Icom IC-9100 Instruction Manual - Page 4

D-STAR INTRODUCTION D About the D-STAR system In the original D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) plan, JARL envisioned a system of repeaters grouped together into Zones. A zone would be a group of up to 4 repeaters, linked by 10 GHz "backbone" microwave Link repeaters. Each individual repeater would be call an Area repeater, and would be the Access repeater to begin communications. Calls could be made to other Area repeaters within the Zone, using the backbone Link repeater system. One of the repeaters in the Zone would have an Internet connection, and so in addition to being an Area repeater, it also became the Zone Gateway repeater. The Internet gateway provided a way to communicate to other Zones, giving access to the Area repeaters within them, and eventually to the entire world. Call signs are the heart of D-STAR operation. Four call signs are used: • MY : T his is your own call sign. You enter it once and then basically leave it set, with only a few exceptions. • UR : T his is your Destination call sign; that of the actual ham or repeater you wish to contact. CQCQCQ can also be used to make a general call. • R1 : T his is the Area/Access repeater call sign; the one you enter to begin your D-STAR repeater communication. • R2 : T his is the Link/Gateway repeater call sign; the repeater and Internet connection you go through when you want contact a ham, or another repeater, anywhere else in the world. Call sign routing, one of the main features of D-STAR, allows hams to contact other hams, or other repeaters using just the ham's or repeater's call sign. The D-STAR system will automatically route your signal to the desired ham or repeater. Call sign capture allows hams using an Icom radio to "capture" a call sign and automatically program their radio for a reply. Like other communication modes, you can operate simplex D-STAR with other hams, for direct communication. See pages 85 to 120 for the D-STAR operation details. NOTE: The optional UT-121 is required for the DSTAR operation with the IC-9100. • D-STAR system outline Repeater A Area 10 GHz Zone 440 MHz Station A Repeater B 440 MHz Station B Internet Repeater C 440 MHz Station C 10 GHz Zone Repeater D 440 MHz Station D iii