D-STAR Info

Three more 440 MHz D-STAR digital repeaters will be shipped on Monday destined for the following locations:

• Little Falls, covering both Brainerd and St. Cloud.
• Fargo, supporting the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Amateurs for flood relief /boat and helicopter support
• Duluth for MS150 / Grandma's etc.

In the Twin Cities we are up to four possibly five gateway linked repeaters:

• 444.325 Ramsey County
• 145.11 Hennepin County
• 1283.3 Hennepin County

Erik, NY9D   www.14567.org

NODIG has again enhanced its digital infrastructure of D-STAR based amateur radio services by adding a dedicated reflector port for the American Red Cross. Reflector 39 Delta has been designated for state wide American Red Cross operations in Ohio and may also serve surrounding states as needed. This enhancement rounds out the emergency communications offering of NODIG to the amateur radio operators of Ohio and the agencies they serve.

As with NODIG’s reflector ports designated for ARES, EMA and Skywarn, NODIG does not manage operations for these groups but provides local, state, regional and national linking capabilities. This offers a more spectral efficient venue for Ecomms than that of traditional analog repeaters. These groups also have the ability to pass data, text messaging and manage asset location through DPRS with the system.

NODIGS’s assets and linking partners reach much of the state’s population concentrations with D-STAR equipment in 35% of Ohio’s 88 counties. Many of these locations having had installed D-STAR capable equipment in hospitals and government offices. This reflects a RF footprint of roughly half the state’s counties.

For more information please visit www.nodig.us or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northern-Ohio-Digital-Interconnect-Group/145438878885464

Saturday January 28, 2012 (9am - 4pm)
Radisson Park Inn Sharon Hotel - West Middlesex, PA

D-STAR Day will be held at the Radisson Park Inn Sharon hotel in West Middlesex, PA., on Saturday January 28th, 2012. Starting at 9 AM and finishing at 4 PM.

We believe about 100 hams will attend from the local area including Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Akron/Canton, Cleveland and Erie. D-STAR Day will include presentations from Icom and other D-STAR experts. If you want to learn more about D-STAR, this is your chance.

ICOM America is excited to attend D-STAR Day. Presenting will be ICOM Division Manager - Amateur and Receiver Products - Ray Novak, N9JA. Staff from DX Engineering and Superbertha.com will be in attendance as well!

In addition to Ray Novak, N9JA – here are some of the other attendees to D-STAR Day:

• Founder of the Georgia Statewide D Star network and D-Rats expert – John Davis, WB4QDX
• The inventor of the DV Dongle – Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC
• ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR
• ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Manager – John Rodgers, N3MSE

There will also be a “field trip” for all participants to nearby (1 mile away) Amateur Radio station K3LR

For more information http://www.dstarday.com/

Many of you may have heard of the project for a group of students from Université de Liège to launch a satellite carrying a D-STAR capable repeater into space. It looks like they are growing closer. They are now anticipating a "late 2012" launch. Let's all wish them the best of luck. Who know, by Christmas you may even be able to make a 1,000 mile D-STAR contact without the Internet!

Here's their January 2012 Newsletter

For details visit http://www.icomamerica.com/en/promotions/amateur/d-star-infrastructure/

From January 9, 2012 to February 9, 2012, qualifying clubs are required to place a US$3,0000* deposit on a 70cm D-STAR repeater with Icom America Inc. (*plus freight and applicable taxes)

Bonus: If you can meet the following requirements within 90-days from the date of purchase, Icom will refund the US$3,0000* deposit. (*plus freight and applicable taxes)

• Install in permanent location identified at the time of purchase
• Fully operational on the USROOT trust server with Icom G2 Gateway Software and within the requirements outlined by the USROOT Administration team
• Minimum of 10 users registered on the "Gateway"
• Guarantee system on air for minimum of 1 year from date of installation

This program is limited to clubs located in priority areas listed below or not within an existing D-STAR Repeater (100 Aeronautical Mile Radius). Send a club biography and an outline of how D-STAR will be used in your community to DSTAR.Promo@icomamerica.com to see if your club qualifies.

Priority areas:

The Pre-Dayton Hamvention® D-STAR Meet, Greet and Eyeball QSO is scheduled for May 17, 2012 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Marion’s Piazza in Beavercreek Ohio. 

Make plans early for the big event.  Come enjoy a casual and relaxing time with friends you have made on the air prior to the big show.

Details can be found at the following Hamvention® web site: http://www.hamvention.org/events.php#dstar . 

Attention to the updated D-STAR frequencies and call signs in the Dayton area, for some have changed.  Handheld coverage has greatly improved and is easily accessible from Hamvention® with our new installation and location of the W8RTL system.

Also note that during Hamvention® week one of the W8RTL repeaters will be linked to Reflector 38C thanks to the Northern Ohio Digital Interconnect Group (NODIG).

Hope to see you there.

Joe – KA8C

We are proud to announce that every Tuesday at 22:30 local time (21:30 UTC) we have a weekly net on our D-Star repeater ED3YAK C, accessible to local users, and users from the network via ED3YAK G. We intend to establish a point / time of meeting to say hello and check the system load. Net is announced in catalan but we accept check ins in spanish, english and french. More info about our system at http://dstar.radioaficionats.cat
73 de John EA3WR

Administradors ED3YAK C, Repetidor D-Star de Barcelona
Webmaster D-Star Catalunya