Digital Voice and Data ICOM DStar The Cutting

Digital Voice and Data ICOM D-Star The Cutting Edge? California Yacht Club Radio Amateur Group June 14, 2008 www. papasys. org

The PAPA System papasys. org 1

CONTENTS • About D-STAR – Key Benefits – Why D-STAR • • D-STAR Benefits D-STAR Radios Stand alone system operation Gateway (“Linked”) system operation RF configuration of repeaters Resources Conclusion papasys. org 2

WHAT IS D-STAR • Digital – Smart Technology for Amateur Radio • ICOM’s implementation of JARL open standard for UHF/VHF digital voice and data communications – 2 Meter, 440 MHz and 1. 2 GHz • Consists of radios, repeaters, and (optional) Gateway hardware and software • Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) with forward error correction – “New” Modulation Scheme – RF aspects remain unchanged (RF is RF) papasys. org 3

WHY D-STAR • Why Not D-STAR? • Something in it for everyone Ø Gateway and PC ü Ø Ø Ø for Data Commx , Programmer , and Networking Interests RF for the Antenna and RF System interests “Rag Chewing” on Local and Gateway Repeaters Amateur Radio allows experimentation ü An experiment that seems to be working • More Elegant and targeted form of networking than Ø IRLP or Echo. Link ü ü Must know users QTH and node number at that QTH D-STAR only requires knowledge of person’s call sign • D-STAR Replace Analog FM? ? ? Ø Ø Akin to AM to SSB on HF in the 50’s and 60’s Not to worry – D-STAR and Analog will co-exist for a long time papasys. org 4

KEY BENEFITS • Digital Quality Voice Communication Simplex Or Via Repeater Ø Coverage On 440 Equal To Or Better Than Analog ü Ø 10% To 15% More Range – Try It And Report Back Audio Quality Is Consistent • Nationwide Routed Call Sign Calling Via Gateway Ø No Need To Know QTH Of Target ü Key-up Networked D-STAR Machine And The World Knows Your QTH • Data Transmission Ø Low-speed Data On UHF and VHF • Wideband Service Is Available On 1. 2 Ghz With Up To 128 K Baud Rates Ø Wireless Internet Access Via Router Available (1. 2 GHz) ü Part 97 Presumably Applies To Content papasys. org 5

Additional Benefits • • Extensive support via forums and user groups Lower RF bandwidth requirements (6. 25 KHz vs. 16 KHz) Digital messaging in Digital Voice mode i. e. , works on 2 M, 440 or 1. 2 GHz) Location services (e. g. , D-PRS/APRS) IP compatible, OPEN JARL standard Probably between 500 + repeaters on the air (Internationally) Ø Ø Ø Approximately 500 Gateways Approximately 20000 (? ? ? ) Registered users Gateway users each day – estimated 600 to 700 + www. dstarusers. org 15 – 20 repeaters in Southern California • Multicast Capability papasys. org 6

D-STAR REPEATERS – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • Pocket Auto Patch Association (PAPA) Ø Oat Mtn (Gateway) ü KI 6 JKA Ø Saddle (447. 200 -) Peak (Gateway) ü KF 6 BQK (449. 080 -) Ø Palomar ü WB 6 YES Ø (449. 860 -) Woodson Mountain ü KI 6 KQU Ø Crest Line Ø Online Ø Mt now Otay Ø Online Ø Ed (447. 840 -) now Kane, W 6 ONT; Cecil Casillas, WD 6 FZA papasys. org 7

D-STAR REPEATERS – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA con. • South Orange ARA (SOARA) K 6 SOA Ø Laguna Beach (1000’) Ø Full Stack w/ Gateway Ø 146. 115+; 445. 660 -; 1282. 600 -; 1299. 900 MHz Ø Brian Roode, NJ 6 N; Howard Brown, KG 6 GI • Independent Radio Club Ø Contractor’s Point — WA 6 IRC) (Gateway) ü Full Stack ü 145. 605 -; 446. 870 -; 1282. 650 -; 1299. 700 MHz Ø Blue Ridge — W 6 CPAR (No Gateway) ü 145. 585 Ø Leon -0. 600 MHz; 446. 87 – 5. 000 MHz Brown, KC 6 JAR; Ken Chafin, W 6 CPA § Dennis Hughes, KE 6 RYZ Ø Keller Peak KC 6 RYZ Gateway Ø 145. 595 papasys. org 8

D-STAR REPEATERS – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA con. • Ray Wunno, KE 6 LE Ø Rancho Palos Verde KE 6 LE Ø 449. 820 - No Gateway ü Ray § Dave Waldemar, WA 6 NVL Leeper K 6 DWL Ø El Monte K 6 DWL Ø Frequency Noted Ø Gateway § HRO Anaheim Ø 1282. 55 - Gateway Ø § Palm Springs 447. 14 - Gateway Ø K 6 IFR Ø papasys. org 9

D-STAR RADIOS papasys. org 10

D-STAR Radio Capabilities • D-STAR Radios Modes Ø Radios work in both digital and analog modes and dual banders are available ü Ø AM, FM-N, and Digital Voice (DV) DV Dongle • Station Identification is Automatic in DV Ø “Built” Into Each Digital Signal Sent ü Meets all FCC Identification Requirements • Can Send Simultaneously (and Display on The Radio) Ø Your Name, GPS Position, and Text Message in the same Data Stream at 2400 Baud ü At 2 X Packet Speed papasys. org 11

DV Dongle • AMBE Dongle – Provides AMBE 2020 interface between a radio and computer through USB port. • Computer can monitor and process baseband packet stream • Many more uses www. papasys. org 12

Co nn Sc ec re ted en Ini tia up l S Sc tar re ten Dv Dongle PC SCREENS papasys. org 13

D-ECHO Authored By: Robin Cutshaw, AA 4 RC • The repeater will record your transmission and play it back upon un-keying. • The application is invoked by entering repeater call-sign and ‘E’ into the Ur. Call field (e. g. KF 6 BQK E). papasys. org 14

GPS Operation papasys. org 15

IC-91 AD/92 AD IC-80 AD ID-800 H IC-2820 Low-Speed Data IC-2820 • Data, PC Programming Cables IC-91/92 AD & IC-2820 ü Same Cable used for Both Radios ID-800 H ü PC Programming – OPC-478 or OPC-478 U ü Data – OPC-1529 R • Any Terminal Program should work ID-91 AD Software includes Terminal Prog D-CHAT by NJ 6 N (Quite “User-Friendly”) papasys. org 16

D-STAR CHAT Authored By Brian, NJ 6 N • 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 papasys. org 17

Radios Now Available • ID-1 1. 2 GHz Mobile (10 Watts, High Speed Digital Data, Digital Voice, Analog Voice) -- $900 • ID-800 H 2 M/440 Mobile (55 Watt VHF/50 Watt UHF Digital Voice and Data, Analog Voice -- $550 • IC-2200 H 2 M Mobile (65 Watt VHF Digital Voice and Data -- $290 with optional digital module • IC-V 82/U 82 2 M/440 HT (Digital Voice and Data) -- $390 with optional digital module • IC-91 AD / IC-92 AD / IC-80 AD 2 M/440 HT (Digital Voice and Data, Analog Voice) -- $400 -500 with digital module • IC-2820 Dual Band Mobile (Analog and Digital) -- approx. $860 with optional DV module • Home brew 2 -meter demonstrated at Dayton 2007 • DV Dongle approximately $190 18

COMMUNICATING WITH D-STAR RADIOS papasys. org 19

Getting Started Local Repeater Usage • No Squelch Tails Or Courtesy Beeps From Repeaters Ø But You Do Get A Status Read Back! ü ü Ur* Or Ur? Usually Means You Did Go Through RPT* Or RPT? Usually Means You Did Not Go Through Local Repeater RPT* -Try Again Gateway Ops RPT* Check Your Routing Calls RPT 1 & RPT 2 Or Local Gateway Could Be Down Remote Repeater Could Be Busy • Short Transmission From The Repeater Ø About 1 Second After Unkeying • Be Conscious Of How Close To The “Cliff” you Or Other User May Be papasys. org 20

PROGRAMMING USER’s RADIO • • • Lots of Memory Channels Many Setups – Organization Of Channels & Names Programming Software Strongly Recommended When You Begin To Program For Gateway Usage Ø You Don’t Want To Program Calls While Driving ! Ø papasys. org 21

MAIN REQUIREMENT PATIENCE PERSISTENCE P&#? * papasys. org 22

LOCAL REPEATER SAME BAND CALL SIGN ENTRIES • Preferred Entrys (First 7 “My. Call” Ø “Ur. Call” Ø “RPT 1” Ø ü q A For 440 Repeater { B } q Ø The Radio Owner’s Station Call Sign “CQCQCQ”, Repeater, or Individual KF 6 BQK^B (note the 8 characters) Good Idea to use Repeater Call here q For 1. 2 GHz Repeater { A } q ü or Fewer Character Positions) e. g. for Saddle Peak For 2 M Repeater { C } Raised Repeater Without this Entry “RPT 2” No Entry Required C B “^” = Space or Blank papasys. org 23

D-STAR REPEATER SYSTEM 4 Box System with GATEWAY Shown* A Note 1 G Note 1 Module“A” Module “C” C Module “B” B * D-STAR System can be Controller , Gate. Way PC Plus any 2 M, 440, 1. 2 GHz DV or 1. 2 GHz DD Modules Note 1: Analog RF Components (Filters, Cavities, Circulators, Pre. Amps, etc papasys. org 24

RADIO INITIAL SETUP - DV • Turn on Radio • Set Frequency as for Analog FM (Mt Woodson 446. 980 MHz) Ø Set offset (± 0. 600 MHz for 2 M; ± 5 MHz for 440 ) • Decide on the Communication You Want to Accomplish Ø To whom you want to talk ü Defined by “RPT 1” and “RPT 2” • Enter / Program Call Signs into the Radio Ø Push Buttons, Turn Knobs to Alpha Numeric Entry Areas 1. “My. Call” Always the Radio Owner’s Call Sign (e. g. Cecil uses WD 6 FZA) 2. “Ur. Call” Always the Station Being Called (CQCQCQ, Repeater, or Individual) 3. “RPT 1” Call sign (& port) of the originating (input) repeater (Local Repeater e. g for Woodson use KI 6 KQU^A, B, or C) 4. “RPT 2” Call sign & designator of the gateway or cross band port q Call Routing (Local Repeater e. g for Mt. Woodson use KI 6 KQU^A, B, C, or G) q “^” = Space or Blank papasys. org 25

PROGRAMMING D-STAR RADIOS – CALL SIGN ENTRYS • Decide On The Communication You Want To Accomplish − − Simplex Repeater Ø Local Same Band ü Cross Band (2 M To 440, 2 M To 1. 2 Ghz, 1. 2 Ghz To 440 Mhz Ø Another Part Of The World Via The Gateway (e. G. San Francisco, Atlanta, Australia, Italy) ü ü ü − Same Band Cross Band (2 M To 440, 2 M To 1. 2 Ghz, 1. 2 Ghz To 440 Mhz) Tells You What To Enter Into “Urcall”, “RPT 1”, And “RPT 2” Blocks Ø Eight Character Positions For Each Block ü Seven For Station/Repeater Call Signs ü Character Position Number 8 Is A Switch papasys. org 26

SIMPLEX OPERATION – CALL SIGN ENTRYS • Preferred Entrys (First 7 “My. Call” “Ur. Call” “RPT 1” “RPT 2” or Fewer Character Positions) The Radio Owner’s Station Call Sign No Entry Required • Owner’s Call Sign (“My. Call”)is automatically transmitted each time PTT is pressed • Communications can be accomplished with nothing entered for “My. Call”, “Ur. Call”, “RPT 1” or “RPT 2” papasys. org 27

Gateway Essentials • Registration Required For Gateway Operation Get With Your Local Administrator To Get Registered Ø Registering More Than Once Can Mess UP Gateway Data Base Ø Similar to IRLP Except Ø ü D-STAR Calls Are Automatically Routed • No Registration Required For Local Use • Conversations Are NOT Private Ø Both Ends Hear All • User Linking / Routing, Not Site Linking • User Determines The Route His Transmission Takes • Program Your Radio Ahead Of Time For Mobile Gateway Operations papasys. org 28

YET ANOTHER D-STSAR RADIO PROGRAMMING AID http: //www. dstarinfo. com/Calculator/DS TAR%20 Web%20 Calculator. aspx? Sou rce=WA 6 IRC papasys. org 29

Gateway Call Sign Entries • First Decide Ø With Whom You Want to Communicate Ø To Where You Want to Communicate • Preferred Entrys (First 7 or Fewer Character Positions for Call Signs) “My. Call” Ø “Ur. Call” OR Ø “RPT 1” Ø KF 6 BQK^A , or B , or C q For 1. 2 GHz Repeater { A } For 440 Repeater { B } e. g. for Mt Woodson q For 2 M Repeater { C } q Ø The Radio Owner’s Station Call Sign “/” Remote Repeater Call followed by an A , B , or C The Call Sign of the Individual With Whom You Want to Talk “RPT 2” (note the 8 characters) KF 6 BQK^G papasys. org “^” = Space or Blank / = CQCQCQ 30

THE CUTTING EDGE? • Not the only digital game in town, but it works out of the box • Excellent performance on 440 • ISDN rate internet access via ID-1 • Transparent call routing throughout the D-Star Network • Significant experimentation and innovation is occurring (e. g. , home brew radios, openstar. org) papasys. org 31

Appendix papasys. org 32

D-STAR REPEATER SYSTEM Stand Alone 4 Box System Shown* Note 1 Module“A” A Note 1 Module “C” C Module “B” B * D-STAR System can be Controller Plus any 2 M, 440, 1. 2 GHz DV or 1. 2 GHz DD Modules Note 1: Analog RF Components (Filters, Cavities, Circulators, Pre. Amps, etc) papasys. org 33

Local Repeater Cross Band Call Sign Entries A As an Example : WD 6 FZA Communicating Cross Band on the Mt Woodson DSTAR Repeater C B 440 to 1. 2 440 to 2 M 2 M to 440 2 M to 1. 2 to 440 1. 2 to 2 M B B C C A A A C B A B C My. Call WD 6 FZA WD 6 FZA Ur Call CQCQCQ CQCQCQ RPT 1 KI 6 KQU^B KI 6 KQU^C KI 6 KQU^A RPT 2 KI 6 KQU^A KI 6 KQU^C KI 6 KQU^B KI 6 KQU^A KI 6 KQU^B KI 6 KQU^C “^” = Space or Blank papasys. org 34

RESOURCES • http: //www. icomamerica. com/amateur/dstar/default. asp Icom D-Star Home • illinoisdigitalham (Yahoo Group, digital radio in general, including D-Star) • http: //www. hamradio-dv. org/ Digital Radio Audio Comparisons • http: //www. icomamerica. com/support/forums/ D-Star Forums (ICOM hosted) • http: //www. arrl-al. org/D-STAR_class_2. pdf DSTAR Radios • http: //www. icomamerica. com/downloads/manuals. asp Icomamerica manuals downloads (ICOM hosted) • http: //www. ccdastronomy. org/D-Star (this presentation, in the “about D-Star” section) papasys. org 35

http: //D-STARusers. org Provides listing of most recently heard stations, time, reporting node geographical locale and maps of repeater locations. papasys. org 36

DSTAR REPEATER DIRECTORY papasys. org 37

GATEWAY REPEATER CALL SIGN ENTRIES A G Module“A” Module “C” C Module “B” B As an Example : WD 6 FZA Communicating Through the Mt. Woodson D-STAR Repeater Gateway on The Darwin, AU VK 8 RAD 2 Meter Box 440 to 1. 2 440 to 2 M 2 M to 440 2 M to 1. 2 to 440 1. 2 to 2 M B B C C A A A C B A B C My. Call WD 6 FZA WD 6 FZA Ur Call /VK 8 RADA /VK 8 RADC /VK 8 RADB /VK 8 RADA /VK 8 RADB /VK 8 RADC RPT 1 KI 6 KQU^B KI 6 KQU^C KI 6 KQU^A RPT 2 KI 6 KQU^G KI 6 KQU^G “^” = Space or Blank papasys. org “/” = CQCQCQ on Remote Box

Gateway Operation papasys. org 39

LINKED REPEATER (GATEWAY) OPERATION VK 8 RAD G RPT 2 = KF 6 BQK G /VK 8 RADC = Ur. Call OR VK 8 HF RPT 1 = KF 6 BQK B D-STAR Radio Entries VK 8 HF WD 6 FZA = My. Call TALKING TO VK 8 RF San Diego DARWIN, AUSTRALIA papasys. org 40

Call Sign Squelch (DSQL) & Code Squelch (CSQL) • Call Sign Squelch (DSQL) – Configuration option on your radio – If enabled, squelch opens only when your call sign is received – Call sign squelch is bypassed if calling station operates in EMR mode • Code Squelch (CSQL) – – Configuration option on your radio Squelch opens only when a preset code is received Programmable codes: 0 -99 Code squelch is bypassed if calling station operates in EMR mode papasys. org 41

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D-STAR REPEATER SYSTEMS AND RF CONNECTIONS papasys. org 43

RF Configuration (D-10) papasys. org 44

RF Configuration (D-1) papasys. org 45

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