D-STAR Setup
Everything you need to set up D-Star successfully is included in the Programmer.
We already mentioned the D-Star Calculator for DR memories. You will also find the Your Callsign list that can be customized for your use by eliminating reflectors and adding others, six fields for your callsign (My Callsign) and a four-character note, and fields for the Text message that scrolls across the screen of the receiving radio when your transmission is received.
Then with the built in D-Star Calculator, set up memory channels that are ready for D-Star connections and communications.
Want to see it done... check out these videos listed in this Knowledgebase Article: D-Star Help
D-Star Settings
Accessed from D-Star | Digital (D-Star) Settings in the menu at the top of the Programmer, this screen accepts entries for details essential for D-Star operations.
- My Callsign - YOUR FCC issued callsign that is registered for D-Star. You can enter up to six callsigns to make it easy for others to use this radio for D-Star activities.
- Note - A four-character note that will be sent with your transmission to be displayed on the face of the receiving radio. A unique note can be entered for each callsign in the list.
- Select My Callsign - Set this option to callsign you want to use immediately after programming the radio.
- Select TX Message - Select which of the five text messages to use immediately after programming the radio.
- Tx Message - Enter information about yourself, your radio, your location in a string of 20 characters. This message is sent with your transmission to be displayed on the face of receiving radio. Five unique strings can be entered to be used with different activities.
- Your Callsign list - to the right on this screen is list of Your Callsigns that are used as the "TO" connection during transmissions with DR memories. This list can be adjusted (items taken from or added to) as your activities demand. An original list can be found in a new file.
D-STAR Calculator
Set up memory channels for D-Star use automatically using the built in D-Star calculator. RT Systems does all the work for you making sure the D-Star commands are written correctly.
Be ready to go with just a few mouse clicks.
Want to see it done... check out this video D-Star Calculator in Action
Source
The “Source” is the repeater you access to begin your adventures. Just like with analog repeaters, you must be able to hit the “Source” repeater. The Calculator will also help you set up a HotSpot.
Talk, Echo, Info and Unlink channels are created automatically for your “Source” repeater.
Route/Link to Repeaters
Now that you identified your “Source” repeater, let’s set up destinations. In D-Star you can Link to Repeaters or Route to Repeaters. To set up channels that link or route, use the drop down at the top to select your function, then select your repeaters by checking a country, region, state, city or individual repeater. A counter below the list keeps track of how many you have selected.
Link to Reflectors
For even more fun, and a great way for a beginner to get started, Link to Reflectors. D-Star reflectors are a special type of internet party line that gets you talking to others all over the world. You can often find activity on REF001C and REF030C although many of the others are good for listening or joining in on a conversation.
Remember... EVERYBODY is listening... but that’s what makes it fun. You have a whole world to talk to through your local repeater that you selected as the Source and then linked to a reflector. To set up a channel that links your repeater to a reflector, check the box for that reflector in the Link to Reflector tree.
Click Apply once to set up these channels for the radio.
The resulting channels are set up and ready to go.
Your callsign, Rpt 1 Callsign and Rpt 2 Callsign are set automatically... No wondering which suffix goes where, or if it is positioned correctly. That is all done for you.
Name can be edited here to better identify the station. Name is what you see on the radio. It is not part of the D-Star commands for use by the system. It may be all you have to identify the function of a channel. (Notice the frequency is the same for ALL these channels although they each do something different on the D-Star network.) Make the Name something you understand.
The names are displayed automatically along with the frequency.
D-STAR Calculator for DR Memories
D-STAR Calculator for DR Memories lists repeaters worldwide for you to update or customize the list in the radio. Easily customize this list for places you plan to travel or places you want to work using a DR memory as your RPT2 repeater.
All repeater nodes are listed. Those the radio can use to transmit will be set automatically for “Repeater Use”.
Latitude and Longitude are included where that info is available from the source and the repeater is marked for use.
Click a country, region, state, city or individual repeater.
Use starting channel to replace or carefully add to your list.
No searching for data, it’s all right in the RT Systems Programmer.
The D-STAR calculator is updated automatically with the program. Just “Check for Updates” periodically to be sure you have the latest list.
To Use these Settings for D-STAR Fun:
- Be sure your call sign is registered on the system.
- Save and send the file to the radio.
- Listen on the talk channel.
- Check repeater status on info channel.
- Check your connection to repeater on Echo channel.
- Link repeater to a connection of your choice.
- Talk on Talk channel.
Have Fun!
