D-STAR ’06
Amateur Digital Mode
for the 21st 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!
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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
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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 www.dstarusers.org website
– K5TIT Creators
• Pete Loveall AE5PL
• Gerry Dalton W5MAY
• Additional Stats for SYSOP
WWW.D-STARUSERS.ORG
D-STAR TNC
• An APRS and D-STAR software bridge
– Java Based package
• www.aprs-is.net/dstartnc2.htm
• 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
• www.dstarlet.com
• 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
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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
www.icomamerica.com/support/forums
www.K5TIT.Org/Forum
Other D-STAR Web Sites
www.D-STARUsers.Org
www.D-STARlet.Com
www.aprs-is.net/dstartnc2.htm
Questions & Discussion