Followup on use of "/": Ok, I've used the "/" when calling a Japan destination. I had thought this was because Japan was using older software. But am I confused on the reason?
1) Is the "/" required on ALL calls, where one is using a repeater vs an individual callsign, in the UR field? Even in the U.S.? 2) If a "/" is used, is it the protocol to announce your calling repeater, to allow the called station to know your origination repeater? I had assumed (probably falsely) that this was the protocol only when calling a Japan station. Can this "/" be explained in a little more detail, for various scenarios? Thanks, Mike KC7VE --- In [email protected], Gary Pearce KN4AQ <kn...@...> wrote: > > > Response threaded in the questions: > > At 01:21 PM 3/22/2009, you wrote: > > >I've been trying to understand the usage of the UR field. I understand > >that it's where you put the destination call sign. But it's usage is a > >little vague and confusing. > > > >For instance. > > > >1) I have made calls locally, without changing from the default CQCQCQ. > >When it putting something there mandatory, to complete a call? > > There are a variety of situations where you need something specific in the > UR field. For local repeater operation, or for DPLUS "linked" repeater > operation, CQCQCQ is all you need. > > To route your signal to a distant repeater (the original method of D-STAR > networking), you put the distant repeater's callsign and port letter in the > UR field, preceded by a / (the / says it's a repeater). A six-character > callsign, preceded by the slash and followed by the port letter, will fill > the 8 character field. > > To route your signal to a specific D-STAR, no matter where they are, enter > their call sign (no slash, no port letter). The D-STAR network maintains a > list of everyone who's keyed up a Gateway-connected D-STAR repeater, and > will route your signal to the last repeater that person keyed up in the > past few weeks. (of course, it has no way to know if that person is still > listening). > > There's more. ICOM's radios have a form of selective calling based on call > signs. If you put your radio in "DSQL", it will remain silent to all > signals unless they have your call sign in their YOUR (UR) field. This > works locally on repeaters and simplex, and over the network. A call routed > over the network to you because it has your call sign in its UR field will > open your "DSQL" receiver. > > >2) And, there are times when a "/" is required in front of a repeater call > >sign. When is the "/" mandatory and when it is not? > > The / tells the system you're routing to a repeater, not an individual. So > it's mandatory to reach a repeater using the "original" routing scheme. I > think the DPLUS linking scheme, discussed below, is becoming more popular, > the routing scheme still works and has some advantages. > > >3) And, is the module number necessary, in the UR field? > > Yes, when routing to a repeater. Many D-STAR systems have all three voice > modules (2m, 70 cm, 23 cm) under the same call sign. The module number > tells them which repeater you want to key up (A=23cm, B=70cm, C=2m). > > >4) And, there are only 8 character field to deal with and some callsigns > >and port take all 8, if you count a slash. Are there any combinations that > >exceed 8 characters? > > No. 8 is the limit of the system, so nothing can use more. > > >5) Say I was monitoring the D-Stars user list. And say I saw someone in > >San Diego, using KI6KQU B. If I want to make a call to that person, in say > >San Diego, would I put their callsign in the UR field or would I put the > >repeater callsign? OR could I use either? If I used the repeater, would I > >prefix it with a "/" or would I leave out the "/"? > > Either would work. Putting in the repeater's call sign (with the required / > and port letter) guarantees your signal reaches that repeater. There is a > delay in propagating user key-ups to the network. I'm not sure how long it > is now, but maybe 10 minutes or so? So if the person has been bopping > around several local repeaters, the network might not be quite up to date > on the last key-up, while the info on dstarusers.com is updated instantly. > When you don't have access to dstarusers.com, putting in their calls sign > (no /, no port letter) is the safer bet, unless you know they only monitor > one repeater. > > >Another Example: > > > >I was told to set UR to UR:REF001CL (no slash), to connect to a reflector > >and just listen to what is going on. Then change it to UR: U (<- 8th > >position), to disconnect. Is "C" the port number? What is the "L"? > > That's correct, though you'll do more than listen. If you transmit (with > CQCQCQ back in your UR field, you'll also transmit to the reflector. > > In this case, the C is the port letter of the reflector (done that way to > be similar to the way repeaters work - each reflector is actually three > reflectors, A, B and C - the letters have nothing to do with an RF band). > And it's in the 7th, not 8th, position. A little confusing, but the guys > who designed it needed the 8th position for the L, which is the instruction > to initiate the link. > > >If I just wanted to listen in on the San Diego repeater, would I enter: > >UR:KI6KQUBL and just key the mic or is there something else required to > >just monitor a specific repeater? > > That's right - just key the mic, and the info you've entered does the rest. > The repeater will announce that it's linked (or that the other repeater is > busy or unavailable). No touch-tone keying, etc. Doing what you describe > would link your repeater to the San Diego UHF repeater. It's a two-way > link, so any transmissions on your repeater would go out in San Diego as > well. As far as I know, the ability to just "monitor" hasn't been built in. > I suppose it could be, though that might be confusing to the local users. > > Once you make your "link-me" key-up, be sure to change your radio back to > having CQCQCQ in your UR field, or the "link-me" instructions will get sent > every time you key up, and your actual transmissions won't be heard (at > least I think they won't - I'm not sure of that last point). > > >Eventually I will catch on to all of this. Right now, the more I learn, > >the more questions I have. > > > >Mike > >KC7VE > > We're all still learning! > > 73, > Gary KN4AQ > > ARVN: Amateur Radio//Video News > Gary Pearce KN4AQ > 508 Spencer Crest Ct. > Cary, NC 27513 > <mailto:kn...@...>kn...@... > 919-380-9944 > www.ARVideoNews.com > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >
