Now, pardon my ignorance (and I am sure this must have been covered elsewhere) but why aren't hams worldwide clamoring for a universal standard of digital VHF/UHF protocols?
It's kind of amazing to me after all this time that D-STAR has been pushed by Icom over these years (I'm speaking in general terms, now) and then Yaesu comes out with their OWN protocol, instead of joining Icom and spreading D-STAR around to more users.
I am sure that there is a lot that I am missing about this subject, but it seems to me that it only serves the manufacturers, not amateurs, for them (again, the manufacturers) to NOT collaborate on a standard.
I should be able to buy a digital capable VHF/UHF radio and have it be compatible with any other brand. We can do that with HF, there is a lot more flexibility it seems, with HF when it comes to digital modes (or protocols) than with VHF/UHF.
This is especially egregious when we hams underscore to various gov't agencies how "interoperable" our networks are, when it comes to emergency communications. If there isn't a standard soon, then I could see some real hiccups coming along in the Emcomm world, at least!
Whatcha all think?
There is no real standard, but DStar comes the closest. Reason, of all the digital methods out there (DStar, DMR, NXDN, P25, Alinco, Yaesu...and who knows what else), DStar is the ONLY one developed FOR the amateur radio market. DMR was developed for the commercial market, P25 for the public service market, NXDN for commercial, etc.
Now saying that DStar is "old" because it has been around for about 10 years is a stupid argument. Facts are it works and works well. Also, using that argument means that if another manufacturer develops yet another digital method, then that would make DMR, P25 and the rest obsolete. So the newest technology does not make the well established technologies "obsolete" as some bigots like to claim.
I've also heard that a few bigots say this or that method of digital sound "sucks" so a group of Cincinnati digital enthusiasts did a blind (to the ear) test of the audio quality of various digital methods (DMR, DStar, P25, NXDN, Alinco) and what we determined was there was no clear winner. Everyone had different preferences. We also determined from those test that the combination of radios being used had more effect on the perceived audio quality than the digital method. In other words, radios claimed to be water resistant or water proof had more bass and less highs on the audio. Larger speakers sounded better than smaller speakers. So depending on the radios used, the sound quality varied. I could make P25 sound great, or sound horrible depending on the selection of the radios.
Now I am not a radio retailer nor work for any radio manufacturer. I am in information technology. So I have no skin in this game like some people who post on these boards. I really don't care if it is TDMA, FDMA, CDMA...whatever. They all have strengths and weaknesses. You can argue this stuff to death and never change anyone's mind. The reality is that DStar is the only digital standard developed exclusively for the amateur market. People may not like it. They may not like Icom. They may have other preferences. Fine, that's what our service hobby is all about, choice and experimentation.
But out of all the digital methods, DStar has the largest world-wide infrastructure by far in amateur radio. I've heard those who say this and that is coming on strong, and over-taking this one or that one. Right, just haven't seen it and it will be a long time if and when it will catch up to DStar.
DStar like most all the rest of these technologies is an open standard. Like all the other digital technologies sans Codec2, they all use a proprietary Codec.
In fact DStar is so open many have created software applications (D-RATS, D-Chat, DPRS, etc.) and hardware (Hotspots, DVAP, DVDongle) around it. You don't see that same development with any of the other digital metholds. Now with NW Digital, folks are even creating DStar radios. Proof that it is an open standard.
Concerning your comments about manufacturers. The reason they will not go - at this time - with one standard is that it would create competition and competition lowers margins. And even with the competition in the commercial digital world (NXDN, DMR, P25), prices of the radios are still very high compared to traditional FM.
Also making a radio compatible with DStar means a manufacturer would have to admit that Icom had the superior technology for hams. They are just not going to do that.
Not to mention, manufacturers do not necessarily do things for the total benefit of the ham market. They are in business to make money. They are not benevolent non-profit corporations.
One final comment on the direction of manufacturers. Also look at what Yaesu did with Internet linking. The amateur world went with IRLP and Echolink. But what did Yaesu do? They went with their own WIRES thing. To this day there is little use of WIRES anywhere. It is still mostly IRLP and Echolink.
So when you choose a digital technology for ham radio, do you go with a Yaesu who has promoted and continues to promote dead technologies? Or do you go with Icom who has a technology widely used throughout the world with over 1,000 repeaters and still growing? Or do you go with a commercial vendor who has a few pockets of believers, but not many people to talk to?
Your decision. I went with the winner.