dstar reflectors

[stevolene]

does anyone know if one has to link to a certain reflector everytime to attempt contact? or can you have these reflectors programmed indefinitely and just key up on the link channel, then go to talk channel?

 

[CommJunkie]

I understood the first question, but the rest of it lost me.

You do not have to be linked to a reflector to make a contact.

Think of a reflector as a chat room. If you want to talk with other people around the country/world, then link to a reflector. Want to talk local? Then leave the repeater unlinked, or use simplex.

 

[stevolene]

its the programming Im speaking of, seems the more info I get the more Im confused, I suppose what I was trying to get to was does one have to link up to a certain reflector every time , or can these reflectors be perma-linked into radios programming so they are always there

 

[CommJunkie]

If you're using a radio, you don't connect directly to a reflector. You key up a repeater, and the repeater is what is connected to the reflector. There are commands to use to link and unlink reflectors, but if you do not want to physically link or unlink anything your URCALL should be CQCQCQ.

If you do want to link, you would only need to key up with the URCALL containing the link command once, then switch back to CQCQCQ once it's linked.