D-STAR ’06 Amateur Digital Mode for the 21 st Century

D-STAR is not necessarily what we expect –Forget everything you think you know about repeaters. –Forget everything you think you know about networking. Existing knowledge will help, IF you can ignore assumptions!

What is D-STAR? Why is D-STAR interesting? Who is interested? How will it be used? How do we get started? Open Discussion

What is D-STAR? –Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio –JARL Japanese Amateur Radio League NOT Manufacturers! –Goal Advancement of the hobby Spectrum Efficiency Experiment with Simultaneous Voice and Data –D-STAR Gateway owned by Icom Not Public Domain or Open Source May not be copied, shared or redistributed

Why is D-STAR interesting? –Spectral Efficiency –Simultaneous Voice and Data capability 2m/70cm/23cm –High-Speed Data capability 23cm –Internet Linking capability –Microwave Linking capability

Why is D-STAR interesting? –Spectral Efficiency 6.25 kHz emission 10 kHz channel spacing (reasonable) More efficient use of available bandwidth Allows more channels in crowded spectrum Better performance compared to analog FM –Same power in less bandwidth (SSB vs. AM)

Why is D-STAR interesting? –Simultaneous Voice and Data capability 2m, 70cm, 23cm Digital Voice Mode 4800bd Data Stream –2400bd Digital Voice –1200bd FEC on Digital voice –1200bd Serial Data

Why is D-STAR interesting? –High-Speed Data capability 23cm –128kb Ethernet –Transparent Bridge »Allows Network-Agnostic Applications! –Half-Duplex »Duplex-sensitive apps don’t work well (VOIP, etc.)

Why is D-STAR interesting? –Internet Linking capability User linking vs. Site linking Can cause confusion for uninformed Allows “roaming”

D-STAR Gateway Functions Authentication/Authorization –Register locally, propagates throughout the network –Without authentication, no traffic crosses Gateway Call Routing – (Source Routed) –Allows D-STAR communication, wherever you are –Some interesting challenges based on sync timing

Who is interested? (US) –Individuals –Clubs –Served Agencies Examples –Races/Runs/Rides, Parades, Special Events –Emergency Communications –FEMA Demo

Legend Full Full/Portable 70cm 23cm Unknown

Legend Full Full/Portable 70cm 23cm Unknown

International Systems Buenos Aires, Argentina Sao Paulo, Brazil Mexico City, Mexico

How will it be used? –Regular use, like FM (Enhanced) Data/Voice Simultaneously –Internet Linking –Emergency Communications –New Applications Applications are the BIG DEAL –Packet »DX Clusters »APRS

EmComm Applications Ends needless chatter –Data rather than voice –Immediate identification Callsign GPS Coordinates –Dispatch assets accurately

New Applications –Hardware μSmartDigi™ D-Gate –Software D-STAR Monitor D-STAR TNC D-STARLet

Fits inside a TNC-X box Converts D-STAR NMEA GPS data to Base-91 compressed APRS® Position Reports Converts Symbol and Text Data Filters messages according to a rich set of user-configurable rules Operates without a dedicated laptop or PC

μSmartDigi™ D-Gate Black box translator –D-PRS ® to APRS –APRS to D-PRS® Smooth RF integration of both systems

D-STAR Monitor Server based software package –Drives websitewww.dstarusers.org –K5TIT Creators Pete Loveall AE5PL Gerry Dalton W5MAY Additional Stats for SYSOP

D-STAR TNC An APRS and D-STAR software bridge –Java Based package DStarTNC2 is free for use by Amateur Radio operators for Amateur Radio.

D-STARLet A Web-based text messaging application –Uses D-STAR Digital technology Dean Gibson, AE7Q

How do we get started? –Lots of interest beginning around the US and Canada –VHF, UHF & SHF radios currently available Mobiles Handhelds (On VHF & UHF Only) –Repeaters components available ID-RP2000V for 2m voice and low-speed data ID-RP4000V for 70cm voice and low-speed data ID-RP2V for 23 cm voice and low-speed data ID-RP2D for 23 cm high-speed data ID-RP2C Controller (Required)

Online Discussion Forums Other D-STAR Web Sites

Questions & Discussion