D-Star Icom Repeater Setup

This page contains a collection of links relating to setup of an Icom VHF/UHF repeater. The links will be rearranged periodically, as they accumulate.

Setting up the RP2C Controller

http://kf8kk.com/dstar/rp2c-setup.htm

Module to ID-RP2C Bus Interface

All of the repeater modules connect to the ID-RP2C through a CAT-5 ethernet cable. This IS NOT an ethernet interface. The only ethernet interface is the one that is on the front of the ID-RP2C that connects to the Gateway computer.

It seems that the pinout of the RJ45 on the rear of all the repeaters is the same. The pinout of this connector is:

  • Pin 1 - TC (Transmit Clock)

  • Pin 2 - TD (Transmit Data)

  • Pin 3 - Ground

  • Pin 4 - TE (Transmit Enable)

  • Pin 5 - RE (Receive Enable)

  • Pin 6 - RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indicator)

  • Pin 7 - RC (Receive Clock)

  • Pin 8 - RD (Receive Data)

Now, something that is immediately interesting about this is that all of the repeater modules have an RSSI signal that they send to the controller.

This RSSI signal comes pretty much directly from the receiver IC (MC3356 in the RP2D, or TA31136 in the RP2V). It is NOT used by the RP2C.

On the other hand, the repeater modules that need to do duplex require separate transmit and receive units.