D‐STAR in Florida`s East Coast

D‐STAR in Florida’s East Coast Mike Lee – WB6RTH What is D‐STAR..? •  Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio –  1999 Funded by the Japanese Government and administered by the Japanese Amateur Radio League (JARL) –  2001 Open SpecificaUon Published – anyone can implement hWp://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulaUons/techchar/D‐STAR.pdf –  Current ImplementaUons • 
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Digital Voice (with simultaneous low rate data) on 2 meters Digital Voice (with simultaneous low rate data) on 70 cenUmeters Digital Voice (with simultaneous low rate data) on 23 cenUmeters Digital Data (128Kbps) on 23 cenUmeters Backbone (10 Mbps) on 10 gHz. Band Internet Gateways D‐STAR Technology •  Digital Voice (DV) –  4800 bps data stream real Ume encoded with •  2400 bps voice (AMBE encoded) •  1200 bps Forward Error CorrecUon (FEC) for voice •  1200 bps data (text messages, GPS, telemetry, etc.) –  6.25 kHz. Bandwidth using GMSK •  Digital Data (DD) –  128 kbps data stream –  150 kHz. Bandwidth –  Possible extensions to other rates and bandwidths •  E.g. 4800 bps in 6.25 kHz. (not current standard) on repeaters D‐STAR Technology •  D‐STAR is NOT Proprietary – 
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YES, currently only 1 major vendor of user radios YES, you should expect others to get into the field as demand grows YES, it will push prices DOWNWARD YES, it uses the DVSI chip for AMBE‐2020 vocoder (single source) YES, DVSI is the largest manufacturer of P25 vocoders in the world YES, GMSK on the RF is idenUcal to that used in GSM cell phones NO, there is nothing in Icom’s implementaUon that is proprietary D‐STAR – What can it DO..? •  DV ‐ Simultaneous Voice and Data (1200bps) • 
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Reduce Voice traffic (chaWer) Reduce errors, standardize message, speed flow Communicate via predetermined Forms (ICS‐213, etc) All data traffic is recordable for audit purposes Easier post‐even analysis due to Ume‐stamped data •  DD ‐ High Speed Data – 128kbps over Ethernet •  CriUcal Messaging on each transmission • 
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ID and short message on every key‐up (quick‐key) GPS data on each transmission DPRS‐APRS bridge at the gateway Constant monitoring of all GPS tracked assets, recordable •  Secure from casual monitoring, yet FCC legal •  ObscuraUon via GMSK and digital encoding on baseband D‐STAR – What can it DO..? D‐STAR – What can it DO..? •  Linking •  1‐to‐1 repeater linking with zone calling “/call‐sign” •  MulU‐cast linking using Gateway – up to 10 systems •  Dplus linking with Reflectors – unlimited systems •  Reflectors •  Analogous to IRLP or EchoLink reflectors •  Numerous naUonal and internaUonal reflectors D‐STAR – What can it DO..? •  Interoperability with FM Analog and Public Service •  Using NCS‐C250 MulU‐Switcher •  Approved by DHS D‐STAR ConvenUons •  Everything is Call‐Sign driven –  No Codes, no Node Numbers –  Simply: •  UR‐Call •  Repeater‐1
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•  My‐Call Mostly CQCQCQ your CLOSEST repeater your Gateway Hardly ever changes D‐STAR ConvenUons •  8th Character in UR‐Call (e.g., “WB6RTH_A”) •  A‐Port = 1.2ghz •  B‐Port = UHF •  C‐Port = 2‐meters •  G‐Port = GATEWAY •  E‐Port = ECHO test thru the gateway with Dplus •  I‐ Port = Repeater InformaUon •  L‐Port = Dplus Link command •  U‐Port = Dplus Unlink command •  X‐Port = Dplus Extension Scripts D‐STAR Areas and Zones KA4RES B KA4RES C Controller 70 CM UR: CQCQCQ RPT1: KA4RES B RPT2: KA4RES C MY: WB6RTH 2 M UR: CQCQCQ RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES B MY: K5BBC Making a Contact: Local Repeater •  General Call •  General Call – Local repeater only •  Specific StaUon •  Specific StaUon ‐ – Local repeater only – 
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Your Call: CQCQCQ RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: K5BBC RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: My Call: WB6RTH –  Calling CQ –  Roundtables/Nets –  Most Common –  When other staUon is using call‐sign squelch –  Looking for other staUon Making a Contact: Zone Repeater •  General Call •  General Call ‐ CrossBand •  Specific StaUon •  Specific StaUon ‐ CrossBand – 
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Your Call: CQCQCQ RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES B My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: K5BBC RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES B My Call: WB6RTH –  Calling CQ –  Roundtables/Nets –  Most Common –  When other staUon is using call‐
sign squelch –  Looking for other staUon Gateway IllustraUon Icom Repeater Linking KA4RES B W4DOC B KA4RES C W4DOC A Controller Controller “Repeaters and Gateways should have club call signs…” KA4RES G (Gateway) GPS W4DOC G (Gateway) 70 CM UR: /W4DOC A RPT1: KA4RES B RPT2: KA4RES G MY: WB6RTH Internet or Backbone 23 CM UR: /KA4RESB RPT1: W4DOC A RPT2: W4DOC G MY: AA4RC Gateway IllustraUon Call Sign Rou;ng – Network Wide KA4RES B W4DOC B KA4RES C W4DOC A Controller Controller “Repeaters and Gateways should have club call signs…” KA4RES G (Gateway) GPS W4DOC G (Gateway) 70 CM UR: AA4RC RPT1: KA4RES B RPT2: KA4RES G MY: WB6RTH Internet or Backbone 23 CM UR: WB6RTH RPT1: W4DOC A RPT2: W4DOC G MY: AA4RC Making a Contact: Gateway •  General Call – ICOM Method •  General Call Through Gateway •  Specific StaUon – Callsign Method •  Specific StaUon anywhere on Net •  Dplus Linking Method •  Connect to Remote Repeater – 
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Your Call: /K5TIT RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: K5BBC RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: “W4DOC_AL” RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH – 
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Calling CQ to another repeater Most like IRLP Needs Reverse rouUng info Receiver needs to use RX‐CS key –  Don’t know locaUon –  When other staUon is using call‐
sign squelch –  Interrupts QSO in progress –  Or Reflector –  Link or Unlink on demand –  Reflector = “REFxxxYL” Making a Contact: 95% of the Time •  General Call •  General Call •  Reflector Call •  Connect to Remote Repeater •  Specific StaUon •  Specific StaUon anywhere on Net – 
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Your Call: CQCQCQ RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: “W4DOC_AL” RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH Your Call: K5BBC RPT1: KA4RES C RPT2: KA4RES G My Call: WB6RTH – 
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Talk to anybody on the Repeater Anybody who is connected Any Dongle user No reverse rouUng required –  Or Reflector –  Link or Unlink on demand –  No reverse rouUng required –  Don’t know locaUon –  When other staUon is using callsign squelch –  Send Message Ways to get into D‐Star •  Cheapest to Most Expensive •  DV Dongle ($199 – needs a PC) •  Icom 2200H, 2meters ($330) •  Icom 880H, VHF/UHF Single ($470) •  Icom 2820H, VHF/UHF dual ($820) •  Icom ID‐1, 23cm w/DD ($950) •  Icom 80 handheld ($420) •  Icom 92AD handheld ($520) •  DV Dongle AP ($250 needs an HT) Simplex is Great, but …. What about Repeaters here in the Area..?? DSTAR on Florida’s East Coast •  Orlando •  4+ D‐STAR systems – W4AES, K1XC, KJ4MMC, KJ4OVA •  Sanford •  W4PLB •  NOTHING along the I‐95 Corridor North •  Next closest repeater is in Brunswick, GA •  We need to close the gap DSTAR in Flagler, Volusia, Duval •  Started as an Experiment, turned into a Mission •  Close the Gap on I‐95 from Sanford to Brunswick •  Emergency Services focused – ARES specifically •  Working with partner Agencies and Clubs •  Find reliable partners, invite parUcipaUon •  Gaining tracUon quicker than expected •  Privately Funded ©
DSTAR in Flagler, Volusia, Duval •  Advantages of D‐Star Repeater Equipment •  All Pre‐packaged, rack mounted equipment •  Commercial standards and implementaUon •  Easy spares and swapping capability •  Allows more people to be involved in maintenance •  Takes the “mysUque” out of the repeater business •  Gateway is more complex, but easily doable Guiding Principles •  Reliability and Survivability Are Paramount •  Find Sites which have high survivability –  Redundant power, priority FPL restoraUon –  High reliability telecom infrastructure ‐ underground –  Buildings are beWer than Towers –  Easy access for maintenance and repair •  Build infrastructure to Commercial Standards –  Emphasis on lightning protecUon –  Commercial equipment (no home‐brew) –  Proper test equipment and cerUficaUon standards –  Baseline equipment performance, monthly cerUficaUon –  Spare equipment availability Guiding Principles •  Equipment Being Used •  RF Equipment –  Icom D‐STAR controller and modules –  Preamplifiers Advanced Receiver Research –  Amplifiers TPL Systems or Mirage •  Duplexers •  Feed Line •  Antenna •  Power Supplies •  Gateway Systems •  Routers •  Lightning Protect
TxRx Systems Andrew Heliax DB‐224E and DB‐408 Folded Dipole Astron RM‐50MBB (BaWery Backed) New Dell desktops WRT‐54GL with DD‐WRT firmware Polyphaser ‐ AC, Coax, DC, data ConstrucUon Progress •  Three (3) Site System Design •  Flagler, US‐1 and Palm Coast Parkway (KA4RES) –  Antennas being installed for 2‐meters –  Gateway is operaUonal •  Duval County – site being negoUated (KJ4RYF) –  Antenna and RF acquired for 2‐meters –  Gateway is configured and cerUfied •  Volusia – Site being negoUated (KJ4RYG) –  Antennas and RF acquired for 2‐meters –  Gateway is configured and cerUfied •  Mobile – Field Deployable (WB6RTI) –  Antenna and RF for 440mhz –  Gateway is COMPLETE and ONLINE ConstrucUon Progress •  Future Sites •  AddiUonal ConsecuUve Call‐Signs received –  KJ4RYH –  KJ4RYI –  KJ4RYJ •  AddiUonal Equipment Already Acquired –  Spare Controller –  Spare 2‐meter module –  Spare UHF module Coverage Maps Google Earth DemonstraUon QuesUons and Answers Mike Lee – WB6RTH [email protected] [email protected] FlaglerARES.org