darticus
Member
Could use some input about D STAR. Thinking of buying a radio with D Star but trying to learn something about it first. Thanks Ron
Is d star a good choice
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BamaScan
Member
Well it depends on how Large Your Piggy Bank is. You can get a Dongle and hook up to your computer to start. Or U can get a mobile rig. U need to find out where the DStar Repeaters are in your area. D-StarUsers.org Your Source for D-Star Digital Amateur Radio Information! For mycase I went with the dual band Icom Ic 880H . Becasue there are no DStar Repeaters in my county. I use the radio as a base station with a 14 element 2 meter beam. A HT would do me no good at my home location. As far as the quality of the audio it is either their or not. What I do like about the DStar Radio is hearing the Alabama DStar Emergency Net as well as the South East Weather Net. I am hearing and talking to stations that do not monitor any of the VHF or UHF Repeaters in the area. There are only 2 Active Hams in my county that own a DStar Radio Compared to 18 Active VHF Analog Users. I have not linked into any users yet or repeaters. It is a different way of thinking about Radio. Instead of thinking tune to the 146.820 repeater tune to the W4IAX Repeater Port B .
emd001
Member
It really depends on the repeater setup around you IMO. Around me there are a few dstar users that I talk with on the local repeater or simplex (rarely anymore), but the repeater I can reach is tied into the reflector system so i can link to any other dstar machine that is also connected to the system and that gets fun once you learn how to do it and how it works. It is expensive but i much prefer the dstar use over conventional machines.
W2NJS
Member
Ron,
From the several posts you've made in various threads it's apparent that you are new and/or newly licensed. Before you commit to D-Star, P25, TRBO, or any other digital mode you'd probably be better off getting your feet wet, so to speak, by just operating FM analog and finding out how things work. The D-Star equipment is not cheap, to start with, although the radios do include analog FM as well. The other consideration would be your local D-Star situation, or put it another way is there enough activity to justify the added expense of a specialized D-Star transceiver?
From the several posts you've made in various threads it's apparent that you are new and/or newly licensed. Before you commit to D-Star, P25, TRBO, or any other digital mode you'd probably be better off getting your feet wet, so to speak, by just operating FM analog and finding out how things work. The D-Star equipment is not cheap, to start with, although the radios do include analog FM as well. The other consideration would be your local D-Star situation, or put it another way is there enough activity to justify the added expense of a specialized D-Star transceiver?
darticus
Member
I have been talking to a person that runs a group of D Star repeaters and he ask if I would join in his D star operation and I didn't want to spend the extra if D star is JUNK. He said it wasn't that much more money to get started. So I though I'd ask for opinions. Sounds like you don't think its a good idea. Ron
GROCKSHD
Member
D-Star is a digital encoding method for voice (using a VOCODER). Since it is a digital medium, it lends itself to digital message transmission at a higher rate of up to 128Kbps. Some have experienced 196Kbps. It is possible to 'surf the web' using a D-Star system. It is a narrow bandwidth system
If you have DSTAR in your area and don't travel much, the ICOM might be the best answer for you.
I myself looked into DSTAR, but ultimately settled with APRS. Though It's a different animal it definitely is worth the extra $$. And if you're like me, and don't really care too much for regular FM voice operation and like things like tracking, text messaging, and traveling take a look at APRS
If you have DSTAR in your area and don't travel much, the ICOM might be the best answer for you.
I myself looked into DSTAR, but ultimately settled with APRS. Though It's a different animal it definitely is worth the extra $$. And if you're like me, and don't really care too much for regular FM voice operation and like things like tracking, text messaging, and traveling take a look at APRS
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I wouldn't recommend that you go DStar if you are a new ham. There is plenty of time to do that in the future. :wink:
DStar is complicated to setup and I think that you should get your feet wet before you step into something that is complicated.
I would recommend that you read up on the DStar equipment here ..... eHam.net Reviews .. as the equipment can be expensive, so if you decide on going that route, you can make an educated decision.
DStar is complicated to setup and I think that you should get your feet wet before you step into something that is complicated.
I would recommend that you read up on the DStar equipment here ..... eHam.net Reviews .. as the equipment can be expensive, so if you decide on going that route, you can make an educated decision.
darticus
Member
Thanks very much. This helps with the move toward D star. A friend wants to put a D star repeater at my house. He already has about 5 in the area. Maybe I should wait and check things out and do more research. Ron
It sounds to me like D-star is more for data transfer than for QSO's, is this correct? Also, is D-star an open system, or do you need another op's code to talk to him? Looks like the equip is pricey, too. I saw an ICOM 2m 65watt radio for $169.00. To make it D-star compatible, you need to add a 199.00 D-star board. I don't know if I really see the advantage of this unless you are into sending data over the air, but even then there are other non-proprietary systems to accomplish this which likely have more users.
I'd think about it for a while, Ron, since $369.00 buys a lot of other cool stuff besides a 2m radio.
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-007159
I'd think about it for a while, Ron, since $369.00 buys a lot of other cool stuff besides a 2m radio.
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-007159
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Uh, yeah it is. In most cases you need to double the cost of a regular radio to go D-Star.
The equipment isn't junk per se but a different way of doing radio and it sounds like your area has pretty good D-Star coverage. Having said that, it appears you're a new ham and I'd recommend starting off with something simple and going from there.
It does both data and voice. It can be used as either/or. Around here it is used more for voice, but it depends on the situation, of course. There are times, especially late at night, where we like to pass data back and forth. And you don't really need a "code" to access a system.
darticus
Member
I guess I'll see what happens. I know the person that runs the local group of repeaters a long time. He is giving me a radio to see how I like D Star and wants to install D Star repeater in my house on the mountain. If it cost too much or is a pain I'll pass. For a free start I'll look at it. Thanks Ron
If it's free, then try it out!
W2NJS
Member
Ron,
If it's your choice, don't let someone else install a repeater on your property. You will be bothered by all kinds of visits at inconvenient times by the operator. If you allow it then the repeater operator will likely act as if it's his place and not yours, which is not good. It may get you into his good graces but the question is will it be worth the trouble? I once was solicited by a repeater group who wanted to put a 2M machine on a piece of property I owned because the elevation was about 900 feet ASL, which was high for the area, but I turned them down, even though I was a member of the group and it would have meant they'd put an electric line in for me. I just plain didn't want stuff going on at my place (even though it was just unimproved land) while I was not there and had no control over things. Besides the basic inconvenience incident to such a situation, there are also serious questions about liability and insurance which you might have to cover yourself for your own protection.
If it's your choice, don't let someone else install a repeater on your property. You will be bothered by all kinds of visits at inconvenient times by the operator. If you allow it then the repeater operator will likely act as if it's his place and not yours, which is not good. It may get you into his good graces but the question is will it be worth the trouble? I once was solicited by a repeater group who wanted to put a 2M machine on a piece of property I owned because the elevation was about 900 feet ASL, which was high for the area, but I turned them down, even though I was a member of the group and it would have meant they'd put an electric line in for me. I just plain didn't want stuff going on at my place (even though it was just unimproved land) while I was not there and had no control over things. Besides the basic inconvenience incident to such a situation, there are also serious questions about liability and insurance which you might have to cover yourself for your own protection.
Good point, W2NJS. That's something you don't really think about, especially the liability side of it.
I "got into" D-STAR about 2 weeks after getting my license and I programed, by hand, my ICOM IC-V82, later on after getting an ICOMIC-220H I programed that by hand too.
After my purchase of a second 2200H and software I did go back and reprogram the first radio so it would be set-up just like the new one. I also have the ICOM ID-800 w/software and a Dongle too.
While it is true that programing D-STAR by hand can take a long time, it can be done, although the software will make it much quicker and easier.
darticus
Member
Now we have something to think about. Glad you brought this to my attention before its too late. Thanks Ron
You've just gotta weigh the pros/cons for yourself. Is there D-Star infrastructure around you or other operating D-Star simplex? I love the digital operating modes. I just got into D-Star myself and have also bought a Motorola Astro Saber for playing around on P25. All-in-all its not a cheap venture. I jumped into it because I think the possibilities with digital are awesome. If you do go to D-Star get the the programming software. I am glad I did. I have an 880h, my local shop programmed it for me, I then built a data cable and downloaded the programming software and "tweaked" the radio the way I wanted it.
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