At 07:27 AM 10/8/2008, you wrote: >The *only* way analog to digital links are going to work properly is on >Reflectors (on both sides).
I agree. Analog links I can see will look more like DV Dongles than anything else to the D-STAR network, and they will fit in best on reflectors. I see a lot of useful scenarios within this constraint though. For example, it would halp us WX waters by providing more ways to interact with the SE D-STAR net, which is an important net for events in the Gulf region. Currently, only a few of us have D-STAR capability. >The "correct" way to do it would be completely in software, but... the >CODEC for D-STAR is hideously expensive from DVSI to do that. > >So the "next best" is to loop the digital stream out through a DV-DONGLE >and back in. The DV Dongle would be the best method we have access to. >The change that has to happen beyond that is that the Dongle or the >Reflector software has to be able to trigger a hardware or software >"PTT" and "COS" indication. Yep. Oh, and the first fool to put IDs, hang time or courtesy tones to D-STAR should be flogged publicly, lynched and then ceremonially burnt at the stake, as an example to anyone considering installing a shoddy cross link! :D >Both of those are completely in the hands of Robin and crew, since both >the Dongle and the Reflector are closed-source code. > >Robin is working on a "next generation" Reflector, with an unknown >release date. Hopefully it has the ability to be hard-linked like this. That would be interesting. >Using "nodes" -- as you point out, is a technical problem -- because >callsign routing control isn't available. However, it would be nice to have a "simplex gateway", essentially a digital link on simplex, rather than a repeater. With the right software behind it, it should theoretically support callsign based routing, since the end user access would be digital. As for how it would be implemented, there would be a few options, from a PC running D-STAR software (it wouldn't need a DV Dongle, since it wouldn't have to decode the audio), and correctly connected to an FM radio, through to a packaged solution, much like a cut down version of the repeater units. >Building some strange DTMF to callsign routing entry "scheme" is too far >"out there" that most average folks won't even attempt to figure out how >to use it. It's so far away from the KISS principal, it won't get any >real traction with users. Agree, for example, I've never bothered to work out how to call Echolink nodes by callsign over DTMF. I just make a note of the node numbers. :) Hmm, assigning node numbers to D-STAR gateways _might_ do it, but the callsign routing wouldn't be as dynamic as it is with the radios. It would have to be "sticky" and use the last route defined, until someone either provided a new destination or cleared the route (equivalent to setting UR=CQCQCQ) with a "hangup" command. 73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
