The Sumter D-STAR System...
our members wherever they are, but we can look for people in the D-Star system through the internet using the D-Star users Webpage.
By putting in a Gateway address, we can have the system computers look for the presence of other operators throughout the World!
These features work only through the Digital Voice mode. When the Radio puts out its Digital Header at the beginning of the transmission, the computer at the Repeater notes the address it is coming from and the address it is going to as well as the nodes it is passing through. The computer sends the request on to the internet system looking for the target.
This action makes a major difference how the contact is made! The header goes out to the system to handle yoiur request and find the target for you! Then it connects you to the target without any intervening action from the operator sending the Header.
Each time you transmit on Digital Voice, you will set the MyCall to your own callsign. You will also set UrCall to your targets Callsign. Thenyou will set Repeater 1 to your local Repeater's Callsign (W4VLG for now) and finally you will set Repeater 2 to the Callsign of the Gateway or to the local Repeater where your Target lives. This sounds like a lot, but as you will see, it will be very easy because you have all these calls (addresses) in your radio already!
We will assist you to learn the methods and provide you will guidelines and Tutorials on the Internet which will make it all very clear (meaning you will understand the process). That makes all the difference!
We began to put the system together in April hoping to have it running in May. Three of our members had already gotten IC-800H transceivers for use with the Repeater. Since then we have gotten them all programmed for Analog FM and all the repeater frequencies in the Sumter County area. We will begin by making simplex contacts between the mobile units and then do the analog repeaters. Then we will get the Digital Voice mode going in simplex mode.
The D-Star Repeater needs clearance for the operatings frequencies. I have made contact with the Florida Repeater Council, but have not received anything from the FRC. Obviously, we wil need 440 mhz receive and transmit frequencies. The frequencies must be coordinated before the Duplexers can be ordered. No sense getting them until the frequencies are known. We will need frequency pairs for 1200 mhz and 144 mhz to complete the system. Two meter pairs are very dear due to everybody already getting their pairs before us. So I am not sure what if anything we can get on 2 meters.
As for 1200 mhz, there is not much going on up there, so I don't think we will have much trouble. We want 1200 mhz for the high speed data function which will allow streaming video among other things. It also allows digital voice from the same ID-1 radios. This is like the Wi-Max Data Lans which are going up in many large communities. I suspect we will have ID-1's at the EOCs and Hospitals.
The interoperability features of the D-Star system
are going to be very useful. Not only can we find
