Catrina, The quick answer to your question is, no. DStar is a system that does A LOT. It is not confusing, but let me take a stab at it. You can use the RX->CS button if your friend just called you. That is the quick way to answer him/her. If you are calling, and don't know exactly where they are, you put your friend's call in the UR (YOUR) field and the system will automatically route your call to him/her. If you the "YOUR" field is set to /WA6IRCB you would be calling the repeater that your friend was last heard on. Remember, to go through the internet, you have to have the RPT1 and RPT2 fields completed as in the manual. Let me summarize below: UR: CQCQCQ RPT1: Blank RPT2: Blank My: You callsign You will be calling simplex (hopefully) and not using a repeater. UR: CQCQCQ RPT1: Repeater Call + A/B/C RPT2: Blank My: You callsign You will be through a repeater, but not going out over the internet. UR: CQCQCQ RPT1: Repeater Call + A/B/C RPT2: Repeater Call + G My: You callsign You will be through a repeater, and going out over the internet through the gateway. UR: KG6PPA RPT1: Repeater Call + A/B/C RPT2: Repeater Call + G My: You callsign You will be through a repeater, and going out over the internet through the gateway and call your friend on a different repeater. You could be in FL and your friend could be in CA. The system would route the call to the last repeater your friend was heard on. UR: /WA6IRCB RPT1: Repeater Call + A/B/C RPT2: Repeater Call + G My: You callsign You will be through a repeater, and going out over the internet through the gateway and connect to the repeater your friend was last heard on. You could be in FL and your friend could be in CA. The system would route the call to the repeater. I hope that helps. I know it is clear as mud.... :-) 73 David, AC7DS
