1. D-Star and D-Rats for mert
Why and how do we plan to use them

2. Mert USING D-Star AND D-Rats
This class is about D-Star and D-Rats getting traffic into and out of the EOC during an emergency.
When would they be used?
When MERT Is Activated
And
The EOC Is Operational

3. What Are We Trying To Accomplish?
Operator at a shelter fills out a 213 with this message and passes it to the EOC by voice:
The operator at the EOC hears the 213 voice message and writes this down:
What Are We Trying To Accomplish?
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Principal needs an antibiotic.
The principal needs an antipsychotic. NO
ERRORS

4. Message Received At The EOC With No Mistakes
What Are We Trying To Accomplish?
~~~~~~~~~~~
The Principal needs an antibiotic.
The Principal needs an antibiotic.
Message Received
At The EOC
With No Mistakes
We Want An Operator To Exactly Transcribe What Is Written Here
Enter It And Check It Here Before Sending It To The EOC

5. D-Star radios can transmit data and voice
MERT can be called upon to provide communications to and from the EOC during various events to include, but not limited to:
 Shelter Activations
 Tropical Storms or Hurricanes
 Special Events (Political Rallies, Concerts, Parades, etc.)
 Wildfires
D-Star radios can transmit data and voice
Equipment required is minimal
Why D-Star?
MERT wanted both voice and data capability in the field

6. there Are Many different icom D-Star Radios
THEY ALL HAVE TO BE PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY

7. The D-Star radios should be programmed for Marion county EOC, other area repeaters, and simplex
Frequency
Name
146.61
SSRC
145.27
HOSPITAL
SAR Net
146.97
Anthony
KK4DFC
D-Star
FOR MAIN VOICE
NOT ON ANY REFLECTOR
KG4NXO VHF
D-Star
FOR D-Rats
NOT ON ANY REFLECTOR
KG4NXO UHF
D-Star
FOR VOICE / BACKUP
CONNECTED TO REF037C
KJ4CLL
ANALOG
VOICE
FOR EOC AND CERT USE

8. D-Star PROGRAM DO NOT CHANGE ANY REPEATER TO A REFLECTOR DURING A MERT DV
KG4NXO V
Skip
CQCQCQ
KG4NXO C
KG4NXO G A: 3
NXO V I I C: 1
NXO V U U 2
NXO V E E
NXOV37A
REF037AL 4
YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO USE THESE COMMANDS FOR THE D-Star REPEATERS
PRACTICE ON KG4NXO UHF
REF037, REF030, AND REF004 ARE AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE DURING EMERGENCIES
REF004 IS THE EASTERN US WEATHER NET
REF030 IS THE SE (GEORGIA) EMERGENCY NET
REF037 IS THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EMERGENCY NET
TALLAHASSEE CAN WORK THESE REFLECTORS
DO NOT CHANGE
ANY REPEATER
TO A REFLECTOR
DURING A MERT
ACTIVATION

9. And now, FOR the D-Rats data setup on your D-Star radio
IF YOU DON’T
DO THIS…
IT WON’T
WORK!
And now, FOR the D-Rats data setup on your D-Star radio

10. Set up your radio for D-Rats program
This is in the “getting started with d-rats.pdf” file to download on in the D-Star-D-rats section.

11. Set up your radio for D-Rats program
The Radio Must Be set Up Correctly
Fred Is Here Today
To Help You Do That

12. questions? ?
We have more to cover today – setting up D-Rats on your PC so everything works as planned.
Take a 10 minute break and we will get back into it.

13. We Will Be Back…
We Are Back…

14. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
Step 1 – Download and Install
Download the latest version of D-RATS at installer.zip for your operating system and install to your computer.
Use the PC’s system explorer – go to C:/Program Files (x86)/D-RATS/d-rats.exe and Send It To The Desktop
Go to the Desktop and start D-Rats
Step 2 – Set Preferences
Prior to using D-RATS there are several preferences that must be configured. These can be accessed by selecting File > Preferences:

15. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
A list of configurable item groups will appear in the left hand column. The following subsections describe the options contained in each group.

16. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
Callsign: Normally, your FCC callsign is entered. Optionally, a tactical callsign may be used. The callsign will identify the station for chat, messaging and file transfer. When sending to this station the callsign entered above is used to address the station.
Name: Enter your name or location (ex. KG4NXO, EOC)
For a quick start, leave all other information at its default value.

17. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
Set Paths
Under Paths, you may leave these at their default value or define a different folder. The important one is the File Transfer Path. This folder is used in File Transfers as your local location for remote stations to view and download your files. Files uploaded to your station are placed here.

18. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
To use D-RATS with a D-STAR radio, it must be defined in the Radio section of the Preferences.
From the Config > Radio screen, click “Add” and select Type as Serial if connection to the radio with a serial cable. This is the normal connection type for a radio. Select the Serial Port that your data cable connects to on the computer. If you are using a USB to Serial adapter or a serial cable with a USB connection, you must locate the COM port number. In Windows, select START, Control Panel, System and Device Manager. You may add a Name to add a unique name to this radio. Click Add to save the configuration.
On the Config > Radio screen, ensure that the box is checked for the radio you have defined and wish to use. You should only have one box checked at a time.

19. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
To connect to the Internet (without a D-STAR radio), you will define and use a Repeater Proxy also known as a Ratflector. These are used to connect D-RATS Internet users together and may also connect to a D-STAR radio to link RF users as well. The Ratflector you use is determined by the D-RATS Administrators in your area. A default Ratflector is usually defined in D-RATS, but you may configure one just as you configure a radio.
From the Config > Radio screen, click Add and select Network. Under Host, add the address of the
Ratflector you intend to use. “ref.d-rats.com” is a public ratflector available for general use by Internet users and generally has activity anytime. Port 9000 is the default port used by most all ratflectors.
Click Add to save your configuration. On the Config > Radio screen, ensure that the box is checked for the radio you have defined and wish to use.

20. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide

21. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
Transfers
This section defines the parameters used for communicating between D-RATS stations. Under Block Size, the larger the value, the more efficient the transfer is on a good connection. On a bad connection, setting this to be smaller reduces the amount of data that must be re-sent in the event of a bit of corruption. Normally, the default value of 512 is good. Normally the default values for the other settings are good for most situations. Make sure the “Remote file transfers” box is checked.

22. Getting Started With D-RATS - A Quick Start Guide
Step 6– Messages
This section defines how messages are handled in D-RATS.
NOW…
Let’s try it out.

23. The Thursday night net is a TRAINING NET to practice EMERGENCY PROCEDURES!
When called please give your call sign (using Amateur Radio phonetic alphabet), name, and location.
Phonetic Alphabet
    A  
Alpha
    N  
November
    B  
Bravo
    O  
Oscar
    C  
Charlie
    P  
Papa
    D  
Delta
    Q  
Quebec
    E  
Echo
    R  
Romeo
    F  
Foxtrot
    S  
Sierra
    G  
Golf
    T  
Tango
    H  
Hotel
    U  
Uniform
    I  
India
    V  
Victor
    J  
Juliet
    W  
Whiskey
    K  
Kilo
    X  
X-ray
    L  
Lima
    Y  
Yankee
    M  
Mike
    Z  
Zulu
THURSDAY NIGHT NET

24. BE PATIENT THURSDAY NIGHT NET
The Thursday night net is a TRAINING NET to practice EMERGENCY PROCEDURES!
When called please give your call sign (using Amateur Radio phonetic alphabet), name, and location.
There will be an NCO for both voice and D-Rats
Please pay attention and follow the instructions of the NCO
Wait ONE SECOND after the ending beep of previous transmission before keying up your radio
When starting the D-Rats program:
DO NOT SEND PING until directed to do so.
When connected to com port for radio, D-Rats will key the radio, but it does not send a ping
Make sure your D-Rats is NOT set for radio unless directed to do so
BE PATIENT
This is a training net.
There may be several items to cover.
Don’t be in a hurry – it is not a race
THURSDAY NIGHT NET

25. You are all now official D-Star and D-Rats Wizards!
What Have We Learned?
We know how to set up our D-Star radios for use with MERT
We know how to set up D-Rats for use with MERT
We know how to get the forms and PDF files onto our PC’s for use with MERT
You are all now official D-Star and D-Rats Wizards!

26. Go Forth And Communicate
Before we go…
Fred and others will be here for a while to help and answer questions about programming your D-Star radio
Ed and others will be here for a while to help set up and answer questions about D-Rats
We will continue to post files for downloading on the KG4NXO website to help you
Go Forth And Communicate

27. Marion emergency radio team
MERT