DSTAR Presentation

1
(No Transcript)
2
D-STAR 06Amateur Digital Modefor the 21st
Century
3
Agenda

• Introduction to D-STAR
• Question/Answer
• Break
• Extracts from D-STAR 101 Class
• Question/Answer

4
Objectives

• Provide General Understanding of
• Overview of D-STAR Technology
• D-STAR Systems Components
• D-STAR System Installation
• D-STAR Operations
• D-STAR Applications
• Opportunities for Amateurs from D-STAR

5

• D-STAR is not necessarily what we expect
• Forget everything you think you know about
  repeaters.
• Forget everything you think you know about
  networking.
• Existing knowledge will help, IF you can ignore
  assumptions!

6

• What is D-STAR?
• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• Who is interested?
• How will it be used?
• How do we get started?
• Open Discussion

7

• What is D-STAR?
• Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio
• JARL
• Japanese Amateur Radio League
• NOT Manufacturers!
• Goal
• Advancement of the hobby
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Experiment with Simultaneous Voice and Data
• D-STAR Gateway owned by Icom
• Not Public Domain or Open Source
• May not be copied, shared or redistributed

8

• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• Spectral Efficiency
• Simultaneous Voice and Data capability
• 2m/70cm/23cm
• High-Speed Data capability
• 23cm
• Internet Linking capability
• Microwave Linking capability

9

• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• Spectral Efficiency
• 6.25 kHz emission
• 10 kHz channel spacing (reasonable)
• More efficient use of available bandwidth
• Allows more channels in crowded spectrum
• Better performance compared to analog FM
• Same power in less bandwidth (SSB vs. AM)

10
(No Transcript)
11

• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• Simultaneous Voice and Data capability
• 2m, 70cm, 23cm Digital Voice Mode
• 4800bd Data Stream
• 2400bd Digital Voice
• 1200bd FEC on Digital voice
• 1200bd Serial Data

12
(No Transcript)
13

• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• High-Speed Data capability
• 23cm
• 128kb Ethernet
• Transparent Bridge
• Allows Network-Agnostic Applications!
• Half-Duplex
• Duplex-sensitive apps dont work well (VOIP, etc.)

14

• Why is D-STAR interesting?
• Internet Linking capability
• User linking vs. Site linking
• Can cause confusion for uninformed (example
  later)
• Allows roaming

15

• Who is interested? (US)
• Individuals
• Clubs
• Served Agencies
• Examples
• Races/Runs/Rides, Parades, Special Events
• Emergency Communications
• FEMA Demo

16
(No Transcript)
17

• Legend
• Full
• Full/Portable
• 70cm
• 23cm
• Unknown

18

• Legend
• Full
• Full/Portable
• 70cm
• 23cm
• Unknown

19
International Systems

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Mexico City, Mexico

20

• How will it be used?
• Regular use, like FM (Enhanced)
• Data/Voice Simultaneously
• Internet Linking
• Emergency Communications
• New Applications
• Applications are the BIG DEAL
• Packet
• DX Clusters
• APRS

21
EmComm Applications

• Ends needless chatter
• Data rather than voice
• Immediate identification
• Callsign
• GPS Coordinates
• Dispatch assets accurately

22

• New Applications
• Hardware
• µSmartDigi D-Gate
• Software
• D-STAR Monitor
• D-STAR TNC
• D-STARLet

23

• Fits inside a TNC-X box
• Converts D-STAR NMEA GPS data to Base-91
  compressed APRS Position Reports
• Converts Symbol and Text Data
• Filters messages according to a
• rich set of user-configurable rules
• Operates without a dedicated laptop or PC

24
µSmartDigi D-Gate

• Black box translator
• D-PRS to APRS
• APRS to D-PRS
• Smooth RF integration of both systems

25
D-STAR Monitor

• Server based software package
• Drives www.dstarusers.org website
• K5TIT Creators
• Pete Loveall AE5PL
• Gerry Dalton W5MAY
• Additional Stats for SYSOP

26
WWW.D-STARUSERS.ORG
27
D-STAR TNC

• An APRS and D-STAR software bridge
• Java Based package
• www.aprs-is.net/dstartnc2.htm
• DStarTNC2 is free for use by Amateur Radio
  operators for Amateur Radio. 

28
D-STARLet

• A Web-based text messaging application
• Uses D-STAR Digital technology
• Dean Gibson, AE7Q
• www.dstarlet.com

29
(No Transcript)
30

• How do we get started?
• Lots of interest beginning around the US and
  Canada
• VHF, UHF SHF radios currently available
• Mobiles
• Handhelds (On VHF UHF Only)
• Repeaters components available
• ID-RP2000V for 2m voice and low-speed data
• ID-RP4000V for 70cm voice and low-speed data
• ID-RP2V for 23 cm voice and low-speed data
• ID-RP2D for 23 cm high-speed data
• ID-RP2C Controller (Required)

31
Online Discussion Forums

• www.icomamerica.com/support/forums
• www.K5TIT.Org/Forum
• Other D-STAR Web Sites
• www.D-STARUsers.Org
• www.D-STARlet.Com
• www.aprs-is.net/dstartnc2.htm

32

• End of Segment 1
• Questions Answers

33
(No Transcript)
34
Riley Hollingsworth, FCC

• If there are three hams in a town, there will be
  two clubs.
• Our existing atmosphere and the perceptions of us
  dont always do everything to attract new
  amateurs

35
Perceptions of Amateur Radio, in General

• My grandfather used to do that
• I can do better than that on the Internet
• Its not much fun
• Too many times, our hobby isnt presented in the
  most flattering light

36
Perceptions of D-STAR

• D-STAR new to everyone
• Everyone still learning
• Lots of information sharing
• D-STAR operation is unusually friendly, so far

37
Opportunities with D-STAR

• Rediscover the fun in amateur radio
• Help advance the state of the hobby
• Learn some new techniques
• Help someone else learn whats going on
• Welcome the new folks!

38
D-STAR Interesting Results

• Inactive club members getting active
• New hams joining
• New applications being built
• New opportunities with Served Agencies
• Lots of Attention being generated!

39
D-STAR gives us a chance to change some opinions
about Amateur Radio. What do you want those
opinions to be?
40
(No Transcript)
41
D-STAR Site Equipment
42

• Site Equipment Programming
• RP2C Controller (MANDATORY!)
• Programmed via Ethernet. You MUST know its
  address!
• Default 172.16.0.1
• Recommend 172.16.0.10
• Recommend labeling RP2C with 172.16.0.x
  address
• Whatever you use, write it down!
• Parameters for Repeaters (suggestion)
• 23 cm on Port A
• 70 cm on Port B
• 2 m on Port C

43
(No Transcript)
44

• Site Equipment Programming
• RP2V, RP2000V, RP4000V
• Programmed individually via USB. Multiple COM
  ports, unless
• over-ridden manually on PC
• Tx Freq
• Rx Freq

45
(No Transcript)
46

• Site Equipment Programming
• RP2D
• Programmed via USB. Multiple COM ports, unless
  over-ridden
• Freq
• Offset

47
(No Transcript)
48

• Other Site Equipment
• PAs
• Duplexers
• Filters
• Feedline
• Antenna
• Impact of Window Filters on System Performance

49

• Congratulations, your repeater is on the air!
• Now What?

50

• D-Star vs. FM Operation
• FM
• Frequency, Offset, PL
• Control codes, if available, for linking
• D-STAR
• Frequency, Offset, Mode, Call Signs (up to 4!)
• Gateway Operation
• User Linking, not site linking
• No person-to-person private conversations.
  Everyone on both ends hears both sides of the
  conversation.
• Probable confusion from D-STAR linking vs.
  normal experience
• (example in a moment)

51
D-STAR Local Operation

• No private conversations
• Open system
• Auto Rpt Set Feature
• Both Voice and Data
• Announcing presence (local gateway)

52

• Gateway Overview

53

• Gateway Functions
• Authorization
• Nothing crosses gateway if not authorized
• Local usage unaffected
• Routing
• Allows very cellular-like roaming
• Timing constraints, to be discussed a bit later.
  Not immediate

54
(No Transcript)
55

• D-Star Gateways
• Identical Implementations
• Call sign, Internet Address, MAC address
  change
• Benefits
• Specific Network segments recommendations
• 172.16.0.x (172.16.0.1 -gt 172.16.0.10)
• 10.0.0.x
• (NO CHANGES No additions!)

56
Gateway Overview
57

• Gateway Requirements
• Fixed, Routable Internet IP Address
• Router must support Class A Network on LAN
  Port
• Router must support Port Forwarding
• PC, with two NICs, Linux, as specified
• Unique call required, probably club call (NOT
  Trustee!)
• Gateway PC and RP2C must be co-located
• VPN testing
• NY CA examples

58

• Users all have Fixed IP Addresses
• IP Address only used on device on other side of
  ID-1
• Radios are transparent bridges
• IP address not used for voice or low-speed data
• Use of multiple IDs
• Use when multiple radios in use at same time
• (ie ID-800 for voice, ID-1 for data)
• Routing all done by Call Sign, must
  differentiate

59

• Gateway Call Routing
• All calls are source-routed
• Originating gateway determines complete route
  to output port/band
• No modification/rerouting by target Gateway
• Creates potential problems discuss in later
  segment

60

• Summary
• All Gateways configured identically
• Allows roaming
• Gateways require Fixed Internet address
• Gateway routers have MUST support Class A LAN
• Gateway PC must be at site with RP2C
• Users all have fixed IP address assigned
• Radios are transparent bridges
• Gateway calls are Source-Routed

61

• Gateway Operations

62

• Registration
• No registration required for local use
• No call sign required for local use !!!!
• No private conversations
• both ends hear all
• User linking, not site linking
• Not all users on site can participate
• Opportunity for confusion!!!

63

• Four call signs used
• MYCALL Call sign of the originating station
• URCALL Call sign of the desired target
  station
• CQCQCQ or desired remote station
• RPT1 Call sign ( port) of the originating
  repeater
• RPT2 Call sign designator of the gateway
• Can also be used for designated local
  cross-band use

64
(No Transcript)
65
(No Transcript)
66
(No Transcript)
67
(No Transcript)
68
User radio programming

• LOTS of memory channels
• Many different user setups
• Many radio features appear only in SET mode or
  in software
• Programming software strongly recommended,
  especially for groups setting up many identical
  radios

69

• Multiple ways to traverse Gateway
• User-Specific call
• Follow-me Roaming
• Sync Timing Issues
• Source Routing gateway sync timing create
  inability to hear a user- specific call
• Zone call
• Example - URCALL /K5TIT
• Specific routing of zone call defaults to
  Port A
• Port-specific zone call
• Example URCALL /K5TIT C

70

• Source Routing vs. Sync Timing
• Creates inability to receive User-specific call
• Discuss example

71

• User Concerns
• User error codes
• UR
• RPT ?
• Did I make the repeater?
• Courtesy tone discussion
• Problems with full-duplex operation
• Kerchunking a D-STAR system
• No squelch tail
• Watch for repeater response visual indication

72

• Interfacing Digital and Analog Systems
• Technically possible of course!
• But maybe not a good idea
• Limitations
• Analog users cant vary call signs like URCALL
  RPT2
• Analog users cant participate in all
  conversations
• Creates impression of D-STAR doesnt work
• Analog users cant see any included data
• D-STAR repeaters pass all D-STAR encoded voice
  and data.
• Good use of analog/digital interface
• Emergency situation, no gateway, local-only
• MUST limit confusion

73
Summary

• Lots of potential for use of simultaneous voice
  data
• Spectral efficiency offers opportunity for better
  utilization
• Better performance from narrow spectrum FEC
• Distinct operational differences from familiar FM
• New applications will drive acceptance
• EmComm demand for tactical voice and data
  communications by served agencies

74

• End of Segment 2
• Questions Answers

75
Welcome to the FUN!

• http//WWW.K5TIT.Org