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D-STAR User Seminar
Charlotte NC, January 5, 2008
6-13-2008: there have been some significant changes in D-STAR repeater linking since this seminar was given. The program will say that D-STAR repeaters can't be linked in the conventional way, where everybody on one repeater can talk to everybody on the other repeater. That's no longer true. Two new pieces of software provide different approaches to linking.

First, an add-on program called DPLUS has added both repeater-to-repeater linking, and  "Reflectors" that can tie many D-STAR repeaters together. Control of these features is usually available to users, and is initiated by putting a simple code in the YOUR field of the D-STAR radio. When repeaters are linked, users don't have to do anything special - everyone talks to everyone, as long as they have the Gateway call sign in their RPT2 field. DPLUS is by far the most popular form of repeater linking in D-STAR.

Second, ICOM's G2 Gateway adds a feature called "Multicast." It allows up to 10 D-STAR repeaters to be linked. The Admin has to set up Multicast, and users have to program a group name into the 'YOUR" call sign field. Then, their transmissions are routed to all the other repeates in the Multicast group. Since DPLUS is so much easier and more flexible, there is little use of Multicast.

So keep this in mind as you watch the program. Everything else is still accurate and useful, though D-STAR education is a moving target!

8-21-2008: I've added my new "YouTube Special" on programming D-STAR radios to this DVD. You can watch the special free here, but the DVD has better image quality, and it's indexed.
 - KN4AQ
D-STAR User Seminar DVD
97 minutes
4 minute preview:
If you're a new D-STAR user, you're probably confused about programming callsigns into your radio to use the repeater Gateway, among other things. Join the club!

Steve KA4YMY and Ken KC4YOZ got the Gateway working on the KI4WXS repeater near Charlotte, NC, on Christmas Eve, 2007. Suddenly they had a bunch of repeater users who needed to understand how to program their radios to take advantage of the new capability.

Their solution was a seminar covering the basics. ARVN videotaped the seminar, and it will help you jump-start your D-STAR operation.
D-STAR
User
Seminar
$8
plus shipping
ORDER
HERE



The entire DVD runs about 97 minutes. It covers what to enter into the YOURCALL, MYCALL, RPT1 and RPT2 fields, and explains why there are a variety of options. It also reviews One Touch Reply, gives tips on making your own computer interface cables, and gives some background information on the Gateway. Also covered are the DV Dongle (which lets you access D-STAR repeates from your PC, somewhat like Echolink), OpenDSTAR.org, and more.

The DVD is indexed so you can easily find specific topics for review.

And the DVD now includes my 16-minute "YouTube Special" on programming radios for D-STAR.


Also, QST has given me permission to post a PDF version of my article "Operating D-STAR", published in September, 2007. You can download the PDF here. This article is
© ARRL – you may download it, and link to this download, but please don't put it on your own web site or distribute it.

And see some of my other D-STAR related articles, and some non-D-STAR stuff (yes, I do stuff that's not D-STAR) on my OtherStuff page.


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