Simon,
> I've read about the various projects with interfacing the UT-118
> directly and feeding the output/input via a 9600baud input.
OK, I'm in the mood, soo..
"There are those,
who believe,
That Life here..
began Out There..."
Several people, me included, are doing projects to implement D-STAR
for radios that do not have it, but which DO have the capability of
handling high-speed digital signals, usually in the shape of a DATA
port through which one can connect a TNC or such. As long as this
port is capable of delivering 9600bps-based packet (the modulation
signal that is, not the actual bits .. ;-) it will work with such
D-STAR projects, indeed.
> Generally, is the encoded D-Star signal too delicate to feed over
> a mic/speaker input/output (in the way that APRS is)?
There is no way in, uhh, that place, that you'll be able to do that,
as there is simply too much filtering, distortion and pre-emphasis
and de-emphasis circuitry in those standard audio lines. They make
your analog audio sound good, but are a nightmare to "digital" modes.
> [I'm trying to decide which HT to purchase, given that I might
> want to play with D-Star at a future time.]
Any rig with 9600-mode should do. If possible, get a decent brand,
and check out its connections beforehand. I used my project with my
good ol' Kenwood TH-F7 (works fine), the TH-D7 (fine) and I have a
number of Icom HT's, but of those, I only use the IC-92AD HT with
D-STAR, simply because it has that built-in.
Check the specs of any candidate HT, and make sure it can have a TNC
or modem attached to it for use with packet ("Packet", "Data", also
"APRS" is used as a label for that) and that it can not do just that,
but in 9600-bps mode as well. If no 9600-mode explicitly stated,
assume it doesn't do it, and neither will D-STAR in that case.
Cheers,
Fred PA4YBR
