Steve Bosshard wrote: > > > Right now, driving down the road I don't know if our local repeater is > linked unless I send UR=K5CTX^^I and the repeater play back "Not > Currently Linked." I cannot at all tell if the user at the far end is > on a linked repeater or not. I am not even sure what repeater that > person last used. > > So set UR=W1FJM to call Fran announcing 'Please One Touch to Reply." > (My own call progress tone). I either get UR* if the call reached > destination, or RPT? if the far end was busy or my radio is > mis-programmed. > > This works AOK with a light use system with 2 repeaters and 2 users. > > Now suppose Fran were using a reflector with 31 linked repeaters tied > in. From my end, mobile, I don't know which repeater Fran is using. > Neither do I know if his repeater is linked to a reflector. I know > call sign routing will send my call to the last repeater he used (plus > every other repeater in the linked set). > > Enter Dplus Linking. I now have to shoot blind into a nest of 31 > different repeaters hoping in the blind to make my call in between > keyups from the different users. Remember, I cannot hear what is > happening at the reflector end to time my transmission. > > Also some folks leave little or no pause between transmissions, and > then there are the one or two folks who camp out on a reflector for > hours at a time (minus toilet breaks). > > Sessions that run on for hours on end between 2 or 3 users don't > belong on a linked system tying up 20 or 30 repeaters. At the very > least, the two or 3 folks tying up the system could call sign route > and only tie up their own repeaters, or move to an un-used reflector > (unless they need an audience). > > After 5 or 10 RPT? attempts I just give up and go elsewhere. > > So, I certainly don't want to take away from anyone else's enjoyment, > but a few simple changes (simple from my perspective - maybe not > simple for a programmer) could make DSTAR much better for everyone by > adding to and not taking away any features. > > Please don't throw too many rocks at me for my comments. 73, steve >
Very good comments Steve, thats right you cant hear the other parties for gaps etc. As a station receiving a routed call, I usually unlink and then continue. We all know a reflector can be a congested place for qso´s and a need for isolation to have separate qso´s is required, otherwise you are waiting on others. I quite often use my laptop mobile with aircard to keep an eye on whats happening etc, i.e. quick glimpses, avoiding running off the road at the same time. If you see the target on last heard then you know the gateway. the dplus monitor will show the links as well. If you get through via routing then I think the target station should unlink, if the gateway is not in use by others. There are many scenarios here, and no solution will satisfy all I think. vk4tux
