ (Disc Jockeys) Fast info for Non-Hams. Q-Codes: QRL Is this frequency busy? Used almost exclusively with Morse code QRM Man-made interference There's another QSO up 2 kHz causing a lot of QRM QRN Static crashes The band is noisy today; I'm hearing a lot of QRN QRO Increase transmitting power I need to QRO when propagation is poor. QRP Low(er your) transmitting power I'm using a QRP transmitter here, running only 3 watts QRS Send your Morse code more slowly Please QRS, I'm new to Morse code QRT Stop sending I've enjoyed talking to you, but I have to QRT for dinner now QRV Ready to receive Will you be QRV in the upcoming contest? QRX Hang on a minute, I'll be right back Please QRX one QRZ Who is calling me? QRZ? I hear someone calling, but you're very weak QSB Fading of signal I'm hearing a lot of QSB on your signal QSL Acknowledge receipt I QSL your last transmission QSO A conversation with another Radio Station. Thanks very much for the QSO QSY Change frequency Let's QSY up 5 kilohertz QTH Location My QTH is Ystad, Sweden QTR Exact time QTR is 2000 Z ITU Phonetic: A - Alpha B - Bravo C - Charlie D - Delta E - Echo F - Foxtrot G - Golf H - Hotel I - India J - Juliet K - Kilo L - Lima M - Mike N - November O - Oscar P - Papa Q - Quebec R - Romeo S - Sierra T - Tango U - Uniform V - Victor W - Whiskey X - X-Ray Y - Yankee Z - Zulu CQ = means calling any station) Working DSB audio from Microphone Begin by locating a clear frequency. Assuming your callsign is: ABC123. Now call "CQ CQ CQ. This is Alfa Bravo Charlie One Two Three calling CQ CQ CQ. Alfa Bravo Charlie one two three, ABC123 calling CQ and waiting for any call." Or "CQ calling CQ calling CQ this is ABC123 ABC123 over / standing by / listening " Now you listen for the return call. You hear "Alfa Bravo Charlie One Two Three this is Delta Echo Foxtrot four five six, DEF456 calling." You respond by saying "DEF456 (using phonetics is best) this is ABC123. Thanks for the call your signal is 59. My name is Adam and my QTH is Ontario. So how do you copy? DEF456 this is ABC123 over." You have made your first contact on HamSphere. At this point you can make the contact as long or short as you like depending on the band conditions. And what you find to discuss with your new friend. Please tell your callsign every 10-20 minutes during a QSO. Ending QSOs You are required to at least give your own callsign when ending a QSO. You can also end a HamSphere QSO by giving both call signs and signing off. For example: "... thanks Luis for the contact and 73 to you and your family. DEF456 this is ABC123 signing off and clear." What do you do if more than one station responds to your call? If you hear one call clearly then simply respond to that station as discussed above. If you hear only parts of call signs, maybe "Alpha November" then in step 4 begin by saying "the station with Alpha November, make your call." Once you have heard the complete call sign you can proceed as in step 4. If you want to call a station. Make sure he/she isn't busy and make the call: "call sign of the station you want to contact, then your call sign" Callsigns Amateur radio Call signs consist of a prefix and a suffix. The prefix is usually composed of one or two letters and a number such as VE4 in Canada for the region / province meaning Manitoba. The number in the call sign generally refers to an area or a region of the country. But some countries have prefixes that are composed of a number and a letter such as 4X for Israel or 9K for Kuwait. Signal reports In SSB (DSB on HamSphere), if you clearly heard the message give 59. If the signal is very weak and if you have to request the repetition or to guess words give 43 or so. Give 31 if you did not understand, and in this case you would not confirm by saying QSL. Avoid to systematically give 59 or 599, when you do not understand and have asked your contact to repeat information ten times, like his callsign ! Instead of giving a 59++ report your signal is booming, do not hesitate to give him the real signal strength report with dB (e.g. 59+20 dB), especially if the station is DXing. Working DX stations (DX = Distant stations) The HamSphere simulates DX stations. Sometimes a station can be very deep down into the noise level. Use the filters the enhance the audio. It takes a little practice. Working CW CW means Contineous Wave and operators use the Morse code (dots / dashes) to key CW. Calling CQ in CW is simply just calling like: CQ CQ CQ de CALLSIGN CALLSIGN CALLSING K Some CW Jargon: FB - Fine business GL - Good Luck TNX - Thanks ABT - About BK - Break (Usually used to let the other station come in with a comment) AGN - Again CQ - Calling any station CU - See You GB - Good bye, God Bless GE - Good Evening GA - Go ahead; Good Afternoon GD - Good HI - The telegraph laugh; High 73 - Best Regards XYL - Wife TU - Thank you (Usually used to end a QSO such as TU EE) HR - Here; Hear PSE - Please R - Received as transmitted (Also keyed EN to confirm an over) SRI - Sorry RX - Receive, Receiver TX - Transmitter; Transmit UR - Your; You're W - Watts FER - For GUD - Good VY - Very "K" - "go" or "over" - another station is invited to reply "KN" - Invitation to a specific named station to transmit "SK" - End (end of contact) "AR" - Stop copying (end of message) Readability 1 -- Unreadable 2 -- Barely readable, occasional words distinguishable 3 -- Readable with considerable difficulty 4 -- Readable with practically no difficulty 5 -- Perfectly readable Q5 is a perfectly readable signal. Signal Strength 1--Faint signals, barely perceptible. 2--Very weak signals. 3--Weak signals. 4--Fair signals. 5--Fairly good signals. 6--Good signals. 7--Moderately strong signals. 8--Strong signals. 9--Extremely strong signals. RST Reports Characteristics of a signal, its readability, strength and optional its tone quality, if you work in Morse code are transmitted using the RST code. The signal strength is usually based on the receiver S-meter reading, where readability and tone are subjective values. Each step of the signal strength double of intensity, beginning at 0.2 mV to end at 50 mV. Over 9 on the S-meter, the strength is given in dB, e.g. 59+10. In CW, the tone can be followed with a letter : X stands for crystal clear tone, C stands for chirp tone and K stands for clicks. The number 9 is often replaced with the letter "N" (for nine) and 0 by T. So "599" gives "5NN". LOG BOOKS It is customary to keep a log book of your QSOs. Times should be written in UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) also know as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or ZULU time. The log entries should reflect UTC, Station, QRG, Power etc. HamSphere has a built in log-book that can be accessed directly from the Transceiver. It will assist you in logging stations.
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