At 03:15 PM 5/26/2009, Lee wrote: >Okay, I'm a relatively new technician (just a little over a year now) and >I'm looking to get onboard with DSTAR... > >What's the best way to get started in the arena of DSTAR? > >I'm going to look at getting a DSTAR radio, but I want to make sure I know >what to do with it once I get it before I get it. > >73's >-Lee KE5UBF
Hi, Lee, Just outside Dallas, you are in the "cradle" of D-STAR development in the US. While D-STAR was invented in Japan, it's US introduction and much of it's innovation took place (and continues to develop) just down the road from you. Visit www.k5tit.org to learn more about that. There are several tons of D-STAR material on the web. The hard part isn't finding something, but sifting thru what you find. I'll point you to the stuff I've produced, and I'm sure many others will point you to some other good resources. My stuff is at my web site: www.arvideonews.com. Head to the section on Digital Voice for Amateur Radio. There you'll see a documentary video, "Digital Voice for Amateur Radio." It's a $22 DVD that's good for club meeting programs as well as individual or small-group viewing. There's a free preview on the web site. I'm sure there are a few copies floating around the DFW area, though I have a few left to sell, too. If you wade in deeper to D-STAR, you'll find a few more videos on my site - a training seminar put on by the guys who run the Charlotte, NC machine, and a DVD with last year's D-STAR forum and meetings at the Dayton Hamvention. That last one is for when the bug has bitten you hard. That's the sales pitch. I've got some free stuff, too. My QST feature, "Operating D-STAR," published in September, 2007, is still a good primer for D-STAR. A few things have been added to the way repeaters get linked (the article, and the video, will say that D-STAR repeaters don't get linked, but that capability was developed later). It's available as a PDF download, courtesy of the ARRL and QST. I've also reviewed the ICOM IC-92 handheld, and that QST review is also available for download. Finally, I have a free YouTube video on programming radios for D-STAR operation, featuring the IC-2820 mobile and IC-92 handheld, with some info on the ID-800 mobile. All of this is linked from the Digital Voice section of my web site. That should get you started, and at that point you may be able to decide how much farther you want to go. 73, Gary KN4AQ ARVN: Amateur Radio//Video News Gary Pearce KN4AQ 508 Spencer Crest Ct. Cary, NC 27513 <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] 919-380-9944 www.ARVideoNews.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
