D-STAR has come to Orlando Florida. As of May 1 2007 there is an Icom D-STAR repeater system on 442.025 Mhz (moving soon to 443.625 MHz), the 2 meter port is now on 145.290 (Changed as of 2-20-09). We have finally found a permanent frequency for the VHF port. The pair was donated by N4TT after a long wait and search. The
FRC (Florida Repeater Council) has authorized its use. It used to be on 144.920 with a +2.5MHz split.
The 1.2 Ghz repeater was activated in December of 2006 and is back on the air in testing phase. The Voice module is on 1291.300MHz -20.000 MHz and the Data module is on 1251.300 MHz., We are waiting on a callsign for it which will be different from W4AES as it will be a stand alone repeater located at a high site soon and on a different gateway IP address. Once the gateway is configured and a site established we will announce it here.
The Internet GATEWAY IS NOW ACTIVE !! as of 7-29-08. The callsign of the UHF repeater is W4AES__B, The VHF is W4AES__C and is being hosted by the W4AES Club. For now enjoy the UHF & VHF machines and feel free to test your D-STAR gear. C port stays connected to REF001C, the UHF port is available for linking and testing or general use. The gateway will provide more activity and help bring some life to D-Star in the Orlando area.
See the
Project page for more contributor info and history.
D-STAR news ** UPDATE 6-26-09: Change of frequency and location for W4AES__B port, the new frequency is 443.625 MHz and it is now standalone at a new site downtown Orlando approximately 250ft. Coverage has been greatly enhanced. Internet gateway is active.
The 2 meter port formerly W4AES__C is now KJ4MMC_C tied to KJ4MMC_A on 1.2GHz. Still at the same location (AES Orlando store at 70ft.) and same frequency of 145.290 and 1291.30 Voice and 1251.300 data. The KJ4MMC (Mickey Mouse Club) gateway is now active on both ports.
Feel free to use the W4AES D-STAR digital repeater and analog repeaters during your visit to Orlando Florida. Both are open for general use and linking is allowed on all of them. The VHF port of the D-STAR repeater is usually connected 24 hours to REF001C, the UHF port B is normally available for linking. The analog repeater is usually connected to IRLP Reflector 9050. Feel free to drop the links if needed. Hope to catch you on the air.
You will need to register in order to access the gateway. Use this link:
http://www.w4him.com/w4aes/dstar/w4aesgateway.html to access the registration page.
There is also the
K1XC D-STAR repeater system which has been recently (11-28-08) moved to downtown Orlando and provides an alternate means of accessing the network. They are on 146.820, 443.275 and 1285.000MHz -12.000 Voice and 1255.000MHz data. As of August 8 '09 W4PLB is now on the air in Sanford Fl. on 145.150 (was 146.970 April '09), gateway should be on soon. Jump on the wagon and be a pioneer in the latest thing to hit Ham Radio.
This is going to be very interesting being able to have yet another method of working the world but with no QRM. The testing that has been done so far shows remarkable audio quality even at very low signals. D-STAR audio is either there or its not, it doesn't seem to increase or decrease usable range but does enhance the weaker signals with solid audio no fluttering or hissing on weak signals, S-1 and 2 signals sound like full quieting FM signals. Although signals between moving vehicles tend to drop in and out when dead spots are encountered where analog signals would just get noisy the D-STAR audio sounds like a bad cell phone connection does or as others have said R2D2 from Star Wars. I think it is a step in the right direction though.
New D-STAR item:
DV Dongle D-STAR from your PC.
Now with a new D-STAR item called a
DV Dongle you can experience D-STAR operation from your computer for around $200.00. Lots of other things are spinning off from D-STAR, time will tell.
Latest
DVTtool software for the DV Dongle available here at OpenDstar.org.
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