1. Digital –Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio
(30 hours of semi-trivia – presented in 30 minutes)
Jim Lang / KD9GY

2. D-STAR What is it ? Who might like it ? How to get started ?
What do all the terms mean ?
Where can I use it ?

3. D-Star – What is it ?
D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol specification developed as the result of research by the Japan Amateur Radio League to investigate digital technologies for amateur radio.
Initially developed in the late 1990’s!

4. D-Star – What is it ?
Method of moving voice packets encoded by the AMBE vocoder, locally, regionally, or globally.
D-STAR
Network

5. Who might like it ? Do you like VHF & UHF communications?
Do you like DX ?
Do you like Echolink ?
Do you like Packet ?
Do you like Computers ?
Do you like APRS ?
Do you like writing software ?

6. How do I get started ? No D-Star Radio Required D-Star Radio Required
DV Dongle
D-Star Radio Required
DVAP (DV Access Point)
D-Star Hot Spot
D-Star Repeater

7. How do I get started ? Step 1 – Hardware
Choose your access method
Step 2 – Registration* (NSRC or SUHFARS locally)
Register your call sign
WARNING !
Ask for recommendations on where to register
Step 3 – Talk

8. Registration Requirements
NOT
REQUIRED
REQUIRED
D-STAR
Network

9. Definitions AMBE – Advanced Multi-Band Excitation DV – Digital Voice
DD – Digital Data
Hot Spot
R2D2
D-RATS
Reflector

10. Look inside the radio 2.4kbps digitized voice +FEC 4.8kbps
1.2 data)
Analog Speech
GMSK Signal
AMBE
Controller
Modem
D-STAR
Network

11. Look at DV Dongle Analog Speech Computer IP Encapsulation D-STAR
Network
NOTE: No Radio Present !
AMBE

12. Look at DVAP
D-STAR
Network

13. Look at DVAP
Typical range:
Several hundred feet
D-STAR
Network

14. Look at Hotspot (GMSK Modem)
Repeater
Range – Same limitations as analog repeater
D-STAR
Network

15. MoenComm.com Jim Moen – K6JM $129 total cost
Optional speaker / mic - $10
AMBE 3000 chip
Works on Windows and Raspberry Pi

16. NW Digital (www.nwdigitalradio.com)
One or the other – NOT both!

17. Existing Illinois Network
This is only a partial screen shot of the Midwest activity.
Go to: and click on “Repeater Maps and List”

18. The Missing Link – ‘Reflectors’
Repeaters for Repeaters
Chat-Rooms
REF 01C Dstar’s MegaRepeater
REF051C Chicago area / Northern Illinois
REF051D Central / Southern Illinois
REF051A Emergency Traffic (Illinois???)
REF 1B Illinois D-Star net (Wednesdays 9 p.m.)
REF 14C Ham Nation ‘after show’ net
REF 19B Wisconsin net (Sun & Wed, 9 p.m.)

19. But Wait – There’s More! “DCS” and “XRF” Reflectors too
DCS 006R - Lake Zurich (KC9VUF)
*51C  connects to REF 51C
#  disconnect
D  connects to DCS 006R
0 (zero)  status of link
B10B  X Reflector XRF 10B

20. Resources http://dstarinfo.com http://dstarusers.org
dstar_digital
gmsk_dv_node
DStar-Gateway
#DSTAR YouTube channel
IcomAmerica.com/dstar

21. Icom radios
Kenwood tri-bander w/Dstar???
March, 2016???

22. Questions? Comments?? Gripes???
Summary
D-Star has a bit of a learning curve
Digital is different from analog
It’s been a LOT of fun!
More to come, along with System Fusion, DMR and other digital modes
Questions? Comments?? Gripes???
Thank You!