Join the Mid-Atlantic D-Star Net each Tuesday at 7:30 PM

D-Star Overview 

The D-STAR system provides a new capability and functionality to the ham radio world and increases the efficiency of emergency communications.

D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) was originally developed as the result of research by the Japan Amateur Radio League  (JARL) to investigate digital technologies for Amateur Radio. Although the D-Star protocol is 'open source' and specifications available to anyone, there is currently only one equipment manufacturer that has begun manufacturing and distributing D-Star capable radios and repeaters, and that is ICOM.

The D-STAR system supports two types of digital data streams. The Digital Voice (DV) stream used on 144 and 440 MHz contains both digitized voice and digital data. Using a DV radio is like having both a packet link and FM voice operating simultaneously. The Digital Data (DD) stream that is used only on 1.2 GHz, is entirely data with a bit rate of 128k bps. 

For voice conversations, D-STAR repeaters act just like familiar analog repeaters – everyone listening can hear your transmissions. Because your call sign is digitally incorporated into every transmission, the D-STAR repeater “registers” your call sign and shares it around the D-STAR system. 

If you travel into a new D-STAR repeater’s coverage area, your location will be quickly updated around the D-STAR network on your first transmission in that area. This allows you to call someone registered with any other D-STAR repeater, no matter where that may be. If you call someone registered elsewhere, your voice will be routed to the appropriate repeater in digital form, where it is then heard just as you would expect if you were both using the same repeater!

Local Repeaters

W3OI -- VHF at 147.165 and UHF at 445.025 -- Allentown, PA

W3EPE -- UHF 447.225 -- Schnecksville, PA

W3OK -- VHF 145.110 -- Nazareth, PA

To see if the W3OI Repeater is currently linked click here -- If all you see is the version number of dplus we are not linked -- otherwise it will show you the repeater or reflector we are linked to

The system today is capable of linking repeaters together locally and through the Internet utilizing callsigns for routing of traffic. Servers can be linked using proprietary 'Gateway' software, available from Icom, along with some freeware software such as "dplus", developed by AA4RC, which includes the ability to link to "reflectors" similar to IRLP or Echolink reflectors (Click here for more info on reflectors).  This allows Amateur Radio D-Star operators to talk to any other D-Star Amateurs worldwide participating in a particular gateway "trust" environment.

The link in the red scrolling box above will show you if the W3OI repeater is currently connected to a reflector.  To check it when you are on the radio itself, go to the link on the left menu bar above, labeled "Gateway Setup, and scroll down to the last programming example on that page. 

Another important aspect of D-STAR technology is its ability to send large quantities of data to emergency responders in the event of a disaster. Served agencies can instantly relate to sending 'email' or a 'word files' to someone. The data sent can be high-volume, where traditional amateur radio 'modes' are capable of getting a message through albeit slowly, D-STAR can place documents into the hands of those that need them most - fast image, text and document data exchanges.

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