[HiDARG-MEMBERS] D-STAR

[Jeff Moore]

Thanks for posting that Ray!   Good info!!

Jeff Moore  --  KE7ACY


On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 4:14 PM Ray KG7AV <kg7av at bunkai.net> wrote:

> Some questions about D-STAR came up on the TechNet today.  As promised:
>
>
> This is the mothership site that has a lot of good documentation, as
> well as the master reflector list:
>
> http://www.dstarinfo.com/home.aspx
>
>
> This site allows you to register your callsign on the D-STAR network.
> You create the entry for your base callsign, and if you have a hotspot,
> you can create the corresponding B and G entries, too.  (e.g. I
> registered me KG7AV, the access point side of my PiStar hotspot KG7AV B,
> and the internet gateway side of my hotspot KG7AV G).  This is
> important, as it creates the default "how to reach me" path in the
> D-STAR server network directory.
>
> https://wb7dzg.dstargateway.org/Dstar.do
>
>
> Getting the D-STAR entries into your radio and wrapping your head around
> the four elements of every D-STAR call are usually the biggest snags
> when getting started.  You can either do it manually, or use software
> that came with your radio to populate the D-Star address book.  I highly
> recommend the latter.  And of course, different radios use different
> terminology.  I use a Kenwood TH-D74A.
>
>
> Each D-STAR entry usually consists of four elements.  The following uses
> 'generic' terminology.
>
> Originator - this is the call sign you are using.  Usually your own
> callsign, often called URCALL in radios.
>
> Repeater1 - the call sign of the repeater port you use to access the
> local repeater/gateway.
>
> Repeater2 - the call sign of the repeater port you use to leave the
> local repeater/gateway.  Can be RF or internet.
>
> Destination - this is the call sign of the person, reflector or repeater
> you ultimately want to reach.
>
>
> So with the four elements above, you can tell the radio whether you are
> broadcasting RF simplex, RF to a local repeater, or RF to a local
> gateway and then trunked over the internet to a remote destination - and
> whether that remote destination is another repeater, a reflector server,
> or a specific end user.
>
> In Kenwood parlance, they use Local CQ, Gateway CQ, Reflector, or
> Individual.  You just specify the entry point and the destination, and
> it fills in the rest.
>
> 99.9% of the time, I'm using the hotspot in my shack to connect to a
> D-STAR reflector, usually reflector REF001CL in the UK.  In the early
> evening you'll catch traffic from all over the globe.  If we had a
> regional D-STAR net, I would setup a "Gateway CQ" on my radio to KC7DMF
> B.  I also have a couple of entries that tunnel to the hotspots of
> friends in Arizona and Washington state.
>
> I have to say that the first time I fired it up to see if it was
> working, a callback came from a ZL operator.  Clear as a bell and
> sounded like he was sitting next to me.  That's the advantage of digital
> voice over internet. As to whether this (or DMR or Fusion or IRLP)
> constitutes 'real radio' I will leave to others to debate.  I consider
> it another arrow in the comms quiver, and for a new user or Tech
> license, as long as the internet is up, it's a slick way to make
> contacts all over the world.
>
>
> Should also mention that D-STAR has some data, beacon, and messaging
> capabilities when used with a computer (D-RATS).
>
>
> These documents are pretty good on explaining all of the above:
>
>
> https://www.la1b.no/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Newbies-Guide-to-D-Star-V2.0.pdf
>
> http://www.tmrahamradio.org/D-STAR_for_Dummies_v4.pdf
>
>
> Hopefully not clear as mud, and I hope the links will help get you started.
>
> 73 es gb de ray kg7av
>
>
>
>
>
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