I completely agree with Joe W8SS about the value of DPlus to DStar users worldwide except in Japan, where I understand DPlus is normally not added to ICOM DStar repeaters.
Clearly a newbie can get up to speed and enjoy DStar faster when they concentrate on DPlus linking and unlinking, versus Callsign routing. Once they've enjoyed DPlus style DStar for awhile, they are free to read the ICOM manual and begin to use Callsign routing if they want. We all see a few occasions where Callsign routing has some advantages. But for everyday DStar, including mobile, taking advantage of DPLus is easier and safer. It seems obvious to me that DPlus generated a second and larger growth in DStar usage. DVAPs leverage DPlus and require a DStar radio. I find it ironic ICOM Japan, whose profits are improved by all those DStar radios being sold because of DPlus and DVAP, continues to ignore and tries to trivialize DPlus. I'm sure there are cultural issues at play, and I respect that, but in the meantime, the rest of us can enjoy this really valuable tool. I will say, however, that if someone is no longer a DStar newbie, they really should read about Callsign routing and use it a few times. I commend Jeff KG8IU for quickly figuring out what was going on and making the contact using Callsign routing. But I noticed some comments about his post revealed not everyone has taken the time to read up on this original feature of DStar. We don't have to use it, but we should all kind of understand it. Jim - K6JM ----- Original Message ----- From: Dr. Joeseph Mesh To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 10:01 AM Subject: RE: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] linked reflector + traditional callsign routing [1 Attachment] [Attachment(s) from Dr. Joeseph Mesh included below] ". Folks did AOK without Dplus linking for quite some time." Gee Steve "A"OK... When was that? I have been in D-Star since the beginning and I certainly do not remember anything as valued by the majority as the functional capabilities added by D-PLUS. D-Plus gives us the power to do what we enjoy with our modules today and it is MUCH more than just the ability to link to reflectors. I am usually one that is in total agreement with nearly every NU5D post but I really urge you to reconsider your view point on promoting the North American use of this "one-touch" idea when D-PLUS is here to stay in North America. Call sign routing was a hall mark of the original design of D-Star but the "as used in North America" version of D-Star has clearly pushed it to a seat at the very far back of the bus just behind the rear bumper. Without D-PLUS there would be NO DV Dongles, DV tools, DVAPs, automated voice announcements, automated digital messages on modules, automated voice services such as running Amateur Radio News, Dashboards, echo testing, on air voice mail services, and of course linking of reflectors. D-Plus is definitely a major part of North American D-Star that is here to stay! Robin has made a remarkable contribution to the D-Star community by writing and maintaining D-PLUS. Although the loss of "one-touch" is a slight draw back one-touch was a "pain" for most D-Star operators as most find it difficult to learn, few understood its value, many forget that the CS code line has changed and forget to return it to CQCQCQ, using it today creates accidental QRMing of net operations even when employed by fine operators with great technical skills like NU5D, and with very limited use in North America it was little to give up in view of the major contributions provided by D-PLUS. Once again - By using D-PLUS and limiting the use of "one-touch" we are not following the world. The American D-Star community is indeed setting the pace and reshaping the game as all fine contributors do to better the lives we lead. Thanks...Joe / W8SS / Mesh Engineering / Trustee & Sysop on D-Star for K8LCD AKA: Dr. Joe Mesh, D.M.D., C.A.G.S. (Prosthodontics) from beautiful downtown HELL, Michigan Always available at: [email protected] ............................................................................ ............ See us on the web at: W8SS, W8SSS & K8LCD all on QRZ.com and at drsmesh.com
