Includes Real Word Scenarios, handy tips, and some step by step instructions featuring Screen shots Expert Computer Advice Corrected errors! New information about the CODSN, Mailing list! Charles Johnston III W8KWA ([email protected]) Columbus Ohio USA Copyright 2009-2010 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2 Definitions & Expressions ........................................................................................................................ 3 D-Star (What is it?) ....................................................................................................................................... 4 History ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 What is it exactly? ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Signal VS Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 5 The Rig and things you need to know first before powering it up. ............................................................... 7 The Programming Cable ........................................................................................................................... 7 Gateway Registration ................................................................................................................................ 8 What if I am not registered? What can I do and what effects can I expect. .............................................. 8 So how does it work? ............................................................................................................................ 9 Check to see if you actually are registered: .............................................................................................. 9 W8CMH ................................................................................................................................................ 9 W8BAP ................................................................................................................................................. 9 A special note about gateway registration (Please read) ............................................................................. 10 Memory Banks and Memory Slots ............................................................................................................. 11 Find the Comport ................................................................................................................................ 12 The Programming Software ........................................................................................................................ 14 My Call ................................................................................................................................................... 15 3 of the 4 fields ....................................................................................................................................... 16 The Magic is gone, not quite ....................................................................................................................... 18 Simplex ................................................................................................................................................... 19 National DV Calling Frequency ............................................................................................................. 19 Your Call ................................................................................................................................................. 20 The Basic Your Call‟s, for any repeater ..................................................................................................... 21 Call Sign Routing ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Node Routing .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Linking ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 How To ................................................................................................................................................... 23 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 24 Why can‟t the other guys on the link hear me? ................................................................................... 24 Why can‟t I link this repeater to...? ..................................................................................................... 24 Programming your Rig, Part 2 .................................................................................................................... 26 Repeater Call Sign Bank ......................................................................................................................... 26 Your Call Bank ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Memory Slots .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Multicast ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 Zones ........................................................................................................................................................... 29 One Touch Reply ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Busy Lockout .............................................................................................................................................. 31 What is it? ............................................................................................................................................... 31 Text Sent ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 Final check list for your rig ......................................................................................................................... 33 Registered ........................................................................................................................................... 33 My Call ............................................................................................................................................... 33 Busy Lockout ...................................................................................................................................... 33 DV National Calling Frequency ......................................................................................................... 33 Auto Text Insert .................................................................................................................................. 33 Slash field............................................................................................................................................ 33 Old D-Star Vs. New D-Star, the Confusion ................................................................................................ 34 DV/D Star Operating Practices ................................................................................................................... 35 FM Analog Vs. DV Issues .......................................................................................................................... 37 DV-Dongle & DVAP .................................................................................................................................. 39 The Catch ................................................................................................................................................ 39 DV-Dongle $199.95 ................................................................................................................................ 39 DVAP $249 ............................................................................................................................................. 39 Further Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 40 The Central Ohio D-Star Net ...................................................................................................................... 41 D-Star Club ................................................................................................................................................. 41 D-Star For Dummies v2.3 August 5, 2010 Acknowledgments First off I want to thank my father Chuck W8JNE for all of his help, not just in getting me into amateur radio, helping