Artie, The radio signal will still be about the same, it has a little narrower bandwidth, so for a given power output you get a slight advantage over the wider analog FM signal. However, since D-STAR is digital with error correction, what you will experience is that when the analog FM signal gets tougher and tougher to copy due to a lower signal to noise ratio, the D-STAR signal will stay much clearer until it drops out. I have had many D-STAR contacts with a S0 meter reading and perfectly clear audio. Here is a good comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyYhLtS-0gE (not english, but you can get the distinct difference on a weak signal).
The D-STAR signal can suffer if the multipath is strong. What you may want to do is run a test. Have someone bring a D-STAR mobile to your repeater site and hook it to the repeater's antenna and take a handheld out to some of your marginal areas. Switch between FM and D-STAR and observe the difference for your exact setting. On Mar 13, 2009, at 8:23 AM, k2aau wrote: > To all: > > I currently have a Pathway obstruction where a roadway is elevated > at 240 ft and my site is at 260 ft effecting users some 6 miles away. > > Mobile coverage is okay but HT coverage is okay if you find a sweet > spot. > > My question is, will a digital signal have better penetration to > defeat a pathway obstruction versus analog or will I still have the > same problem. > > Can someone tell me their experience on what I can expect. > > Thanks > > 73, > > Artie > John Hays Amateur Radio: K7VE j...@hays.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
