[d-star] Radio question, any systems, some thoughts?

[Doug Reed]

Hi Erik.

This is just about the first message that has appeared on the group. 
There are a bit more than a dozen people subscribed but no traffic to 
date.....

There are a few groups looking at D-STAR repeaters but nothing has 
actually got money applied yet that I've heard. The end of the month is 
also expected to be the end of the ICOM "buy two, get two" rebate.

There are a number of people in the metro with 2M or 440 D-STAR equipped 
radios. I don't know that anyone has actually bought any 1.2G equipment. 
The whole D-STAR issue is a "chicken and egg" type proposition. Although 
I will say that anyone with a good centrally located 2M or 440 D-STAR 
repeater will probably have 20 users trying it out in fairly short order.

But no, I don't think your 70' repeater would have more than Bloomington 
level of coverage. Digital probably isn't going to give you more range 
than what it has now on 440 and probably less on 1.2G. Height is pretty 
directly equivalent to range.

I don't really have a good handle on 1.2G range either. The only 
anecdotal evidence is from Eric NY9D. He said the 10 watt 1.2G FM voice 
repeater on top of 3M Center has coverage to western Minneapolis. But 
that is from an exceptionally good site. I expect you can hit the 
147.120+ and 444.825- repeaters (same site) from just about anywhere in 
the metro.

If I had all kinds of money, I'd like to see D-STAR repeaters in 
Maplewood/Oakdale (near 3M), Burnsville (on the ridge), downtown Mpls, 
Maple Plain, and Coon Rapids/Blaine. With good sites that could pretty 
well cover the metro, data and voice. It would be interesting to try 
coverage maps for those areas. Finding high points that can be used in 
those areas is the challenge. Finding frequencies is another issue.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.

Erik Jacobson wrote:
> I looked through the mailing list archives quick to be sure I wasn't
> just hashing what folks said.  It didn't take long to get through the
> archives :)
> 
> I realize twinslan's interest is in the 1.2ghz data side.  I'm right now
> wrangling with the idea of getting an ID-800H for my car, since I need a
> new dual-band mobile anyway.  On the plus side, even if there is nobody
> to talk to soon with d-star, at least it's a rugged solid rig. 
> Unfortunately, you can't monitor both bands at once....  On the negative,
> who wants to spend 2X on a radio and not use the features?  :) :)
> 
> I was also _toying_ with the idea of changing my little UHF repeater in
> Bloomington over.  This is a small resource - just on my 70ft tower at
> my house.  The cost is a big hill to climb - even just looking at the
> repeater controller and UHF modules (I have junk computers that can
> do the gateway piece).
> 
> If I have done my research right, I suspect initially I'd be able to 
> talk to myself, and some folks in Texas and some other places across
> the country - but probably not many in town.
> 
> I would think about 1.2ghz - but at $1000 for the mobile radios, I don't think
> I'd end up with anybody to talk to.  Plus, I don't think my little 70 ft
> tower is a good enough location for that sort of investment for digital
> voice and data at 1.2ghz.  I don't really have a feel for 1.2ghz 
> propagation but my feeling is my 70ft tower setup wouldn't be an ideal
> fit :)
> 
> I know I'm rambling a bit; but I guess I'm trying to gauge
> 
> 1. Should I get the ID-800H now and hope there is something to talk to soon?
> 
> 2. Should I start saving up for the huge investment of a UHF d-star 
>    system?  (This is as much a question of if anybody would use it as it is
>    about personal finances :)  Who needs to invest tax refund money when you
>    can throw it out on toys?  :)
> 
> Erik, N0SVX
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