The ircDDB software was developed to enable fast and reliable call sign routing. The "Live Log" and the "LastHeard" list are just a "by-product" of this functionality. After February 20th, 2011, every ham radio operator can choose whether his/her call sign will appear in the "Live Log" and the "LastHeard" list or not. So, this is just about visibility of your data on the Internet. Call sign routing works the same way as before. You don't have to enable Internet visibility for your call sign in order to use a repeater.

For more information visit ircDDB Live Log - visibility on the Internet

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

This year's Techfest, as always was packed full of people coming to see about the different aspects of Amateur Radio. Robin Cutshaw AA4RC and Ed Woodrick WA4YIH were on-site helping people understand D-STAR

For a part of Gwinnett ARES participation in the ARRL nationwide Simulated Emergency Test, Gwinnett ARES flew an aircraft from Lawrenceville GA to Athens GA. The interesting part is that during this flight, Aerial photos were being taken and uploaded to the Internet for viewing during the flight.

The PAPA Repeater System in Southern California has an impressive assortment of FM and D-STAR Repeaters. Here's their story. PAPA SYS D-STAR Story

AA4RC has been hiding for a few weeks programming and his efforts are now being seen. DVTool, the software for the DVDongle has been rewritten to run natively on each supported platform, as opposed to running under Java. This has dramatically increased performance and is allowing the Netbook class of computers to run the software sucessfully. The software is still in beta, so there are a few bugs, but overall it is doing great! Download Here

150 show up to learn about D-STAR Announcement and Slide Decks