Hamsphere and similar

Hamsphere and CQ100 have been around for many years. They behave as ham radio (simulated rigs, bands,antennas, contests ,etc, but use the internet as the communications medium rather than the ionosphere. 

I guess both have their places for some although I have never really been interested. It is just too easy for me and lacks the element of research and experimentation. Each to their own.

CQ100 .io group

If you are a fan of "virtual" ham radio, you may want to join this group. As sunspot count is currently very low, this may appeal to some people who enjoy chatting. Although I have tried "virtual" ham radio, it did not appeal to me. It uses software and the internet to simulate the ionosphere.

Virtual Amateur Radio

Although these internet based systems have never really appealed to me, they may to some. It is like amateur radio without the ionosphere, using the internet instead.

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/virtual

HamSphere internet ham radio system

How HamSphere works

When band conditions are poor or you feel like a change, you may like to have a go at a different sort of amateur radio experience by trying HamSphere, which is a virtual ham radio service using the internet to replicate HF bands and operation.

User interface is via a simulated HF transceiver presented on the computer screen. The "feel" of the transceiver is remarkably good. Of course, being an internet based virtual amateur radio system, no amateur radio equipment is needed and no RF is radiated, yet the experience is very close to that of operating a real HF radio on the HF bands. For those unable to operate real radios because of planning restrictions or other problems, this system offers some of the fun of amateur radio again. It is like CQ100, but in my opinion better.

The transceiver uses Java technology and simulates all amateur radio bands from 160 to 6 meters. The software, plus a lot more information about this service, is available from http://www.hamsphere.com/ .  The software works in Windows, Mac and Linux.

Using the system I just had a QSO with ZS4CCM in South Africa. It felt like a real "on air" HF QSO. It's no substitute for the real thing, but fun to use on occasions and when HF conditions are appalling.