Doug McLaren wrote:
Judging from the name, the `BPL workaround' and `server', this is an
Internet thing, right?
Sort of like Echolink, but you mirror the spectrum itself rather than
just doing VoIP? If so, it sounds clever, but it's no more a
replacement for HF (you call it a `BPL workaround', after all) than
Echolink is.

I disagree. You are on HF- the front-end of
your receiver is just in a different, more "RF-friendly" place.
Since your receiver can't go to a place with clean spectrum,
VS brings clean spectrum to you.

Unlike Echolink, with which you use someone else's radio
(and which to me is little more than an internet chat room)
I want to use *my* radios.
If I can't hear because of BPL or any other noise,
VS will allow me to operate.
The point is to make reception (and transmission, as well)
possible in places and with modes that would not otherwise be available.
For example- last night, I set up for a "worst case" test
in the worst noise location imaginable- my communications shop.
A large telephone switch, multiple computers, microwave and
T-1 multiplexes etc. make this place a solid wall of radio noise
and "birdies" from DC to daylight,
and there is no possibility of an external antenna.
using a bad internet connection running at about 22 kBs,
my receiver sat on my desk and copied a nice, quite stretch
of 75 meters with multiple, tunable SSB QSOs
all night without a hitch; I didn't hear one "birdie."
Had I been listening to CW or digital modes,
there was enough bandwidth for hearing a dozen or
more individual QSOs, tuning between them in a normal manner.
With a better connection,
large portions of HF bands can be streamed in real time
to multiple receivers.

Sounds like you ought to get a few of these boards --

These appear to be just software-definable radios.
If they are in a "noise hole," they're no better off
than any other receiver. And they cost $450+.
The interface I built uses less than a couple of
dozen parts and costs about $20 if you buy them new.

73 OM DE Dave Stinson AB5S