D-Star -- K8BIG Settings
The Cincinnati D-STAR gateway of K8BIG
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Call Sign Visibility:
Every ham radio operator can choose whether his/her call sign will appear in the "Live Log" and the "LastHeard" ircDDB lists below or not. For your callsign to appear put "VISsssON" in the YOURCALL (or URcall) field of your radio and press PTT once on this repeater, where "s" is a space/blank. The "VISsssON" setting will be stored permanently on the network. You only have to do this procedure once. To turn the visibility feature off, put "VISssOFF" in the YOURCALL (or URcall) field of your radio and press PTT once on this repeater. You can switch from "VISsssON" to "VISssOFF" and vice versa at any time.
Cincinnati, Ohio K8BIG D-Star Repeater:
K8BIG Dashboard
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K8BIG -- D-StarUsers.org
ircDDB Live
K8BIG Live
Last Heard Status of K8BIG__B
Last Heard Status of K8BIG__C
Typical D-STAR system (text version):
Antenna <---> Duplexer <---> D-Star Repeater Module (A or B or C or DD transceiver) <---> 172.16.x.x network <---> Repeater Module Controller <---> Linux Gateway Computer <---> 10.x.x.x network <---> Gateway Router (10.0.0.1) <---> Internet
To set callsigns in radio for a gateway call such as communicating on reflectors :
Mode: DV
UR: CQCQCQ
RPT1:K8BIG C (There are 2 spaces between the L and the C; C in this example selects the 2 meter module)
RPT2:K8BIG G (There are 2 spaces between the L and the G; G in this example selects a gateway call for communicating to hams in a reflector)
Of course MY call = the call you got from the FCC
Your callsign must be entered with a local gateway registration page and be approved to use gateway calling.
Note: All callsigns with a letter after the call sign must include blank spaces between the callsign and the letter. A total of 8 characters must fill the callsign field in the radio. A four character callsign needs three spaces before the letter -- CCCCsssL where C is the callsign, s are spaces, and L is the module letter. A five character callsign needs two spaces before the letter -- CCCCCssL. A six character callsign needs one space before the letter -- CCCCCCsL.
To set radio for Digital Voice (DV):
Set frequency and offset to match module letter selected in callsign fields above
Duplex: DUP+ or DUP- depending on the offset
Set Radio Mode: DV
To set an ID-31A or ID-51A radio for Digital Voice (DV) and use Reflectors through a local repeater gateway:
The Icom ID-31A and Icom ID-51A handheld radios have an auto mode which sets callsign data based on internal GPS as well as internal memory repeater data, however callsign data can also be set manually. The easy way to communicate through the gateway in the Cincinnati / Dayton area, with the Icom ID-31A and Icom ID-51A, is to use the D-Star Repeater (DR) button. The result of holding the "DR" key held for one second is that the Digital Voice (DV) mode and display is achieved.
The "DR" button is held down. "DV" is visible on the display in place of "FM". The radio is in DV mode and the corresponding display. Next, the "TO" field needs to be highlighted by alternately choosing RX->CS (the up function) and DR (the down function). Once the "TO" field is highlighted, press the blue button, and rotate dial knob to select "Your Call Sign" on page 1/2. Press blue button, rotate dial knob to select " Use Repeater", and press blue button. "Use Repeater CQCQCQ" will appear in the "TO" field. If only CQCQCQ appears, repeat process until the "TO" field contains "Use Repeater CQCQCQ".
Highlight the "FROM" field by alternately choosing RX->CS (the up function) and DR (the down function). Once the "FROM" field is highlighted, rotate dial knob to select the desired repeater. If the repeater is not found, press the blue button, and rotate dial knob to select "Repeater List". Press the blue button, rotate dial knob to select the desired Repeater Group. For example, rotate dial knob to select USA Northeast to find Ohio repeaters, then press blue button rotate dial knob to select the desired repeater, then press the blue button. Once "Use Repeater CQCQCQ" is in the "TO" field and the desired repeater is in the "FROM" field, the radio is ready to communicate through the local repeater gateway.
Find the gateway where the call sign was first registered:
To find out where a call sign is registered, go to http://dstar.prgm.org/cgi-bin/dstar-regcheck or https://wb1gof.dstargateway.org/cgi-bin/dstar-regcheck?