Digital Voice and Data

ICOM D-StarThe Cutting Edge?

October 15, 2007

22

The PAPA System

3

Contents

• Introduction to PAPA• About D-Star

– Key Benefits

• Stand alone system operation• Gateway (“Linked”) system operation• RF configuration of repeaters• Additional Benefits• Resources• Conclusion

44

What Is D-Star

• ICOM’s implementation of JARL open standard for UHF/VHF digital voice and data communications

• Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) with forward error correction

• Consists of radios, repeaters, and (optional) gateway hardware and software

• 2 Meter, 440 MHz and 1.2 GHz

55

Key Benefits

• Digital quality voice communication simplex or via repeater

• Very easy setup of repeater/controller• Coverage on 440 equal to or better than analog• Alphanumeric call sign ID, call sign squelch (can be

bypassed for emergency traffic), and code squelch • Wireless internet access via router (part 97 presumably

applies to content)• Nationwide routed call sign calling via Gateway• Data Transmission

– Low-Speed Data on UHF and VHF– ISDN rate data transmission simplex or via repeater (1.2 GHz

only, half duplex)

66

Call Sign Squelch (DSQL)

• Configuration option on your radio

• If enabled, squelch opens only when your call sign is received

• Call sign squelch is bypassed if calling station operates in EMR mode

77

Code Squelch (CSQL)

• Configuration option on your radio

• Squelch opens only when a preset code is received

• Programmable codes: 0-99

• Code squelch is bypassed if calling station operates in EMR mode

88

D-STAR Repeater System

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1: Analog RF Components (Filters, Cavities, Circulators, PreAmps, etc

Stand Alone 4 Box System Shown*

* D-STAR System can be Controller Plus any 2M, 440, 1.2 GHz DV or 1.2 GHz DD Modules

Module“A”

Module “B”

Module “C”

99

Repeater System Use -Radio Setup (Stand Alone Sys)

Repeater Module ID “A”, “B”, “C” must be in the 8th Character position^ = SPACE

Use of Any One Band Box (Same Band) by itself• To make a call from the 440 MHz “B” Repeater module thru the 445MHz

"B" repeater module.J Frequency: 446.730(-) (Note: Repeater is not expected to recognize N6SIX)J MYCALL: W6SIXJ URCALL: CQCQCQ (General Inquiry to Everyone) or

(Specific Station Call Sign e.g. W1AWX)J RPT1: N6SIX^^BJ RPT2: NOT USE

Cross Banding in Addition to Same Band (N6SIX System)• To make a call from the 440 MHz “B” Repeater module thru the 144.52

MHz “A" repeater module.J Frequency: 446.730(-)J MYCALL: W6SIX (Note: Repeater is not expected to recognize N6SIX)J URCALL: CQCQCQ (General Inquiry to Everyone) or

(Specific Station Call Sign e.g. W1AWX)J RPT1: N6SIX^^BJ RPT2: N6SIX^^A

1010

GPS Operation

11

Low-Speed Data

11

•Data, PC Programming CablesJ IC-91AD & IC-2820

Same Cable used for Both RadiosJ ID-800H

PC Programming – OPC-478 or OPC-478U

Data – OPC-1529R•Any Terminal Program should work

J ID-91AD Software includes Terminal ProgJ D-CHAT by NJ6N (Quite “User-Friendly”)

IC-2820

IC-91ADID-800HIC-2820

1212

Internet Connectivity

10.x.x.100

10.x.x.101

10.x.x.102

Hub ID-1

RP2

InternetInternet

Router

Graphic courtesy of Texas Interconnect Team

1313

Linked Repeater Operation

1414

Gateway Operation

1515

D-STAR Repeater System

Note 1: Analog RF Components (Filters, Cavities, Circulators, PreAmps, etc

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1

Note 1

Module“A”

Module “C”

Module “B”

4 Box System with GATEWAY Shown*

* D-STAR System can be Controller , GateWay PC Plus any 2M, 440, 1.2 GHz DV or 1.2 GHz DD Modules

1616

Repeater System Use -Radio Setup (Gateway System)

Repeater Module ID “A”, “B”, “C” must be in the 8th Character position^ = SPACE

Cross Banding in Addition to Same Band (N6SIX System) To make a call from the 440 MHz “B” Repeater module thru the 144.52 MHz “A" repeater module.

J Frequency: 446.730(-)J MYCALL: W6SIX (Note: Repeater is not expected to recognize N6SIX)J URCALL: /VK8SDFB (General Inquiry to Everyone on VK8SDF “B” Repeater

Module; “/” is same as CQ)J RPT1: N6SIX^^BJ RPT2: N6SIX^^G

Same as Stand Alone except …..

1717

RF Configuration (D-10)

1818

RF Configuration (D-1)

19

2020

2121

Additional Benefits

• Extensive support via forums and user groups• Radios work in both digital and analog modes and dual

banders are available• 53 repeaters now on Gateway network• Probably between 80-100 repeaters on the air• Lower bandwidth requirements (6.25 KHz vs. 10 KHz) • Digital messaging in Digital Voice mode (i.e., works on 2

M, 440 or 1.2 GHz) • Location services (e.g., D-PRS/APRS) • IP compatible, open JARL standard

2222

Resources

• http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dstar/default.asp Icom D-Star Home

• illinoisdigitalham (Yahoo Group, digital radio in general, including D-Star)

• http://www.hamradio-dv.org/ Digital Radio Audio Comparisons

• http://www.icomamerica.com/support/forums/ D-Star Forums (ICOM hosted)

• http://www.arrl-al.org/D-STAR_class_2.pdf DSTAR Radios

• http://www.icomamerica.com/downloads/manuals.asp Icomamerica manuals downloads (ICOM hosted)

• http://www.ccdastronomy.org/D-Star (this presentation, in the “about D-Star” section)

2323

Radios Now Available

• ID-1 1.2 GHz Mobile (10 Watts, High Speed Digital Data, Digital Voice, Analog Voice) -- $979

• ID-800H 2M/440 Mobile (55 Watt VHF/50 Watt UHF Digital Voice and Data, Analog Voice -- $610

• IC-2200H 2M Mobile (65 Watt VHF Digital Voice and Data -- $350 with optional digital module

• IC-V82/U82 2M/440 HT (Digital Voice and Data) -- $390 with optional digital module

• IC-91AD 2M/440 HT (Digital Voice and Data, Analog Voice) -- $628 with digital module

• IC-2820 Dual Band Mobile (Analog and Digital) -- approx. $950 with optional DV module

• Home brew 2-meter demonstrated at Dayton this year

2424

Requirements• Filters required for repeater in dense RF

environments• Internet access required for Gateway

– Static IP required, DSL bandwidth

• Gateway software runs only on Linux (Fedora Core 4 is recommended)

• Repeaters must have unique call signs• Gateway operation requires certification

– Take and Pass (Complete) ICOM Administrator Course

• Familiarity with basic Linux terminal commands is very helpful for Gateway configuration

2525

Challenges

• Getting coordinated pairs on 440 (may be able to allocate an existing pair)

• ICOM controller lacks many features– Linkcom will develop D-Star capable controller

• ICOM proprietary components– Codec (has been replicated)– Gateway (opendstar.org to develop open

source version)

• 10 GHz link system is not available in US

2626

The Cutting Edge?

• Not the only digital game in town, but it works out of the box

• Excellent performance on 440• ISDN rate internet access via ID-1• Transparent call routing throughout the D-

Star Network• Significant experimentation and innovation

is occurring (e.g., home brew radios, openstar.org)