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D-STAR System D-mystified. Howard Brown, KG6GI Brian Roode, NJ6N. Who Are We?. Howard, KG6GI SOARA Repeater Director Systems Engineer (C&C/ATC) Brian, NJ6N SOARA Repeater Team Unix Systems Programmer D-STAR gateway management team d*Chat Author. D-Star System Overview.
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D-STAR System D-mystified Howard Brown, KG6GI Brian Roode, NJ6N
Who Are We? • Howard, KG6GI • SOARA Repeater Director • Systems Engineer (C&C/ATC) • Brian, NJ6N • SOARA Repeater Team • Unix Systems Programmer • D-STAR gateway management team • d*Chat Author
Voice Encoding Utilizes Digital Voice Systems AMBE 2020 Chip
Baseband Allocation • DV Radios (ID-1, ID-800, IC-91AD, IC-2820,…) • Digital Voice w/ Fwd Error Correcting – 3600 bps • Low Speed Digital Data – 1200 baud • Channel Spacing ~ 10 kHz • DD Radios (ID-1) • High Speed Data Transfer – 128 kbps • Channel Spacing ~ 200 kHz
Operating Frequency Configuration Mode MyCall UrCall Rpt 1 Rpt 2 Simplex or Duplex FM or DV Source Call sign Destination Call Sign 1st Repeater 2nd Repeater Each Radio Has Frequency, Mode and 4 Call Sign Fields to be Programmed
D-STAR by the Numbers • Germany, France, Italy, Austria & Switzerland added this past spring • 414 repeater systems internationally • 2869 users registered on gateways • 193 gateways on the “US Root” trust server • Over 800 users using gateways each day!
Generation 2 Gateway Software • Gateways can now have a dynamic IP address. • The gateway synchronization process is much better. • Multicast routing enables gateway admins to pre-define a list of up to 10 gateways that a specific "URCALL" (e.g. /COMMUTE) will route to. • Users wishing to use the multicast group may program it into their radio. When they transmit to "/COMMUTE" for example, their voice data is routed to all of the repeaters configured by the gateway admin. • The ability to disable a broken/malicious gateway system. • Users register themselves now and administrators approve the registration.
Digital Voice (DV) Dongle • The DV Dongle • Connects to your PC or Apple Mac via a USB port • Provides encoding and decoding of compressed audio using the DVSI AMBE2000 full duplex vocoder DSP chip. • The DVTool application available for Microsoft Windows XP/Vista, Mac OS X Leopard, or many flavors of Linux
DV Dongle Functions Provides AMBE 2020 interface to a computer through USB port. • Provides a ‘RF-less’ D-Star radio • Replaces RF function with internet connection • The dongle can monitor gateway traffic • The dongle can transmit over the gateway • Many more uses
DPlus Functions • Installed on the gateway computer • Echo Test • URCall = “K6SOA^^E” • Echos back your transmission • Repeater ID • UrCall = “K6SOA^^I • Plays local system voice message or link status • Establish Link • UrCall = “XXNXXXML” • Terminate Link • UrCall = “^^^^^^^U” • Central logging to database for reporting Dongle use via DstarUsers.org • Author: Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC
Available Software Applications • DStarlet • d*Chat • D-RATS • Dstarusers.org • D-PRS interface/javAPRSSrvr • uSmartDigi D-Gate D-STAR Gateway D-STAR/APRS Interface • D-STAR query • Opendstar.org Applications
DStarLet is a web-based text messaging application using D-Star digital data technology. Java based server can run on Windows, MacOS, or Linux. Clients can use any web browser. Multiple browser windows on the same or multiple computers can be used to create, send, receive, and manage multiple messages in parallel. The status of all incoming and outgoing messages are displayed in any browser window on any computer. Messages are error corrected. A communications log of all messages sent/received can be viewed on any browser. Authored By: Dean Gibson, AE7Q DStarlet
Runs on Windows Enables text based communications between multiple stations simultaneously. Runs on repeater, through the gateway, or on simplex frequency. Customizable Can send periodic QST message. Filters GPS data from the message stream. Has 7 quick send text message slots Authored By Brian, NJ6N D*Chat
D-RATS • New application that provides for: • Text Chatting • File Transfers • Position Reporting & Geographic Mapping • See http://d-rats.danplanet.com/wiki/ • Author: Dan Smith, KI4IFW
D-STAR Comms • Main Features • Text Chat (Send and Receive text messages between DStar Comms Users) URLS are clickable! • Beacon Mode (Periodically send Text Based Beacons) 2 Independent beacons available • Email Gateway (Will allow RF users to relay emails to the internet) • Email Composer (Allows user to send an email through a DStar Comms user who has configured the Email Gateway) • Address Book for keeping users email address. • Heard List (Automatically records heard users callsigns) • Private Messages (Send PM's to specific users) • Auto reply (Sends a predefined message when status is away) • PM Inbox. (Saves all received PM's while away or set) • RX/TX/PM Text colour can be assigned. • Assign a sound (.wav) to a TX/RX event • See: http://www.dstarcomms.com • Author: Matt, M0DQW
D-PRS interface • D-PRS applications allow D-STAR GPS activity to map to standard APRS clients • D-PRS converts Icom GPS information generated by Icom D-STAR radios in GPS mode into TNC2 fomatted APRS strings. • D-PRS resides on the gateway computer • D-PRS Interface is a Windows GUI application that lets you run a mapping program locally and watch what is happening on your local frequency. • See: • dstarusers.org/solutions.html • http://www.aprs-is.net/images/D-PRS.pdf • Authored by: Pete Loveall, AE5PL
Standalone APRS digipeater Reformats D-STAR GPS data into APRS packet format to provide a gateway to APRS. Module goes inside the TNC-X See http://www.usmartdigi.com Developed By: Rich Painter, AB0VO, Painter Engineering Inc. uSmartDigi D-Gate D-STAR Gateway
Southern California D-STAR Systems • South Orange ARA (SOARA) • K6SOA • Laguna Beach (1000’) • Full Stack w/ Gateway • 146.115+/445.660-/1282.600-/1299.900 MHz • Brian Roode, NJ6N; Howard Brown, KG6GI • Independent Radio Club • WA6IRC • Contractor’s Point • Full Stack w/o Gateway • 145.605-/446.870-/1282.650-/1299.700 MHz • Leon Brown, KC6JAR; Ken Chafin, W6CPA
Known SoCal Systems (con’t) • Pocket Auto Patch Association (PAPA) • Oat Mtn (KI6JKA 447.200-), Saddle Peak (KF6BQK 449.080-) • Temecula (WB6YES 445.860-), Woodson Mountain (KI6KQU 447.840-) • Gateways on Oat Mountain, Saddle Peak & Mt Woodson • Ed Kane, W6ONT; Cecil Casillas, WD6FZA • Dennis Hughes, KE6RYZ • Keller Peak (KC6RYZ 145.595-) • Ray Wunno, KE6LE • Rancho Palos Verde (KE6LE 449.820-) • Ray Waldemar, WA6NVL
More Information • SOARA • http://www.soara.org/dstar • D-Star Community Primary Information • http://www.dstarusers.org • Icom Forums • http://www.icomamerica.com/support/forums/ • D-STAR Calculator • http://www.dstarinfo.com/Calculator/Default.htm • Georgia D-Star General Information • http://www.dstarinfo.com/default.html • D-Star Specification • http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/techchar/D-STAR.pdf