1. D-STAR Programming Digital Voice and Digital Data
Northern Utah Technical Society
NU7TS
Ted McArthur – AC7II
Ted/Cordell
Intro
This Presentation is presented buy the Northern Utah Technical Society or NUTS. A group of Amateur Radio enthusiasts that enjoy building Repeaters, Building Radios.
Repeaters:
NU7TS ICOM D-Star UHF Repeater
N7RDS GM 1225 Motorola Repeater PC Repeater/IRCDDB Gateway
KF7VJO Mobile radio Motorola Repeater PC Repeater/IRCDDB Gateway
AC7O ICOM D-Star VHF, UHF and 1.2Ghz Repeaters
Plus Several Hotspots
2 Motorola DMR Repeaters (MOTOTURBO)
D-Star Reflector 029
Sunday Night Net D-Star Reflector 029 C

2. D-Star Radios & Equipment
Ted
Many of the ICOM Radios are D-Star Capable Kennwood Just Annouced a D-Star and APRS Capable Radio

3. What is D-STAR Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio
1999 Funded by the Japanese Government and administered by the Japanese Amateur Radio League (JARL)
2001 Open Specification Published – anyone can implement or
2004 ICOM released “D-STAR optional” hardware
Current Implementations
Digital Voice (w/simultaneous data)
2 m, 70 cm, and 23 cm
Digital Data (data only)
23 centimeters
Repeater Networking
RF link
Gateway
Cordell
D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a radio system which offers digital voice and data communication. Repeater sites are pre-dominantly connected over the Internet and form a wide area amateur radio network as a result that can span states, countries, continents or the entire world.

4. What Can D-STAR Do?
Transmit or receive voice and 1200 bps data simultaneously on 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands (no TNC required)
High speed 128 Kbps data transmission on 23cm band with Internet connectivity (Ethernet bridge to Internet with IP address)
Digitally sending your ID on every transmission
D-PRS (digital APRS) automatic position reporting of your GPS location simultaneous with voice
Flexible repeater linking with Gateway and Internet connection
Reflectors act as conference bridge for linking multiple repeaters (64 now in operation worldwide)
DV Dongle and DV Access Point (DVAP) allow voice and data access to D-STAR via Internet connection (similar to EchoLink)
Cordell
Transmit or receive voice and 1200 bps data simultaneously on 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands
High speed 128 Kbps data transmission on 23cm band with Internet connectivity
(Ethernet bridge to Internet with IP address)
Gateway Call Routing (finding a user over the Network)
Digitally sending your ID on every transmission
If you have GPS connected to your Radio and talking through a Dplus Repeater your Co-ordinates will be ported to APRS Data Bases.
Flexible repeater linking with Gateway and Internet connection
Reflectors act as conference bridge for linking multiple repeaters (64 now in operation worldwide)
DV Dongle and DV Access Point (DVAP) allow voice and data access to D-STAR via Internet connection (similar to EchoLink)

5. Digital Basics
Digital voice does not gradually degrade in quality as signal level decreases

6. Cordell
The upper trace is a standard analog FM signal. The lower trace is a D-STAR signal. It has an interesting waveform, from the filters. The side lobes are down well below requirements. At -60 dBm, the D-STAR signal is ½ as wide as FM.

7. Digital Voice (DV)
Digital Voice is simultaneous voice and low speed data
4800 bit/s maximum data rate
Voice frame is 2400 bps with 1200 bps Forward Error Correction
Voice uses proprietary AMBE (Advance Multi-Band Excitation) vocoder
Data frame is 1200 bps with no error correction
Data frame supports D-PRS, text messaging and data transfer
Shared spectrum with data provides immediate identification
Callsigns, D-PRS coordinates, and messages can transmit WITH voice signal
Voice QSOs are “routable”
Voice can be directed to another radio, repeater, or gateway
Uses GMSK modulation (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying)
Cordell
AMBE 2020 chip AMBE is used by the Inmarsat and Iridium satellites and certain channels on XM Satellite Radio and is the speech coder for OpenSky Trunked radio systems
D-PRS stands for D-STAR Position Reporting System
GMSK is Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying

8. Repeater Networking Ted Several Different Application of D-Star
Digital Voice to Repeater then either or local or Gateway
Digital ASCII to Repeater then either or local or Gateway
GPS data to Repeater then either or local or Gateway if sent to Gateway if will be sent to the APRS Database
Internet Connections on the 1.2 Ghz DD Mode
IP Camera on the 1.2 Ghz DD Mode

9. Gateway Get with your local gateway administrator to get registered
Gateways utilize the Internet to provide global D-STAR connectivity
Callsign registration is Required for gateway operation
Get with your local gateway administrator to get registered
Registering more than once can mess up Gateway Data Base
No Callsign registration required for local repeater use
Nationwide Routed Callsign Calling Via Gateway
No Need To Know QTH Of Target
Key-up Networked D-STAR Repeater And The World Knows Your QTH
Callsign Routing
User determines the route his transmission takes
Enter callsign of destination, either individual or repeater, directly into your radio and start talking
Multicasting -communicate with multiple repeaters in a group at once
Cordell
Gateways utilize the Internet to provide global D-STAR connectivity
Callsign registration is Required for gateway operation
No Callsign registration required for local repeater use
Nationwide Routed Callsign Calling Via Gateway
Callsign Routing
User determines the route his transmission takes
Enter callsign of destination, either individual or repeater, directly into your radio and start talking
Multicasting -communicate with multiple repeaters in a group at once

10. Reflector
A reflector can be considered to be similar to a repeater, but with no RF capabilities
A Reflector is a gateway that acts as a central conference hub where multiple D-STAR nodes (repeaters) / DV Dongle users can gather and talk to each other.
Hub and spoke model
Issue a command to local repeater and “link up” to the reflector
Many type of reflectors
REF – runs on the D-Plus network (all ICOM stacks run this)
X – X-Reflectors on the DExtra network (ircDDB)
DCS – X-Net (next generation of X-Reflectors)
Cordell
There are multiple D-Star reflector systems that co-exist together on the D-Star network. Primarily the "REF" system is run on the D-Plus network and protocols while the "DCS" system is run under the DCS network protocols (ircDDB), more detailed information about ircDDB and reflector systems can be found at The DCS system incorporates STARnet talkgroups which is essentially a user radio driven subscription to a group via a Group Callsign. Refer to for more information about STARnet.

11. Repeater Basics
The 8th character in a repeater callsign field (i.e., NU7TS••B) is a port designator for the System/Gateway [the • represents a space] (if the 8th position is left blank, the system assumes PORT A is used)
A – 1.2 GHz (23cm high speed data, DD)
A – 1.2 GHz (23cm voice, DV)
B – UHF (70cm, DV)
C – VHF (2m, DV)
Additional functions available using DPLUS
G – Gateway
D – D-RATS
E – Echo Test
I – Identification
L – Link Repeater
U – Unlink Repeater
Cordell Go
The 8th character in a repeater callsign field (i.e., NU7TS••B) is a port designator for the System/Gateway [the • represents a space] (if the 8th position is left blank, the system assumes PORT A is used)
A – 1.2 GHz (23cm high speed data, DD)
A – 1.2 GHz (23cm voice, DV)
B – UHF (70cm, DV)
C – VHF (2m, DV)
Additional functions available using DPLUS
G – Gateway
D – D-RATS
E – Echo Test
I – Identification
L – Link Repeater
U – Unlink Repeaterover the Slide

12. Four Callsign Fields Used for Routing
YOUR call (command field- Linking unlinking, etc)
Callsign of the person, group, or repeater you want to talk to
D-star spec calls this the “Companion Callsign”)
This is the key to determine where your signal is heard
RPT1
Callsign of the repeater port you use to access the local repeater
D-Star spec calls this the “Departure Repeater Callsign”
Set it for the local repeater callsign and input port: Example: NU7TS B
RPT2
Callsign of the repeater port you use to leave the local repeater
D-Star spec calls this the “Destination Repeater Callsign”
Set it for the local repeater callsign and exit port: Example: NU7TS C
MY call
This is the callsign you are using
D-Star spec calls this “Own Callsign”
Cordell
YOUR call (command field- Linking unlinking ect)
Callsign of the person, group, or repeater you want to talk to
D-star spec calls this the “Companion Callsign”)
This is the key to determine where your signal is heard
RPT1
Callsign of the repeater port you use to access the local repeater
D-Star spec calls this the “Departure Repeater Callsign”
Set it for the local repeater callsign and input port: Example: NU7TS B
RPT2
Callsign of the repeater port you use to leave the local repeater
D-Star spec calls this the “Destination Repeater Callsign”
Set it for the local repeater callsign and exit port: Example: NU7TS C
MY call
This is the callsign you are using
D-Star spec calls this “Own Callsign”

13. Local Call on Simplex Radio to Radio, No Repeater On the Kenwood known as DV Mode
General Call
YOUR: CQCQCQ
RPT1:
RPT2:
MY: KE7IK
Specific Station
YOUR: AC7II
General Call
Calling CQ (to anybody)
Roundtables/Nets
Most Common
Specific Station
When other station is using callsign squelch (CQSL)
Send Message
Cordell
Explain Slide

14. Local Call On Same Repeater No-one on Gateway or dongles will hear you
General Call
YOUR: CQCQCQ
RPT1: NU7TS B
RPT2:
MY: KE7IK
Specific Station
YOUR: AC7II
General Call
Calling CQ (to anybody)
Roundtables/Nets
Most Common
Specific Station
When other station is using callsign squelch (CQSL)
Send Message
Cordell
Explain Slide

15. Local Call on Repeater Stack, Different Band
General Call
YOUR: CQCQCQ
RPT1: NU7TS B
RPT2: NU7TS C
MY: KE7IK
Specific Station
YOUR: AC7II
General Call
Calling CQ from local UHF repeater to local VHF repeater
Roundtables/Nets
Most Common
Specific Station
When other station is using callsign squelch (CQSL)
Send Message
Cordell
Explain Slide

16. Gateway Routing Routing defined in the D-Star standard
General Call
YOUR: /KF6RALC
RPT1: NUT7S B
RPT2: NUT7S G
MY: KE7IK
Specific Station
YOUR: K2NWS
RPT1: NU7TS B
General Call Through Gateway
Calling CQ on a distant repeater zone
This routes the call to KF6RAL repeater and Port C
This is called ‘Port Routing’
No way to call all ports on a distant repeater
Specific Station Through Gateway
Calling specific Station
Don’t need to know other station’s location (City, Repeater, Freq., …)
This is called ‘User Routing’
When other station is using callsign squelch (CQSL)
Send Message
Cordell
Explain Slide

17. Gateway Linking to Repeater/Reflector Linking defined by D-Plus
On Icom Repeaters you need to Unlink Repeater before linking to something else, Not so on ircDDB
Linking repeater to another repeater or reflector
YOUR field must contain repeater or reflector callsign and an L in the 8th character on first transmission
After pressing PTT, should hear “Remote System Linked” message
Before second transmission, must change the YOUR field to CQCQCQ via One Touch CQ Button
To “Link” (Repeater)
YOUR: KF6RALBL
RPT1: NUT7S B
RPT2: NUT7S G
MY: KE7IK
To “Link” (Reflector)
YOUR: REF001CL
Then for QSO
YOUR: CQCQCQ
Cordell
Explain Slide
Don’t Forget to unlink if repeater is already linked then Link it then hit your one button CQCQCQ before talking.
One Touch CQ Button IC-92AD

18. Gateway Unlinking from Repeater/Reflector
To “Unlink”
YOUR: U
RPT1: NU7TS B
RPT2: NUT7S G
MY: KE7IK
Then for local QSO
YOUR: CQCQCQ
RPT1: NUT7S B
Unlinking repeater/reflector
The YOUR field must have 7 spaces then U in 8th character position
After pressing PTT, should hear “Remote System Unlinked” message
Before transmitting again, must change the YOUR field to CQCQCQ via One Touch CQ Button
Cordell
Explain Slide
One Touch CQ Button IC-92AD

19. Repeater / Reflector Status
Repeater Status - Dashboard
Reflector Status - Dashboard
Ted
Explain Slide
Repeater and Reflector Dashboards go to the appropriate Repeater Callsign or Reflector number

20. Using DR Mode Programming
ID-31, ID-51, ID-7100, ID-7100, ID-9100, ID & Kenwood TH-D74 have the ability of DR programming.
Go to Repeater Downloads and download the file for your area and load in your in your radio ds.aspx
Using your GPS or last location take you to the list and show you closest repeaters to you. Then program your radio for them.
Ted
Great Newer feature is the DR Mode.
Take the Time to put the info in and it will make your experience of D-Star much more fun.

21. Using DR Mode Programming
Demo Downloading a CSV file.
Go to Repeater Downloads and download the file for your Radio ds.aspx
Show adding local repeaters with Rfinder using RT systems.
Demo DR Mode with ID-5100A
Demo DR Mode with Th D74a
Ted
Great Newer feature is the DR Mode.
Take the Time to put the info in and it will make your experience of D-Star much more fun.

22. Don’t have a D-Star Repeater close to you?
There are several Hot Spot options available for low cost
Repeaters
Simplex PC
Raspberry Pi
Linux
Android
Ted
Don’t have a D-Star Repeater close to you?
There are several Hot Spot options available for low costs
Repeaters
Simplex PC
Raspberry Pi
Linux
Android

23. Hot Spot Repeater
Ted
Explain this Slide

24. The ircDDB Repeater Ted
This is a IRCDDB Repeater 1st with a PC then a Raspberry Pie. ircDDB -> internet relay chat Distributed DataBase

25. DV Dongle Connects to your PC or Mac via USB port
Provides encoding/decoding of compressed audio using DVSI AMBE2000 full duplex vocoder DSP chip
DVTool 2.0beta5 software (www. opendstar.org/tools) runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux
User may connect to and communicate with D-STAR DPlus gateways and reflectors around the world
Ted
Makes your Computer be a D-Star radio on the Gateway

26. DV Access Point (DVAP) Dongle
Connects to your PC or Mac via USB port
Provides 2 m or 70 cm Access Point for use with a D-STAR radio
DVAPTools software runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Connects to DPlus gateways and reflectors
Software available to use with DCS & X Reflectors
Use with Raspberry Pi for a inexpensive, miniature personal DSTAR hotspot
Ted
This Make your Computer a D-Star Repeater for $250.00

27. DV4Mini D-Star-DMR-Fusion-P-25
Raspberry Pi
Ted
This Make your Computer a D-Star/DMR/Fusion/P25 Repeater for $130.00
Windows PC

28. BlueDV D-Star-DMR http://www.pa7lim.nl/bluedv/
BlueTooth to Android Device
DV-Mega
BlueStack-Micro
Ted
This Make your Android Phone or Tablet a D-Star/DMR Repeater for $250.00

29. NW Digital UDRC D-Star-Fusion
Yeasu DR-1X
UDRC Raspberry Pi Daughter Board

30. D-Star Repeaters 449.575(-) NU7TS Bill Neville Wellsville NU7TS B DV
(-)
N7RDS
Riverside
N7RDS B DV
D-Star PC Repeater
(-)
KF7VJO
Ted McArthur
Paradise
KF7VJO  B DV
D-Star PC Repeater
AC7O
Logan
AC7O B DV
(-)
AC7O C DV
AC70 A DD
Ted

31. D-Star Repeaters 447.950(-) WR7AAA Don Blanchard Cedar City
WR7AAA B DV
D-Star
(-)
WR7AAA C DV
WR7AAA A DV
(-)
KF6RAL
Joe Lachacz
Farnsworth PK
KF6RAL B DV
(-)
KF6RAL C DV
KF6RAL A DD
(-)
Ted

32. D-Star Repeaters 447.950(-) KO7SLC Pat Malan IHC HOSP K07SLC B DV
(-)
K07SLC C DV
K07SLC A DV
KF7YIX
James Ashby
Hurricane Mesa
KF7YIX B DV
KF7YIX C DV
KF7YIX A DV

33. D-Star Repeaters 447.950(-) KE7EGG Ogden SO KE7EGG B DV D-Star
Michael Querica
Ogden SO
KE7EGG B DV
D-Star
(-)
KE7EGG C DV
KE7EGG A DV
(-)
WA7GIE
Dave Williams
Nelson PK
WA7GIE B DV
(+)
WA7GIE C DV
K7YI
Brett Mills
Price
K7YI B DV
Ted

34. D-Star Information www.DstarDB.com www.dstarinfo.com
Cordell

35. Questions?
Both