| FLYINGELVISESSS |
Rating:      |
2021-03-28 | |
| works well |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I could not get it to work on my macbook pro, but on my windows 10 pc it loaded, and opened first time. Set it up, bougjt the subscription. Im just getting started with ham radio, big learning curve. I will use it to acclimate to the whole process.
For now I highly suggest it for a newby like me. |
|
| K3VIC |
Rating:      |
2020-10-14 | |
| I think HamSphere 4.0 is pretty dang fabulous! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| While I don't think it's a perfect simulation, it's comparable to an advanced flight simulator in replicating the ham experience. It makes or allows you go through many of the steps you need to go through to figure out how to make contacts such as using VOACAP, etc. under varying conditions... and you face many of the same frustrations as "real" ham radio users in terms of antenna propagation, band selection for location and time of day, QRM, etc. needed to know in order to make QSO's. You also get to experiment with different antennas and instrumentation which is educational. I think its main utility is (1) for folks who because of finances, location and other factors can't have a real HF ham shack and (2) as a training device for new hams so they get a sense of how receivers and antennas work before plopping down big bucks on equipment. While it's not a substitute for "real" ham radio, it seems to me to be A+ in those regards and its cost (once your 30 day free trial is over) is trivial compared to setting up a ham shack... about the same as a cheap Baofeng. |
|
| BV4QO |
Rating:  |
2018-05-28 | |
| All the negative ratings are true |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The 4.0 software transceiver, in some cases, ceases the start-up silently without a message to the user. It is obviously a lazy and unfriendly programming. It can be very disturbing. You don't know the stop of a start-up is caused by a poor contact with a microphone or something else. You have to wait for a while to sure if it ceases the start-up. And the must-have of microphone to start up the transceiver is also irrational and ridiculous. Why should I need a mic if just want to CW or listen to it?
The most problem to me is the CW; I like to use a real telegraph key connected to the RS232 port. Despite the wiring is different to usual, it also needs the USB-RS232 adapter to supports the RI signal, which is difficult to find from my local market. The stupid requirement is a disaster. You don't know if the Interface Adapter plugin hangs is because the RI or miss something. Again, the Interface Adapter just stuck without a message.
So I have the Debug Window plugin installed, then I got following debug messages
----
Debug Window started...
Thread-90:128:loadLibrary:-1
loadLibrary0:-1
loadLibrary:-1
:-1
loadComPorts:-1
run:-1
run:-1
:no rxtxSerial in java.library.path Exception: UnsatisfiedLinkError
----
What is it? The support staff doesn't answer me. At the first, he dropped me an invalid URL to the Interface Adapter manual and then left support ticket unanswered. So I open the second support ticket to brief my situation; The same staff just replied "Did you read the usermanual ??" and droped me a link to manual again.
The manual has not information about rxtxSerial; and does not teach how to tell if an RS232 adapter supports RI or not. Should I buy a lot adapters and try them one by one?!
Maybe I am a stupid subscriber, failed to find the answer from the manual. But what kind of support, so lazy and unfriendly, does not willing to give a subscribe a little explanation?
I agree the Hamphere can be a good idea, planned to use it to guide students who do not have a convenient antenna to practice CW. The Hamphere support has not a diagnostic procedure, does not track user issues, leaves ticket unclosed. The poor support services are disappointing. After weeks of effort, even contact the founder 5B4AIT for help, all communication are failed, I no longer consider using it.
Beware, there are 5 columns for Hamphere reviewing in eHam. The 10467, 146932, 128288, 146591, 116117. There may be more in the future. The use of conspiracy theory, they are Hamphere's tricks to confuse users. I suggest you read the 10467 (the current column) carefully before subscribing to Hamsphere
https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10467
For your reference
My Support Tickets:
J69-BMW-LJMM
http://support.hamsphere.com/ticket.php?track=J69-BMW-LJMM
1UP-H14-SU5D
http://support.hamsphere.com/ticket.php?track=1UP-H14-SU5D |
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| W3ATT |
Rating:      |
2017-04-15 | |
| 4.0 -Awesome Concept |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
My review is for Hamsphere 4.0 (HS4.) Trying HS3 was a bit like an Internet chat room where you can choose your contact. No matter where they were in the world, no matter what band, the qso was possible. Not like real radio.
Now onto HS4... Amazing real time propagation from Voacap website. In other words, if 10 meters is closed in the real world, 10 meters will be closed in HS4. And the ability to switch antennas and aim directly at your receiving station is just cool. I watch my s-meter and hear the signal go weaker when I rotate my antennas, just like the real thing.
About the cost? If you can't afford 32 bucks, then ham radio isn't for you anyway. Hams spend THOUSANDS on radio gear, tuners, power supplies, antennas, cables, mic's, etc, etc, etc!! How can anyone complain about 30 euros?? The system uses multiple servers world wide and has a staff of people to program and develop it to make it work. (it ain't gonna be FREE..)
I've met so many great people on HS4 (and HS3,) but I prefer the realism of HS4. These operators are just great to talk with. And you can take it anywhere! You can load it on as many computers as you want (although it will ONLY work on one at a time (prevents sharing of accounts.)) I have it loaded in my laptop and will go with me wherever I go.
I will also use this as a great training tool for my nephew to help him to learn proper operating procedures when on air.
Kudos to who ever thought of adding real time propagation to Hamsphere. It really makes an "ok" thing really good.
I hope for a good future in Hamsphere. And some day the bands will be hopping with lots of activity. Can't wait to see what developments come along too! |
|
| EA6VY |
Rating:      |
2017-03-22 | |
| Brought my ham passion back |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I'm very new to Hamsphere and to this site (hello everyone). I'm a ham licensed since 1980, for about 20 years, due to getting married, new home and kids, sold all the equipment and quit from the hamworld for almost 20 years. One day, I don't remember how, came across and found Hamsphere. Interesting enough, wanted to give it a try.
I've been using it for a month and the simulation of a real rig is amazing, You get most of the good things of real radio, without almost any of the bad ones. Like everything in life it has it's pros and cons. The man who figured out how to bring up something like this is a genius IMO.
So all I can say is: THANK YOU Hamsphere for bringing my passion back. I may even one day in the near future buy new equipment, go back to the real thing and share my time on both worlds.
EA6VY Luis (Balearic Islands) |
|
| KT8DX |
Rating:  |
2016-09-05 | |
| Doesn't work - unethical company |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I tried Hamsphere for a year. No luck getting it to work on my Microsoft Surface Pro. Support tickets were unanswered with other than an acknowledgement that it was received. I cancelled and told "RingJoeBing Enterprises" I did not want to renew and they renewed me anyway, stealing my money for another year.
I contacted them - still no response. In my opinion the are an unethical company that charges for a product that doesn't work. Even on an old machine where I did get it to work - the "bands" were a ghosttown. No one there.
Save your money.
Bob KT8DX |
|
| N7XLR |
Rating:   |
2016-06-20 | |
| not for Windows 10 |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I got both versions when I had windows 7. 3.0 always worked better than 4.0. No way was I going to sink all that money into a simulation. I could be spending it on real equipment. I liked 3.0 to begin with, it was cheap and it worked. But after upgrading to Windows 10, it no longer works right. All I get is background noise, and when I do find a signal it is so garbled I can't understand what they are saying. I won't be resubscribing to Hamsphere. |
|
| HAMMYGUY |
Rating:  |
2015-07-06 | |
| Save your money |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have been watching Hamsphere develope over the years and finally like a sucker took the plunge to subscribe for a year. What a waste of $32US.
What is really irrating is that what you hear on the Android version is NOT what you'll hear on version 3.0 or 4.009. It sounds like different servers are being used, but the "live cluster" on 3.0 does show the same stations as Android so I'm assuming that I need to buy more "antennas" to be able hear them as the previous reviewer noted. Additional "equipment" is not supported on the current Android version which obviously is coming and then it will be just like the PC version version which is hearing nothing.
"Equipment" you can purchase include handles, Yagi's (at an average cost of $44!), handles, buttons, cover plates, antenna controls, instrument, s-meters, interactive tools, and instruments. There are very few freebies and most of it costs plenty.
Like a wrecked old car, it appears the new modeling for this junker is to keep pouring money into new "equipment" to be able to hear all users. I'll admit I made a mistake buying into this turkey, but you'll get nothing but a laugh if you think I'm pouring anymore dollars into a lemon. This might be OK for some users who are home bound, but the new business model of milking users for every little extra will do nothing but ultimately chase them away.
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|
| VE8AP |
Rating:   |
2015-06-17 | |
| Not impressed |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I paid for Hamsphere and worked great and I understand it's a business have to make money but now the new version's if you want to have a QSO you have to upgrade your antenna's and more Too much for this fellow and more money to do so i could just use echo link |
|
| OE5AKM |
Rating:      |
2014-11-05 | |
| Simply the best! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
ARoIP (Amateur Radio over Internet Protocol) at it's best!
73, Alfred, OE5AKM |
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