HAMSPHERE INSTRUCTIONS ====================== Version: 18 feb 2008 IMPORTANT! The HamSphere is not a real radio as many have suggested. Everything you see and hear is simulated on a big computer. When you push the PTT, no RF (Radio Frequency) is emitted on any real shortwave band. It is therefore completely safe to click the PTT even if you are not a licensed radio amateur or operator. IMPORTANT2! The project was done to simulate a real Shortwave band with QRM/QRN, fading etc. All bands are built in this way. If you want a noise free band, no fading, full signal, no white noise etc you will have to use another product! ----- Please download the EXE file and store it in a folder on your harddisk such as c:\HamSphere Do not try to run it from the Zip-folder or your Desktop. Then either make a shortcut to the exe file by browsing the folder and right click on the exe-file "Send to desktop as shortcut" or start it directly there in the folder by double clicking it. If you miss the Java runtime environment, the program will suggest a download. You can find the latest java runtime at: http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp The exe software will work in Windows, however the zip file contains a jar file that can be run in Linux or Mac. Make sure that your firewall allow TCP/UDP traffic on port 8000-8007 and all UDP ports inbound (1-65535) Start the EXE file. You will be prompted to enter a callsign and a PIN code. Type your callsign and enter a 4 digit PIN number. First time you login you will set the pincode so please remember it. For Callsign: Use max 8 characters. For PIN code: Use 4 digits exactly (no less or more) If you should forget the PIN code, please email accounts@hamsphere.com. Click ON-button. You should get audio radio noise straight away and the radio should default itself to 7055 kHz. If there is no audio, please check the following; ATTENTION WINDOWS VISTA USERS: I have been told that there are problems running the HamSphere in Windows Vista with the latest Java runtime. Please let me know about your experiences there. * Check your firewall. You must let port 8000 through both on TCP and UDP. * Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) might have blocked port 8000 for outbound/inbound traffic. * Check your mixer panel. * Check the S-meter. The reading on a clear frequency should be between S3-S5 * Check that there are "peaks" showing on the spectrometer display. If the audio is "chopped" there can be two reasons. 1. The download speed from my server in Sweden is too slow. 2. There are too many UDP packet losses on the way to you from my server. The "packet loss" can vary by the hour and it is a sign of a faulty or overloaded router somewhere on the Internet. If you cannot connect, it is most likely that: 1. I am doing maintenance on the server 2. The TCP/UDP port 8000-8007 must be accessible both in and out. Check your firewall. 3. The UDP port 1-65535 must be accessible inbound. Check your firewall. 4. The NAT in your router must be working properly. 5. Some ISPs (INternet Service Providers) block out/in traffic on port 8000. Please check with them. Error messages will be printed in the Cluster window. Please send me these messages via mail Or ask any questions as you go along. Email: accounts@hamsphere.com HAMSPHERE DEMO ROBOTS // Please note! The following frequency table may be inaccurate and differ from time to time. 7005 Lower band marker 7010 Demo PSK31 robot 7033 Number station replica. 7035 URD, 1980 replica of the Cold War Coastal station from Leningrad, Soviet Union. 7040 Automated UTC clock. 7045 UVB-76 08 BROMAL "Buzzer" replica. 7090 Upper band marker 70?? Random NAVTEX chirper. Intermittent. 70?? Duga 1-3 "Russian Woodpecker" replica from 1982. 10 MW EIRP. Intermittent. GUIDELINES 1. Please do not use more power than needed as your signal will start to splatter over the band. Using 100 watts is a good rule of thumb. Sometimes the conditions are worse on the sphere - thus a little more power is needed. 2. When setting microphone audio speech level. Click PTT and set the audio level so that it is just about to start CLIP-Warning. You may have to open the Windows mixer panel and select recording options and select Microphone as the selected source. You can aslo use the compressor which will lift and hold the audio to a constant level. You may also use the compressor togerther with the Microphone boost that will boostb the signal 10 dB. 3. Click on Spectrometer or Display to change frequency. Left mouse button will decrease the frequency, right will increase. 4. Use 7055 as Calling frequency. 5. If we close the hamsphere server for maintenance the "Spectrometer" will go blank. Just wait for some minutes and try again. 6. Use Monitor to monitor your own signal and how it sounds after it bounces off the HamSphere. 7. Use PTT Lock when u want to make long transmissions easier. The PTT then goes into a Flip/Flop mode. 8. We are experimenting with different MF filters. You can choose between 800hz, 2.6 kHz and 3.8 kHz. 9. Again, please choose the appropriate Power level to avoid splatter. Remember, the HamSphere works exactly like the real radio world when it comes to splatter. 10. You may choose AGC slow or AGC fast depending on the received signal. For phone conversation always use AGC slow. 11. DX Cluster presence: You can choose to be visible or invisible in the system's DX Cluster. 12. Finally, please visit the http://www.hamsphere.com/download often to check for upgrades. 13. Bands will be added later. Please report back all your experience. I really need all information I can get in order to get this product working properly. Email: accounts@hamsphere.com Regards Kelly Lindman SM7NHC Founder HamSphere.com