I have appropriately nick named it "Death Star". I agree, when (probably
never) the other manufacturers make a compatible radio, I might consider buying
one. Can you say monopoly and price fixing?
There are several Death Star repeaters popping up in Michigan. The P25
repeaters have been around much longer, one in Detroit for over 2 years.
Problem is, the Michigan Repeater Council, MARC, will not recognize P25 but
does Death Star. The P25 owner is trying to get a pair but they refuse to even
put him on the waiting or pending list.
Shanon KA8SPW
Nate Duehr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
On 4/23/07, Jim B. wrote:
> I don't know about D-STar, since it's unique to Icom, but Aeroflex (was
> IFR) has a couple of monitors that do P25, and one of those can also do
> things like TETRA.
Understand. This is why I personally think using something like P25
for Amateur use is better than D-Star, with their "pseudo-open"
standard. (Yes, the protocol is open, but no one else in the world
cares... mostly... and don't build in the vocoder or the protocol in
test gear, etc.)
> General Dynamics has a couple as well, but they're a bit more bucks.
> And I'm sure there's a couple more too.
Yep... lots of gear out there for what public-safety is using, like
always! Ham manufacturers trying to come up with their own protocols
I think screws the people buying it, long-term. If you can't find
test gear for it ANYWHERE, why buy it?
Icom's shooting themselves in the foot big-time with D-Star, and
taking a lot of hams interested in digital comm down their wrong path
too, in my not-so-humble opinion. The power of money and marketing.
P25 makes a lot more sense for a properly-engineered system... and
even includes... wait for it... TALK GROUPS! (Stupid D-Star... no
talk groups.)
Nate WY0X
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