At 02:03 PM 12/6/2009, you wrote: >I am trying to understand the features and limitations of D-STAR. I >have viewed every D-STAR video on YouTube (Especially good were >KN4AQ Gary Pearce's videos) plus I have read the articles/manuals on >the Icom site and DSTARusers.org. > >How can D-STAR radios communicate without a repeater or the Internet?
Simplex, just like FM. In fact, my first D-STAR QSOs were on simplex, before there was a repeater here. >Can D-STAR radios communicate with each other without a repeater as >in a simplex mode, as long as they are on the same frequency? Yes. Radios need to be on the same frequency Recommended settings for the callsign fields are: MY = <your callsign> UR = CQCQCQ (unless addressing a specific station) R1 and R2 left blank >Can a DVDongle be directly connected to a radio for DVDongle to >radio to radio to DVDongle communication? There is a DV voice adapter project, which combines a DV Dongle with GMSK modem hardware and some software, which can turn a 9600 bps capable FM radio into a D-STAR radio. This combination is functionally equivalent to a D-STAR radio. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
