Radio communication and Amateur Radio as the terms suggest, clearly define the mode of communication using electromagnetic (EM) radio frequency waves. Hence it is obvious that the medium of signal transport must be able to propagate EM waves and not electrical RF energy. There is a clear distinction between the two. EM wave propagation relies on a self-sustaining propagation mechanism by continuous and alternating transfer of energy between an electric field and an associated orthogonal magnetic field.

Each of these energy transfer processes generates a new EM wavelet which continues to propagate. In contrast, electrical RF energy uses an electrically conductive medium like copper wires similar to transporting energy at other frequencies including the well-known utility power distribution networks. We may also use fiber-optic medium by modulating a light source with information which propagates over a graded density refractive index medium within the confines of the optical cable. But this too is not Radio propagation.

Virtualization is the process of replicating the behavior of a physical real-world process using mathematical modeling, whereas Hybridization is to use an alternate via-media to bypass difficult and perhaps unsavory parts of the physical process to achieve end results without having to negotiate natural obstacles of a normal physical process. The bottom line is that Virtualization in a Ham radio context is a genuine effort to replicate a physical process in its entirety with all its natural challenges. On the other hand, Hybridization is an attempt to circumvent and dilute the natural process by using exogenous or extraneous medium/processes to achieve end results even though it may not be a technically viable proposition within the realms and boundaries of the communication mode which we profess to be using.

Hybrid Communication & Trunking is not Ham Radio

With the advent of modern technologies, various hybrid communication systems have been designed and successfully deployed. All this is perfectly legitimate for commercial, military and various other forms of traffic where the objective is not to stick within the boundaries of a single stipulated medium (like RF waves) but to deliver the most cost-effective and robust overall solution. Hybrid communication networks may employ several modes where a partial circuit may be radio while the rest of the circuit may use copper cables, fiber-optics, etc. On the contrary, Amateur radio is a hobby where we are expected to operate within the provisions and limitations of the radio communication medium. The moment we start using an alternate medium to leverage our communication, it is no more ham radio. In such cases we should rather give up the hobby of Amateur radio and stop fooling ourselves.

Therefore, hybrid communication paradigms have no place in Amateur Radio. It is simply ridiculous to have a small part of the point-to-point link via radio EM waves and thereafter use fiber, cables or Internet for the balance part of the circuit. Ham radio is a hobby of radio communication and not that of self-deception. IF we do it, it is not Amateur Radio. Sadly though, several Internet-based applications have infiltrated Amateur Radio. Ham operators are being misled to believe that they are still practicing Amateur Radio if they use such hybrid modes. This is completely untrue. If an operator uses a VHF/UHF transceiver to thereafter have his traffic routed across thousands of kilometers via Internet and radio trunking to another VHF/UHF operator at the other end, it is certainly not Amateur radio.

Even at the risk of being very unpopular, I would not shy away from naming the prominent players like EchoLink and even D-Star networks. Although D-Star digital voice modulation technology is a welcome development, that is true as long as it is restricted to over-the-air radio transmission. The idea of using internet gateways to route D-Star traffic via the internet makes it quite unacceptable. I wonder at times if this is Amateur Radio or Amateur Internet. Yet these protocols are used extensively by many clueless ham operators who are falsely made to believe that it is cutting-edge radio technology. The truth is that it ceases to be radio when hybridized with the Internet. The proliferation of such services are only doing a disservice to Amateur radio and should have no place in this hobby.

Virtual Radio – Simulation of RF Communication Environment through Mathematical modeling

If conceived and implemented properly with the utmost care and due diligence, Virtual Radio legitimately complements real radio communication. Virtualization of any physical phenomena is a scientific process that requires a deep understanding of the underlying principles and parameters that determine the behavior of the natural processes in the real world. Therefore Virtual Radio is also a process of mimicking, emulating or simulating the real world radio communication environment with all its properties and idiosyncrasies.

The virtual experience must be as close to the real as possible without compromising on the finer behavioral aspects of the real environment which is being virtualized. Today we find several applications which claim to be Virtual Amateur Radio applications. We have found that barring one application, none of the others do any justice to fundamental concepts of virtualization. They simply fall far short of providing radio-like experience to users. They are all shady deals that make a mockery of science, mathematics, mother nature and Amateur radio.

The only virtual ham radio application that meets most qualifying requirements is HamSphere 4.0. Rest of them are either simply plain VOIP chat applications with negligible efforts to emulate real-world environment parameters which determine radio communication or they are radio trunking application using alternate information transport medium to facilitate communication.

Although HamSphere 4.0 uses the Internet VOIP protocol as an underlying data transport medium, its application virtualization layer ensures complete opacity which de-links the properties of VOIP protocol while replacing them with its own simulation protocols. This is a simulation of the geophysical and solar-terrestrial parameters through a complex mathematical model to recreate radio propagation environment and to ensure that communication experience is very close to real-world scenario.