"The full "D-Star stack" of VHF, UHF, and 1.2 GHz all at the same physical SITE is a waste of spectrum, and should be avoided also.
Nate Duehr" There are around 14 DSTAR users in Temple, Texas, and our neighbors in Waco and Austin are moving forward with their own systems as well. The 'full stack' may indeed be a waste of spectrum unless there is a need for more capacity. I am finding the 1253.0000 digital HS data repeater is unique to the system - no voice just 128kb/sec data. Thus far we have not set up a network between stations, just tested the internet connection and it does work at around 80kb/sec. (3 of the 14 have 1.2 capability and the number will grow). Also the coverage at 1296 is not bad (different than 2M or 440, but not bad). There are many times when a user wants a local chat on 2m/440 (not necessarily both) and there are times someone wants to use the gateway to make an out of area contact. Having 1292.1000 digital voice plus either 2M (very crowded most places) or 440 (not as crowded here in the sticks) while not a full stack, does have a place, and 1.2 G is pretty much under utilized most places. Propagation on 1.2 Ghz makes frequency re-use less of a challenge. Add to this an occasional traveler through the area, and with the Belton Hamfest bringing several thousand hams to the Temple/Belton area a couple of times a year, I can see how a single repeater might be less than ideal. Having DSTAR Chat run concurrent 1.2kb/sec low speed keyboard chat with digital voice at the same time on any of the digital voice repeaters is also a nice added feature that better utilizes spectrum. (You cannot have separate voice and data transmissions - low speed data rides with voice whether you use it or not) Add to this the 6.25 Khz bandwidth for still better spectrum utilization. I cannot see using a 20 Khz channel in 2M plus a 20 Khz channel in 440 to duplicate efforts unless there is a real demand, but I can see 23 Cents added to either a 440 or 2M system to offer some unique features. Seems like the 23 cent HS data repeater is a simplex operation that is around 200 Khz wide and could not pratically be used in the lower bands. I believe coordinators should offer incentives to more spectrally efficient technologies such as P25 and DSTAR. This will ultimately open more spectrum over time, and while I agree both P25 and DSTAR are repeaters, rule changes to foster more spectrally efficient technologies may be indeed appropriate, especially when dead repeaters block the use of channels that would otherwise be used. It does seem (while the new hasn't worn off yet) there is a surge of activity on DSTAR repeaters while many other repeaters lay virtually dead. Time and the market will tell. Visit http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/dstar_digital for D-STAR ONLY discussions. 73, Steve NU5D /K5CTX A or B
