D-Star DCS

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DCS General Information

The abbreviation DCS stands for D igital C ommunication S ervices.

• This system developed in Germany based on a system of Internet servers that provide so-called "conference rooms", reflectors, or modules.

• D-Star repeaters (in the future, DMR and other systems), hotspots, and dongles can be connected to one of these rooms and talk to users of all the connected repeaters.

• Each DCS server offers 26 rooms (A-Z) that are set up for different regions, interests, activities, or other criteria.

• The spaces A and B for all DCS server are networked world. The language in room A and B is English.

• The "Z" of each DCS server is an echo server. An echo back of your transmission is heard on your own transceiver when you release the PTT allowing for temporary monitoring.

• The DCS servers are distributed around the world, the German server and central services are operated in a computing center in Switzerland.

• More information is available on the website xreflector.net/neu3/.

  • The primary USA DCS reflectors are DCS006 A-Z and DCS024 A,B,C,R,T,W, and Z

DCS001 Module A Linking Example

Example of connection and disconnection to DCS room DCS001 module A 

• DCS linking format, in general is DCSXXXYL

• with the desired 6-digit DCS reflector name in DCSXXX; XXX is the DCS number

• with the desired DCS module to be linked is in Y (which must be the 7th position and can be A to Z)

• with "L" at 8th position is the command to "link".

            UR: DCS001AL 

            RP1: W8HEQ  B 

            RP2: W8HEQ  G

            MY: Your FCC Call Sign

• After successful linking, put UR: immediately back on CQCQCQ to communicate.

  • At the end of the QSO please disconnect the link again with DCSXXXYU where XXX is the DCS number, Y is the DCS module, and U is the unlink command.

DTMF Code Linking

Alternatively, the DCS connection can be established via the DTMF code, which is very easy to execute in mobile operation. 

DTMF codes are generally processed only with "CQCQCQ" in UR: field and with the RPT1: and RPT2: configured for normal repeater communication. 

The DTMF code starts with the letter "D" , followed by the number of DCS (1 to 3 digits) and module letter code, 01 to 26.

Since there are only DTMF tones A,B,C, and D but DCS room modules range from A to Z, the modules are entered as  a 2-digit DTMF number. 

The 2-digit DTMF number corresponds to the position of the module in the letter alphabet (A = 01, B = 02, .. ., L = 12, ... Z = 26) as shown in the following table: