D­-STAR 101 Basic Setup / Operation Manual

D­STAR 101 – Basic Setup & Operation
Talking to somebody on simplex or on a VHF/UHF repeater with your VHF/UHF radio is very simple, you just need
to know the frequency, offset and PL tone if any. However, if you have not been able to get on the D­STAR
system with your D­STAR radio, read on because I have finally figured out how simple it really is. It took me a
while though, because there is a LOT of information out there, but most of it is either too fragmented or too
much about the repeater itself. So, just put everything you were told about D­STAR aside and follow along.
Actually, D­STAR is very much like using a regular repeater, and quite simple once you know the 4 basic terms.
D­STAR compatible radios have a DV mode, just like the good old FM mode. The D­STAR configuration, aka DV
setup, consists of entering call signs in 4 fields – MYCALL, URCALL, RPT1 and RPT2.
MYCALL ­ You normally enter your own callsign in MYCALL and never have to change it as long as you use the
radio.
URCALL – This is simply the station you want to call. Or, to call anyone you enter CQCQCQ
RPT1 – This is the callsign of your local repeater that is within your radio's reach. If you move to a different city
then change this to the local repeater you can access over there.
RPT2 – Is used open a gateway to contact people beyond your local area or beyond your band.
A few examples will help illustrate their usage using WW6BAY D­STAR repeater on 444.075 MHz, +5MHz offset,
and no PL.
(a) SIMPLEX OPERATION
MYCALL = K6VUG
URCALL = CQCQCQ or KI6CJD (callsign being called)
RPT1 = blank
RPT2 = blank
Select a simplex FM frequency, switch the radio mode to DV, make sure no one is using the frequency, and press
PTT and give out your call sign. If anyone is within range and want to respond they will. That's it!
(b) BASIC REPEATER OPERATION
MYCALL = K6VUG
URCALL = CQCQCQ or KI6CJD (callsign being called)
RPT1 = WW6BAY B
RPT2 = blank
Tune the radio to the repeater's frequency and offset just like you would do for any repeater, press PTT and
announce your call sign. In this example, stations listening to the repeater on the same (UHF) band will hear the
call.
(c) CROSS BAND REPEATER OPERATION
MYCALL = K6VUG
URCALL = CQCQCQ or KI6CJD (callsign being called)
RPT1 = WW6BAY B
RPT2 = WW6BAY C
Note: D­STAR repeaters can be setup to operate on several bands simultaneously. So, in this example, stations
listening to the repeater on the both the 440 MHz band as well as the 144 MHz band will hear the call.
(d) CALLING ON REMOTE REPEATERS VIA GATEWAY
MYCALL = K6VUG
URCALL = CQCQCQ or KI6CJD (callsign being called)
RPT1 = WW6BAY B
RPT2 = WW6BAY G
In this example, a general CQ call can be heard by stations listening to any of the linked repeaters on any of the
bands supported by their repeaters. A call to a specific callsign will prompt the system to route your call to the
repeater and band where the callsign was last heard.
(e) ECHO TESTING ON THE LOCAL REPEATER
MYCALL = K6VUG
URCALL = CQCQCQ
RPT1 = WW6BAY B
RPT2 = WW6BAY E
(my callsign)
(my callsign)
(callsign of repeater on 440 MHz band)
(my callsign)
(callsign of repeater on 440 MHz band)
(callsign of repeater on 144 MHz band)
(my callsign)
(callsign of repeater on 440 MHz band)
(callsign of gateway)
(my callsign)
(general call)
(callsign of repeater on 440 MHz band)
(callsign used for the echo function)