- Bay-Net

D-STAR
Pacificon D-Star Panel
Saturday 10:00-12:00
Welcome !
Today’s Speakers
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Moderator
– Board of Cactus and Bay-Net, trustee / builder of WW6BAY new D-Star repeater
– Co-designer of Sierra Radio Systems repeater control systems
Rick McCusker WF6O
D-Star for Beginners
– Licensed in 1972 while serving as a Radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard
– Editor of Worldradio Magazine, now with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
– Trustee of the KS6HRP repeater systems in Folsom, California.
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
–
–
–
–
DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview
Computer & network consultant
Installed the first D- STAR repeater system in Georgia
Wrote the gateway add on software known as DPLUS enabling reflectors, etc.
Co-designer of the DV Dongle hardware and software
Jim Moen K6JM
Building a simplex hot spot
– Licensed in 1959. Enjoys SSB, digital modes, QRP and CW.
– Retired IT professional, managed software engineering for Chevron
– Active in D-Star for over 2 years and has built his own D-Star hot spot
David Lake G4ULF
Linux-based D-Star repeater software
– Computer network expert at Cisco
– Developer of “NI-STAR” Non-Icom Linux-based G2 compatible repeater software
Sunday D-Star Session
8 AM
Jim Moen K6JM
Building a simplex hot spot
– Licensed in 1959. Enjoys SSB, digital modes, QRP and CW.
– Retired IT professional, managed software engineering for Chevron
– Active in D-Star for over 2 years and has built his own D-Star hot spot
Rich Timpa KC6OBJ
Building an Inexpensive D-Star Compatible Repeater
– First licensed in 1973
– Involved in D-Star since 2005
– Trustee / owner of the new KC6OBJ D-Star repeater at Lake Oroville
Welcome to the D-Star Panel
Goals…
Introduction to D-Star for new users
Learn about new technologies
from the experts
Climbing the Learning Curve
•
•
•
•
•
First impressions
Quick history lesson
What’s really cool?
Local D-Star systems
Building a new non-Icom
D-Star compatible repeater
D-Star First Impressions
Conventional wisdom
 Proprietary Icom System
 Crummy audio
 Expensive radios
 Very expensive repeaters
 6 KHz bandwidth
D-Star First Impressions
Conventional wisdom
 Proprietary Icom System
 Crummy audio
 Expensive radios
 Very expensive repeaters
 6 KHz bandwidth
My impression now
 Open standard (mostly)
 Pretty good audio
 50% premium
 New low cost alternatives
 Not quite
 Lots of new cool technology
 New use models
 Great user community
D-Star First Impressions
Conventional wisdom
 Proprietary Icom System
 Crummy audio
 Expensive radios
 Very expensive repeaters
 6 KHz bandwidth
My impression now
 Open standard (mostly)
 Pretty good audio
 50% premium
 New low cost alternatives
 Not quite
 Lots of new cool technology
 Enables new use models
 Great user community
A Brief History of D-Star
2001
2004
2006
2008
2010
• >15,000 users
• >500 repeaters
• DV Access Points
• NI-Star software
• Many new technologies
DV dongle, GMSK Modem, DVAR, Reflectors
• US usage starts to ramp up
• Popular with emcomm groups
• G1 and D-Plus gateways
• Icom rolls out first D-Star products
• Early adopters install systems
• Call sign routing
JARL defines
D-Star spec
DV Dongle
What’s Really Cool?
Satoshi GMSK Modem
• Clean audio
– No more squelch tails or noise
– All repeaters sound exactly the same
• Build a repeater for under $1k
– Radio(s) + Duplexer + DVAR or G4ULF NI-Star SW + GMSK modem + PC
• Build a wide-area hot-spot
– Computer + radio + $130 modem
• Local area hot-spot using DVAP ~$250
– Works great around the house or take your network with you
– Use hard wired ISP or 3G cell phone network
NI-STAR Repeater
DVAP
Digital Voice Access Point
Rich KC6OBJ on D-Star
in front of the Acropolis
>24 DV Repeaters and >7 DD Nodes
In Northern California
Digital Voice
OUTPUT INPUT
144.9600 144.5600
145.0400 144.6400
145.1300 144.5300
145.4500 144.8500
146.5800 147.5850
146.8950 146.2950
147.2400 147.8400
147.6750 147.0750
Digital Voice
CALL
W6DHS
K6ACS
W6HHD
K6VIS
K6MDD
K6CHO
K6PIT
KS6HRP
LOCATION SPONSOR
Volcano N6RDE
Santa Rosa KD6RC
Mariposa W6HHD
Visalia
TCARC
Concord K6MDD
Chico
AREA
Pittsburg K6PIT
Folsom
SHARP
Digital Voice
440.0375
440.0500
440.6000
442.1125
443.8500
444.0750
444.1375
444.6875
444.8000
445.0375 W6YYY Oakland N6LDJ
445.0500 K6VIS Visalia
TCARC
445.6000 W6DHS Volcano N6RDE
447.1125 K6ACS Santa Rosa K6ACS
448.8500 WD6SJV Dunlap
DCTS
449.0750 WW6BAY Palo Alto BAY NET
449.1375 K6MDD Concord K6MDD
449.6875 K6LRG Fremont K6LRG
449.8000 W6HHD Mariposa W6HHD
OUTPUT INPUT
1284.1000 1272.1000
1284.2000 1272.2000
1284.5000 1272.5000
1285.3000 1273.3000
1286.3250 1274.3250
1286.5250 1274.5250
1286.5250 1274.5250
1286.6250 1274.6250
CALL
W6HHD
K6MDD
KD6SAC
WD6SJV
K6VIS
K6CHO
KI6JUL
K6LRG
LOCATION
Mariposa
Concord
Folsom
Dunlap
Visalia
Chico
San Jose
Fremont
SPONSOR
W6HHD
K6MDD
K6HLE
DCTS
TCARC
AREA
AREA
K6LRG
K6MDD
W6HHD
WD6SJV
K6VIS
K6CHO
KI6JUL
KD6SAC
Concord
Mariposa
Dunlap
Visalia
Chico
San Jose
Folsom
K6MDD
W6HHD
DCTS
TCARC
AREA
AREA
K6HLE
Digital Data
1249.0750
1249.2250
1250.0000
1255.0000
1299.3500
1299.3500
1299.5000
1249.0750
1249.2250
1250.0000
1255.0000
1299.3500
1249.3500
1299.5000
Repeater
K6ACS
W6CO
KS6HRP
KD6SAC
K6HDD
W6DHS
K6PIT
K6MDD
W6YYY
W6UUU
K6LRG
WW6BAY
KI6JUL
Santa Rosa
Mt. Veeder
Folsom
Citrus Heights
Mt. Bullion
Volcano
Pittsburg
Mt. Diablo
Oakland
Pleasanton
Mt. Alison
Palo Alto
San Jose
Bands
2m UHF
UHF
2m
2m
2m
2m
2m
UHF
UHF
UHF
UHF
UHF
UHF
UHF
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
Available at www.bay-net.org
Bay-Net
D-Star Compatible Repeater
• 444.075
Digital
• On the US Trust Server
Linked analog repeaters
East bay site
• 443.975 PL 100
South bay site
• 145.390 PL 100
• 443.225 PL 100
• 927.8625 DPL023
• IRLP & Echolink
Analog
Analog
Analog
Analog
WW6BAY Block Diagram
Celwave 526 Duplexer
Angle Linear GaAs FET
preamp and filter
Maxtrac Tx
Maxtrac Rx
Satoshi modem board
Intel ATOM mobo
Centos 5.4
G4ULF NI-Star SW
USB
Ethernet
Internet
1U Mini-ITX ATOM Motherboard
Centos 5.4 Linux OS
David Lake’s “NI-Star” Software
1U Mini-ITX ATOM Motherboard
30 GB SSD
Intel Atom Motherboard DC / DC converter Power control relay
Bay-Net
Web
Site
Pacificon D-Star
presentations
will be posted on
the Bay-Net web
site.
Bay-Net Crew
Thank
David W6DTW, John
KJ6K,You
Larry…
KI6MPB
Rich KC6OBJ – Getting me into D-Star
Tim K6BIV, Larry WW6USA – For being so friendly
and helpful
David G4ULF &
Robin AA4RC
Getting the software
and network running
Jump on in…
the water’s fine
Try it here…
144.320 Simplex
DVAP @
Pacificon
Agenda
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Moderator
Rick McCusker WF6O
D-Star for Beginners
–
–
–
–
Licensed in 1972 while serving as a Radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard
Past editor of Worldradio Magazine
Now with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
Trustee of the KS6HRP repeater systems in Folsom, California.
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
DV Dongle & DVAP
Jim Moen K6JM
Building a simplex hot spot
David Lake G4ULF
Linux-based D-Star repeater software
D-Star for Beginners!
Rick McCusker, WF6O
D-Star? What the heck is D-Star???
D-Star is an open-source protocol for Digital (kind
of) radio for Amateur Radio. It was developed by the
Japan Amateur Radio League and widely available to
anyone who wishes to use the technology.
Digital??? Well, sort of…. It’s still FM radio, but it
has the D-Star technology applied to the signal so it’s
not TRUE digital radio… but it’s close!!!
Some believe Icom has a monopoly on D-Star…
Nothing could be further from the truth. Icom is the
only manufacturer of Amateur Radios embracing the
technology – so far!
How does D-Star work?
It works very well, Thank You!
What do I need?
That, my friend is the $64,000 question! You can
spend anywhere from $200 to however much you
think you can get away with… Basically, it depends
on your needs and location.
If you are fortunate enough to live
in range of a D-Star repeater system,
all you need is a D-Star capable
radio.
Not in range of a D-Star repeater?
Fret not, my young Jedi! You can get
on the D-Star system with a DV
(Digital Voice) dongle or a DVAP
(Digital Voice Access Point…
D-Star repeater?
D-Star repeaters can only utilize the D-Star mode
of operation. There are literally hundreds on line
right now, with more coming on line all the time. Is
there one near you? If you are within 150 miles of
this venue – probably! The web site
www.dstarusers.org has a repeater listing and will
be able to show D-Star repeaters near you.
Can I just punch in the information on my DStar radio and have at it?
Dreamer!!! You wish it was that easy!!! Unfortunately, there
are a few things you need to do and that’s why I am up taking
up your valuable time. I am here to guide you!
Programming! The key to D-Star
communications!
There are two ways to program a D-Star radio – with a computer,
software and programming cable (Believe me, this is the easy way) or
manually using menus, DTMF keys, etc. But before we get into the
meat and potatoes of programming, you’re sitting there asking
yourself, “Self, how does this whole enchilada work???”
First, a lesson on D-Star repeaters!
Point to remember – a D-Star repeater is just like your
analog FM repeater… pretty much the same requirements.
Antenna, power supply, cavities, repeater and controller.
So now you wonder, what’s different? The controller
and its’ capabilities. A D-Star controller has the ability
to connect through the Internet and send your signal
wherever you tell it to go… BUT, you have to tell it
where to go!
Local
Works just like the FM
repeaters we all know and
love! If the repeater can
hear you, you can work
others within range of the
repeater.
Not local
Now we’re talking around
the world using a GATEWAY
system! Special information
needs to be in your radio’s
programming to do this!
The D-Star repeater has holes! Yes, it does!
Imagine a box with a 3 holes in it – Like this:
Input – your
signal comes
in here!
Local Output!
Aka RPT 1
GATEWAY!
D-Star Repeater
Aka RPT 2
Before you can use a repeater, the system has to know who you are! How
do we do that? In the programming software for the IC-2200, IC-2820 and
IC-91AD, you will find a place to put in your call sign.
You want to enter CQCQCQ
here….
Put your call sign in this
box… If you are going to
share the radio, you can add
up to 4 more call signs…
This is how I have my call sign entries. My XYL, KI6QHP
won’t talk on the radio, so I don’t have to share!!!
There are 3 other boxes inside the software and each
one must have specific information so it knows what
to do with your signal!
RPT1
This is your local repeater and the module
you are using – For example:
K6MDD—C (Mt Diablo ARC, 2 Meters)
K6MDD--C
C = 2 Meters
B = 70 cM (440) band
A = 1.2 gHz (High Speed Data capable)
By putting in the K6MDD--C entry, you have told the repeater
you want your signal to come to the repeater. If you want to
talk locally, you don’t have to do anything else!
RPT2
K6MDD--G
If you want to talk locally, you
don’t need to put anything in
this box! The repeater will send
out your signal – LOCALLY!
If you want to talk to somebody somewhere else, you need to put
instructions in this box. Using K6MDD again, you would enter: K6MDD—G
in the programming. This entry tells the repeater to send your signal out via
the GATEWAY system…
Life or Death note:
You must have 8 characters in the boxes! K6MDD only has 5 characters,
so you have to add 2 spaces between K6MDD and either C or G. If you
don’t, your signal is DOA!!!
This, my friends, is where the magic
happens! By properly filling in this
box, you can tell the system where
you want your signal to go!!!
YOURCALL
Look at the three boxes below…. My signal is going to come out on the DStar 440 MHz repeater in Vienna, Austria!!!
YOURCALL
/OE1XDSB
RPT1
K6MDD--C
RPT2
K6MDD--G
YOURCALL
/OE1XDSB
RPT1
K6MDD--C
RPT2
K6MDD--G
Look at the “YOURCALL” box and notice the first character is a “slash” –
Whenever you at targeting a specific repeater, aka “call sign routing” you
have to add the “slash” to tell the system it is a specific destination you
are sending your signal to…..
See the “B” on the end? No, it’s not part of the call sign, it’s telling the
system to send your signal to the “B” or 440 repeater.
This is all well and good if you want to send your signal to a specific
destination…. But, wait, it gets BETTER!!!!
REFLECTORS!!!
Back in the old days – OK, a couple of years ago – D-Star was
limited to talking to a specific destination. Someone, somewhere
said to the D-Star GOD, “There must be a better way!”
So, with the advent of new and improved GATEWAY software, DStar took a major leap forward with REFLECTORS! What, you ask is
a Reflector??? A reflector is a method to tie in a BUNCH of D-Star
repeaters into one “address” you add. For instance, Reflector 14C is
several repeaters in the western U.S. that are “linked” together.
The list of reflectors keeps growing with more and more special
interest groups starting their own reflectors.
As you can see, the possibilities utilizing reflectors is almost endless!!!
So, how do you use a reflector? First, it has to be programmed into your
radio. Remember the “YOURCALL” box? You need to use that again….
But TWICE… Here is what it looks like in my 2820 program
In the “YOURCALL” box on line 212 – REF014L is the command to link the
GATEWAY able repeater you’re using to Reflector 14 C. The next line, 213 is
the command to unlink the repeater from 14 C. NOTE: Check with the
owner/trustee of the repeater and get permission to link and unlink… You
certainly don’t want to start playing with links anytime your heart desires!
So, what does it all look like when you have programmed your software correctly?
Left side of screen
Right side of screen
Need more help with programming? It’s available. This site will guide you in
programming your D-Star radio and it’s easy to use. Give it a try!
D-Star without a radio!
Yes, you can get on D-Star with using a
radio. What do you need?
1. A computer with a DSL or better
connection to the Internet
2. Either a Digital Voice (DV) dongle, or
a Digital Voice Access Point (DVAP)
The DV dongle plugs into a USB port on your
computer and connects to the D-Star
system. A DVAP is a similar, but uses your DStar H/T to access the system. You’ll be
learning more about these exciting products
in just a few minutes!
That’s all the time I have.
Thanks for coming – I hope I’ve
eased your fears about getting
your feet wet with D-Star!!!
Today’s Speakers
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Moderator
Rick McCusker WF6O
D-Star for Beginners
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
–
–
–
–
DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview
Computer & network consultant
Installed the first D- STAR repeater system in Georgia
Wrote the gateway add on software known as DPLUS enabling reflectors, etc.
Co-designer of the DV Dongle hardware and software
Jim Moen K6JM
David Lake G4ULF
Building a simplex hot spot
Linux-based D-Star repeater software
Robin Cutshaw
DVAP & DV Dongle
Robin’s presentation is available
as a separate download
Today’s Speakers
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Rick McCusker WF6O
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
Moderator
D-Star for Beginners
DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview
Jim Moen K6JM
Building a simplex hot spot
– Licensed in 1959. Enjoys SSB, digital modes, QRP and CW.
– Retired IT professional, managed software engineering for Chevron
– Active in D-Star for over 2 years and has built his own D-Star hot spot
David Lake G4ULF
Linux-based D-Star repeater software
Building on D-Star DV
Jim Moen – K6JM
October 16, 2010
Pacificon
My Topics Today
• D-Star and Homebrewing
– Most Hams buy their D-Star radios (I have two)
– Still room for homebrewing & experimentation
• Homebrew Solutions:
– HotSpots: Extending the reach of the D-Star Network
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•
•
•
Ideal for locations without RF access to D-Star repeaters
Inexpensive hardware, free software
Supports DPlus, but is not full D-Star (no callsign routing)
This technology is stable and easy to put on the air
– Digital Voice Adapters to add DV to analog radios
• Several choices available
• Both hardware and software based
HotSpot Block Diagram
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•
•
•
Extends access to DPlus-linked DStar Repeaters and Reflectors
RF handled by analog FM radio
D-Star radio is needed to communicate
GMSK Modem does not decode or encode the DV payload, it just
passes it from and to the internet
Why HotSpots?
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•
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•
If your QTH has no RF access to a D-Star repeater
Or (like my QTH) is in a multipath shadow
Your D-Star radio can link to DPlus Repeaters and Reflectors
Analog Radio must provide access to discriminator and to direct FM
modulator (9600 Data Port normally works)
PC runs DVAR Hot Spot software (Mark McGregor, KB9KHM)
GMSK Modem interfaces the PC and the radio
Architecturally like DVAP, but somewhat greater power/range
HotSpot can be configured as DPlus Repeater (Rich KC6OBJ Sunday 8am
Salon 1)
D-Star’s Protocol
•D-Star contains both voice and data for total of 4800 bps
•2400 bps Digital Voice
•1200 bps FEC on Digital Voice
•1200 bps low speed data
•
•
•
•
Header is not encrypted
GMSK modem sees header fields & passes them to PC
DV Payload created by codec in AMBE chip
HotSpot GMSK modem passes DV payload as a stream
of bits without decoding
GMSK Modem
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Also called Mini Hot Spot (MHS) or Node Adapter
TX, generates gmsk audio for analog FM transmitter
RX, demodulates audio for processing by PC
Decodes the gmsk protocol (headers, routing info)
Does NOT decode or generate Digital Voice stream
So you need a D-Star radio to use it
Inexpensive (kits approx. $80, built $130)
GMSK Modem Sources
My NQSMHS
from G7LTT
• Satoshi Yasuda 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ
– http://d-star.dyndns.org/. Designed the first Node Adapter. Also
produces firmware.
• Fred van Kempen PA4YBR
– http://www.dutch-star.eu. Provides “mini hotspot” boards, related
hardware and firmware.
• Mark Phillips G7LTT/NI2O
– http://www.gmskhotspot.com. Provides similar hotspot boards.
Located in New Jersey.
HotSpot Software
• Software: DVAR Hot Spot by Mark McGregor KB9KHM is
frequently used for HotSpots
• Available in Files section of gmsk_dv_node Yahoo Group
• Also can download from www.dutch-star.eu/software/
Successful HotSpot Builder
Warren KØTMU 82 years young
HotSpot Lessons
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•
•
•
•
Kits are fun. Have a mentor to help you
Built boards are not much more expensive
Start by registering your hotspot “terminal”
Lots of support at “gmsk_dv_node” group
HotSpots can link to other HotSpots
– Router (allow incoming UDP on port 20001 and port
forward 20001)
– Configure DVAR to accept incoming
• Check out www.k6jm.com/dstar for details
Digital Voice Adapters
Purpose: Add D-Star Compatible DV to many
analog radios via 9600 Data port
Why?
• Some people like to homebrew
• Use HF radio: D-Star on 6 & 10 m
Different DV Adapters
• DUTCH*Star HSA & DVA
– DVA has AMBE chip, basic operation
– Plans for full service controller
• GMSKClient s/w & DVDongle & GMSK modem
• DStarClient s/w & DVDongle & soundcard
– Both clients require PC, but no internet connection
• FunkAmateur DV Adapter 2.0
– Uses ICOM UT-118 D-Star card
– Full service controller
• Satoshi DV Adapter v1.04 (no longer available)
Adapter vs. HotSpot?
• HotSpots pass DV Audio between internet and
analog radio without decoding
• So HotSpots don’t have AMBE codec chip
• Adapters create standalone D-Star compatible
radios
• Must have AMBE chip to decode/encode
Digital Voice
DUTCH*Star Hotspot Adapter and DV Adapter
Example: Adapting analog radio to DV
Mike
Speakers
DVA
HSA
4.3” x 2.3”
Analog Radio
DUTCH*Star HSA & DVA
• HSA - full function Node Adapter GMSK modem
• DVA - pairs with HSA, has AMBE chip to encode/decode DV
• Opportunities:
– Adapt analog radio to DV (radio needs 9600 Data port, VHF/UHF or HF)
• Access D-Star repeaters and simplex radios with VHF/UHF radio
• Simplex D-Star on 6 & 10 meters with HF radio
• Talk to new ICOM 9100 with D-Star option
• Basic control; future products will include separate control terminal
– HotSpot with built-in DV (no D-Star radio needed)
– Repeater running software like StarGate, with built-in DV
• Availability: Beta testing underway. Release date/price not announced
• See www.dutch-star.eu/products/hsa/ for more details
Soundcard Digital Voice Adapter for Analog Radios
DStarClient
application
Mike
Soundcard
#2
Soundcard #1
Simple
Interface
Speakers
DV Dongle
Analog Radio
PC with 2
sound”cards”
• Transmit & Receive D-Star digital voice using analog transceiver
• Application:GMSKClient by Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX (Windows, Linux)
Available from Files section of “dstar_development” Yahoo group
• Analog radio with 9600 Data port (VHF/UHF or HF)
• Interface from PC soundcard to radio: simple direct connect
Avoid PSK31-type interfaces with isolation transformers & filters that remove low audio frequencies used by gmsk
• Sound”card” #2: Cheap is best
Avoid those with audio filters (USB sound fobs are ideal)
• DV Dongle provides access to AMBE codec chip used to encode/decode DV
• Very sensitive to which USB sound fob; very touchy adjusting sound levels
• Cost: If you already have the PC and analog radio, incremental cost is the DV
Dongle
• Bottom line: Not as stable as GMSK solution but it’s cheaper and it works
GMSK Digital Voice Adapter for Analog Radios
GMSKClient
application
Mike
Speakers
DV Dongle
PC with 1
soundcard
GMSK
modem
Analog Radio
• Transmit & Receive D-Star digital voice using analog transceiver
• Application:GMSKClient by Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX (Windows, Linux)
 Available from Files section of “dstar_development” Yahoo group
• Analog radio with 9600 Data port (VHF/UHF or HF)
• GMSK modem same as used by HotSpot
• DV Dongle provides access to AMBE codec chip used to encode/decode DV
• Easier to setup than soundcard interface, more stable solution
• Cost: GMSK modem & DV Dongle
• Bottom line: More stable interface to analog radio
Summary
•
•
•
•
•
We are in a golden age of D-Star innovation and development
New hardware and software are allowing build your own D-Star tools
Homebrewing/experimentation are fun and can be relatively inexpensive
This stuff is easy - We can all do it
Lots of support available
– See my website at www.k6jm.com/dstar
– Yahoo Groups:
•
•
•
•
gmsk_dv_node
dstar_development
DVDongle
K6MDD
– Vendors’ sites:
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•
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•
•
GMSK modem: Fred van Kempen PA4YBR www.dutch-star.eu
GMSK modem: Mark Phillips G7LTT/NI2O www.gmskhotspot.com
GMSK modem: Satoshi Yasuda 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ d-star.dyndns.org/
DVAR Hot Spot: www.w9arp.com/hotspot/
DVDongle: www.dvdongle.com/
FunkAmateur DV Adapter: www.dstarradioclub-international.com/
Today’s Speakers
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Rick McCusker WF6O
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
Jim Moen K6JM
David Lake G4ULF
Moderator
D-Star for Beginners
DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview
Building a simplex hot spot
Linux-based D-Star repeater software
– Computer network expert at Cisco
– Developer of “NI-STAR” Non-Icom Linux-based G2 compatible repeater
software
Homebrew D-Star G2 Repeater
David Lake – G4ULF/AF6WW
Initial Project Goals:
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Build a homebrew D-Star repeater
Connect it to the G2 network
Connect it to D-Plus/D-Star Monitor/D-Anything Else
Spend little or no money in the process
 GB7MH:
• New 440MHz D-Star repeater for Crawley, West Sussex, UK
• Ideal test-bed for new technologies and ideas….
• Tait T800 Repeater – tested on many other
standard FM repeaters/radios since
• Satoshi Yasuda’s GMSK/USB adapter
• DutchStar v28-2 or higher
• Initially built with v3 firmware – now supported
on v4.48.1L and v6/v7
• Mini-ITX system (12V)
 8GB SSD (min 4GB)
 512MB RAM
 CentOS 4 or 5 (or Ubuntu….)
• Internet connection
• Key items for FM radios:
– Flat audio response on RX from very low to
~3kHz (IC-F210S had 5 HPFs from
discriminator to “audio out”)
– Flat (no audio processing) on TX audio path
– Dual-point modulation, or very, very low PLL
filter cut-off (Nokia/Key BSR 450 fails)
– List of radios tested so far:
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Tait T800 (free to £199 maximum)
Tait TOP Radio Modem
Tait TM8100
Icom IC-F210S
Yaesu FT-8700/8900
Yaseu FT-817
Others with “packet port” @ 9600 kbit/s
• Function of “Satoshi” Board:
– USB data-in converted to GMSK baseband audio
replica
– GMSK FM representation converted to USB data out
messages
– PIC removes/inserts data payload into D-Star frame
to/from the GMSK modem
– Does not touch the DV payload
– Board consists of CML CMX589 GMSK modem, PIC
(2nd in picture for “standalone” repeater – not
required) and op-amp audio buffer
– Can be built for less than $50…
– Satoshi currently selling fully-built units for $120,
shipped
– Alternative firmware and boards available
• Function of Software:
– G2 Database:
• Postgres database for synchronisation with G2
Trust Server
• Includes all features of Icom software except
Multicast routing
• Each system appears exactly as if an Icom system
– “DSM” Code:
• Single Ethernet port unlike Icom RP2C/Gateway
• Emulates RP2C/Gateway by producing similar IP
frames
• Allows all existing gateway-resident applications
to be hosted without modification (e.g. D-Plus)
– G2 Repeater code:
• Local Repeat function
• G2 Routing Function including de-jitter buffer and
re-sync/silence packet in-fill code
• Function of Software:
– Some “unique” features:
• Inbuilt, dual-mode ident (configurable timers) sends
callsign, date/time and programmable message
• Status of D-Plus linking returned after every local
transmission as part of “RPT?”
– E.g. “Unlinked” “Linked REF005 A”
– Single Ethernet, flexible IP addressing
– User/Admin pages; ability for admin to directly
add new users; bulk add feature, other futures,
e.g. LDAP…
– Cost… Mini-ITX EPIA M1000, £50, SSD, £35, 12V
Pico-PSU £20, metalwork £30 = £135 ~ $180
– Main database interface and repeater code in
native C++ - about 80kBytes total
– User/admin pages in Perl
Software v2 Features
• Ability to support up to 3 GMSK adapters
• Mix & Match of “vendors” supported
• Major improvements in DV packet handling on
local repeat
• Tri-mode ident (Date/time, Message, Link
Status)
Copyright © 2006 – Texas Interconnect
Team
Portable D-Star Repeater
• Truly Portable:
– 2 x Tait Radio Modems
– V7 Satoshi board
– ASUS EEE 901 Netbook
running Ubuntu
– 3G Connection to the
Internet
– Countries visited so far:
In the bar at “Eleven Didsbury Park” Hotel,
Manchester, UK
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UK
US
Netherlands
Belgium
Spain
Italy
Systems on-air
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GB7MH, West Sussex, UK
GB7BM, Birmingham, UK
GB7NM, Newcastle, UK
SE0E, Tyreso, Sweden
OH2RCH, Juhanila, Finland
WG2MSK, Staten Island
VK2RHK
WW6BAY, Palo Alto
W6IOS
NW7DR
D-STAR
Q&A Panel
George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU
Rick McCusker WF6O
Robin Cutshaw AA4RC
Jim Moen K6JM
David Lake G4ULF
Moderator
D-Star for Beginners
DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview
Building a simplex hot spot
Linux-based D-Star repeater software