When I bought my first D-Star radio (ID-880H) and told my local club members about it, a good half-dozen called and ordered one for themselves, even though we don’t yet have a D-Star repeater in our area. When I announced that I had just purchased a DVAP and IC-80AD, another nearby Ham called the store and ordered the set for himself (and I helped him get going with it). And we still don’t have a D-Star repeater, although we expect one with the next couple of months. Then there were those who felt it necessary to naysay D-Star, even though they knew pretty much nothing about it.
Most of the fears I hear about D-Star are that “it’s going to take over” or “It costs too much.” We need to be smart about how we present D-Star to the uninitiated. How do you sell it? First, I tell other Hams who express concerns that D-Star isn’t going to replace FM. It is merely “another mode” of communication just as we have AM, FM, SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK and other digital modes, plus EME and satellite communications (not modes but still areas in which some Hams have great interest). A D-Star radio is a multi-mode radio just like your Yaesu FT-857/897, Icom 706/7000, and other radios already in use. The two modes in a D-Star radio are, of course, FM and GMSK. Not everyone uses every mode of communication out there – some are enthusiastic about only one or two modes and spend the majority of their time on those. Second, I tell them about what D-Star can do. D-Star is an “enabling” technology that enhances our abilities to communicate. The primary purpose of a Ham radio operator is to communicate, and the basic core capability of Amateur Radio is, “one radio, an antenna, and a communicator (Ham).” We use that core capability every day when we pick up a microphone and communicate. The advanced technologies that have come along, specifically digital, enable us to communicate more efficiently (hopefully) and move more traffic and pass more messages for a served agency (Red Cross, Salvation Army?). However, when the infrastructure that serves our advanced technology fails, as much of it did after Hurricane Katrina, we fall back to a lesser level, perhaps even all the way back to our basic core capability, one radio, an antenna, and a communicator. When someone challenges D-Star and says, “Yeah, but what if you lose the Internet?” Then we have a great local repeater. “And if you lose that?” Then we revert to simplex operation, just as you would do if your local FM repeater failed. Or we might change modes and bands, going to HF SSB to replace the lost long-distance D-Star capability. The point is that D-Star is just another conduit for what we do, and that is to communicate. There is nothing strange and complex about it. If it fails, we try another mode, band, frequency. “But what about cost? D-Star radios are more expensive (or too expensive).” Not so, I tell them. Do you have an HF radio at home? Did you think twice about spending $150 for an antenna tuner for it? Or a desk microphone (or any other accessory)? Then think of a D-Star radio as a dual band FM radio to which I added a $150 accessory. You will typically spend about $300 for a quality dual band radio (think Icom 208H). I bought my ID-880H new for $449, so I’ve invested $150 more in the digital accessory that makes my quality dual band FM radio into a multi-mode FM/GMSK radio. If D-Star repeaters and gateways suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth tomorrow, I would still own a quality dual-band FM/GMSK radio with which I could still use the GMSK mode simplex with other similarly equipped Hams, or talk on FM with everyone else. “But D-Star repeaters will take away all our 2-meter frequency pairs!” Why? Any frequency coordinator worth their salt and conducting business in a ethical manner will assign available frequencies based on first-come, first-served. In most highly congested areas there are more 2-meter repeaters than we need anyway. I’ve driven through large metro areas and called on many repeaters, only to listen to silence. None-the-less, there is room out there for both FM and D-star repeaters. I don’t hear people squawking about ATV repeaters occupying repeater pairs that could be used for voice repeaters, notwithstanding the recommended band plan. D-Star repeaters can easily live with non-standard pairs that would be cumbersome with FM voice applications (seems many Hams don’t know how to put a non-standard split in their FM radios). “But I’m not interested in D-Star.” And that’s OK – not everyone is. Use the modes and means you’re happy with, but don’t fear D-Star. It’s not going to eat your children…. 73 de Tim, AF1G From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Holman Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:38 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Are you exprerencing anti d-star in your area? About the only anti-DStar stuff we here about here in Tucson is the cost.... It is expensive. It would be nice if ICOM wasn't the only player. For those afraid to loose their analog (and I really don't know why they would be except that they don't want to have to buy new radios and I can't say that I blame them either), a good digital repeater would be able to do both, DStar and analog. I mean my HT can differentiate between the two signals. A repeater should be able to handle both signals and not blink. My personal opinion, analog should be mothballed and something digital (maybe not DStar) should replace it. We should be putting up repeaters that can do both.... I haven't seen that done yet. 73 David, AC7DS _____ From: Steve Homer <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, July 11, 2010 10:49:56 AM Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Are you exprerencing anti d-star in your area? Hi David, The same was said about Echolink. People seem to not like the unknown & there was a time Echolink was the same. Just ride the wave for a while until people learn or are educated to the benefits of Dstar - You will find most who oppose it have never tried it! Steve EI2GYB On 11/07/10 18:24, davidscott_345 wrote: I have listened to a couple of conversations on analog 2 meter repeaters here in Columbus, Ohio. The gist of the conversations seem to be we don't want d-star because they will lose their analog systems. After hearing this I checked the the 2007-2008 repeater directory. Taking into account machines I knew were no longer on the air I counted 16 2 meter machines and 22 440 Mhz machines in operation. There are two d-star systems in Columbus one went up on a new frequency pairs on 2m and 440. The other went up on existing 2m and 440 repeater pairs. I see that as a net loss to the analog folks as 1 2m and 1 440 pair. When I scan the local analog repeaters only a couple are used a lot. There are many that don't have any traffic on them for hours at a time. So what do they feel they are losing? I understand if it is not their cup of tea. I don't feel any hostility to CW ops or packet because I don't use those modes so why should they feel threatened by dstar. David Scott N8XYF No virus found in this incoming message. 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