by va3stl

Tonight, before heading home I dropped by the VA3CUA station at the University where I work. I used the Icom ID-1 to link the 1.2GHz module of VA3ODG to reflector REF003C, an Australian reflector. Linked also to the reflector was the repeater ZL1VHD in Auckland, New Zealand. After making a call out on the reflector I had a reply from Marlene, ZL1MYL. We had a nice but brief chat and she told me that there had been messages passed through the Auckland D-STAR repeater for people in the earthquake damaged city of Christchurch. Messages received were being relayed on via other modes on VHF to Christchurch, as that city does not have a D-STAR repeater. The chat with Marlene was short as she had to take a phone call, but I did then talk to her husband Laurence, ZL1ICU.

Later tonight I saw the message from the ARRL that confirms that 2m is being used to support the recovery efforts and currently not HF.

If you have traffic for someone in Christchurch then one possible route in is via the Auckland D-STAR repeater ZL1VHD.

The Southeastern Repeater Association has dedicated the February 2011 Repeater Journal to D-STAR. See if you can find an issue and take a read.

We're in the process of updating D-STAR with a new Content Management System that will allow us to publish information much easier and allow for more community interaction.

As has always seem the case, there were a lot more people wanting to hear the D-STAR forum at Hamcation than there were seats available.Regrettably a number of people turned away when they saw how full the room was. Hamcation officials are trying to find a better alternative for next year.

This year's presentation were as follows:

• Ed Woodrick WA4YIH - Learning how to program your D-STAR radios
• John Davis WB4QDX - Using D-RATS
• Robin Cutshaw AA4RC - DVDongle, DVAP, and more
• Scott Hartwell - KJ4PWI - Sending high resolution pictures using airborne D-STAR DD mode