1. The K3PDR Digital Repeater System Jack Coupe – WA3BXH
Introduction to D-STAR 2013 Amateur Radio Digital Modes for the 21st Century
Philadelphia Digital Radio Association
The K3PDR Digital Repeater System Jack Coupe – WA3BXH

2. PDRA Overview
Formed in PDRA’s membership now includes over 30 amateurs who explore new digital radio modulation technologies to communicate both voice and data.
The club currently operates coordinated repeaters on 440/ mHz and /01. The repeater uses the D-Star format and is located at the Mermaid Lane tower in Wyndmoor, Montgomery County, PA at the Montgomery County/Philadelphia border. Tx-Rx antennas are shared with a commercial operation and UHF antennas are located near the top of the tower at approximately 550 feet agl, and over 900 feet amsl while the VHF is at 300 feet. We hope to establish 1.2 gHz. DD and DV links in the future as funds permit
The club supports many other amateur radio organizations to provide training and awareness of emerging digital modes as well as technical support to amateurs becoming involved with digital communications and strives to be the preeminent amateur organization promoting amateur digital radio operations.

3. 440 mHz. Repeater Mobile Coverage Area

4. Throughout history Amateur Radio Operators have established a reputation for public service communications

5. And, for Disaster and Emergency Relief Efforts…
D-STAR and Amateur Radio Operators can provide the “first” and “last” mile communications to enable an effective emergency response in Disaster communications

6. File Transfer Graphics Web browsing Maps
Amateur Radio operators can now put D-STAR’s Hi-Speed data capabilities to work supporting their “served agencies” with IT tools they understand and expect…
Spreadsheets
File Transfer Graphics
Web browsing Maps

7. For EMCOMM Operations, D-STAR can link Field Shelter and EOC Staff with Digital Data
in the Field
Site to Site Digital Communications
Keyboard to Keyboard text messaging
Fully HIPPA compliant

8. D-STAR can bridge the Gap in Disaster Communications with…..
Damage Assessment
Wide Area Networking
Shelter Management
Field Digital Data (Photos, etc)
Visual Asset Tracking

9. Damage Assessment
By utilizing D-Star’s High Speed Digital Data, public safety management members can see exactly what their in-the-field staff sees during windshield surveys, providing a useful tool for real-time on-scene visuals

10. Wide Area Networking
Compliments existing emergency management networks – covers miles and not just meters
Embedded Position information with links to Digital Maps, Charts and more

11. D-Star enables shelters to share vital information digitally….
Shelter Management
D-Star enables shelters to share vital information digitally….
Inventory, medical supplies, fuel supplies, and water availability, bed counts, etc.
Logistics and Coordination
Staff and Schedule

12. Visual Asset Tracking
D-STAR integrates GPS information automatically with normal Tactical Communications….
Position is included with every Voice transmission
Real time map plots on computers running Automatic Position Reporting (APRS) software
Allocate efficiently at a glance

13. Why is D-STAR interesting?
Digital packet carries both Digital Voice and concurrent Data Stream
Radios automatically transmit call sign along with the voice communications, and it is displayed on all receiving stations screens
No need to Voice ID since the call sign is sent with each transmission (Even though you don’t need to voice ID to be legal on D-Star, it is still a good operating practice to do so)
GPS location transmitted along with voice communications
Wide Area Networking with Digital Data (DD) that can be sent in high-volume while traditional modes are slow
Can dispatch assets accurately and place data in the hands of those who need it the most – fast image, text and document data exchanges

14. And for so many Amateur Radio Uses
Think of how these same D-Star features can be used in your other Amateur Radio communications support
Parades
Walk-a-thons
Bicycle marathons
Major event coordination

15. D-STAR is now the fastest growing new technology in Amateur
Radio!

16. D-Star History
Began as a government funded project by the Japanese Amateur Radio League for mobile digital communications.
Provides Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio
Plenty of additional information is available on internet especially at Icom and JARL sites
D-Star is an open standard, available for any amateur or manufacturer. Only the codec (AMBE vocorder) is proprietary and licensed.

17. D-Star History – cont.
Funded by the Japanese government and administered by the JARL, development of protocols for a new digital technology for amateur radio.
Protocols are published by JARL
Icom offers first commercial radios

18. Typical D-STAR Configuration
Gateway Overview

19. D-Star SystemsTopography – Peer to Peer!
Trust
Server
Sys 3
Sys 5
Sys 4

21. D-Star’s Protocol Header is not encrypted
GMSK modem sees header fields & passes them to PC
DV Payload created by codec in AMBE chip
HotSpot GMSK modem passes DV payload as a stream of bits without decoding

22. Four call signs used – You will see many examples
MYCALL – Call sign of the originating station – your own call spec calls this “Own Callsign”
URCALL – Call sign of the desired target station, or CQCQCQ spec calls this the “Companion Callsign” – can be a port !
RPT1 – Call sign (& port) of the originating (input) repeater
spec calls this the “Departure Repeater Callsign”
RPT2 – Call sign & designator of the gateway (or cross band port)
spec calls this the “Destination Repeater Callsign”
(A bit misleading for Gateway calls)

23. Program Your Radio Ahead of time!
Gateway Operations
Registration
Not required for local use only
Contact your local repeater administrator to get registered : Philadelphia: Stan Hess N3KDA or Mike Campbell, KB3IKP
See K3PDR Yahoo Group files section for more information
No private conversations -
both ends hear all
User linking / routing vs. site linking
Not all users on site can participate - Opportunity for confusion!!!
Each User determines the route his transmission takes in system
Program Your Radio Ahead of time!

24. Multiple Ways to Traverse Gateway
User-Specific call
“Follow-me Roaming” – Example: specific call to W3ZZZ
Sync Timing may cause delays when user switches (10 minutes typ)
Also, this type of call will typically interrupt an ongoing local QSO
Port call
Example - URCALL = ‘/K5TIT’
Specific routing of port call – defaults to Port ‘A’
Port-specific call
Example – URCALL = ‘/K5TIT C’ be sure the C is in the 8th position
This type of call is “polite” to local QSOs. It will typically not interrupt
D-Plus Linking

25. D-Plus Software Developed by Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
Provides “linking” capability to the gateways similar to how amateur radio operators link analog repeaters.
Provides the ability to create D-STAR-only reflectors and to create virtual connections between repeaters and between repeaters and reflectors.
Since its inception, it has grown to be a portal for DVDongle users (a USB AMBE codec)
Allows static information such as text, prerecorded AMBE audio and Icom front panel messages to be generated by individual repeaters

26. Gateway Reflectors
Reflectors allow the interconnection of multiple repeaters to form D-Star networks
Can be user or administrator controlled
Requires all users to program radios for gateway operations
If you initiate linking operation, it is important to clear the reflector following operations
is a great resource to use!

28. Future Directions Open D-STAR Projects have a Big Impact !
The Open D-Star Gateway “ODG” allow us to define our own configurations / ODG by AA4RC
Try this
UR: K3PDR E RPT1: K3PDR B RPT2: K3PDR G
You’ll Get an audio playback – Great for troubleshooting
Home Brew D-Star & Experimentation
Check out AE4JY’s DVX Transceiver

29. Questions ? Our sincere thanks to Ron Shaffer - W4VM and Bob Wiseman WB3W ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator for their permission to use some Power Point Slides and to Jim Moen – K6JM for his presentation on hot spots. Additionally to Pete Loveall - AE5PL of the Texas Interconnect Team, and our great friends Fred Varian – WD5ERD of the Texas Interconnect Team and Icom Support, Ray Nowack, Icom Amateur Products Manager and Brian Rode - NJ6N for help and support over the years. Online Discussion Forums
Other D-STAR Web Sites

30.
PDRA meetings are held on the 1st non-holiday Monday at Ambler Community Ambulance Association, 1414 E. Butler Pike, Ambler, PA. Meetings begin at 19:30 hours and generally last about 2 hours. All are welcome. A local net is held on non-meeting Monday evenings at 20:00 hours local. We also participate in the Mid-Atlantic Regional D-Star net on Tuesdays at 19:30 hours.