ARLA/CLUSTER: 1º Repetidor D-Star em Joanesburgo, África do Sul,

[João Gonçalves Costa]

The first digital repeater in Johannesburg is active on the air. 

The repeater is on loan from Multisource for demonstration purposes and is offering amateurs an opportunity to experiment with D-Star. The system was installed and demonstrated during the SA-AMSAT event last Saturday at the NARC. Thanks to Ronald, ZS6RVC, Riaan, ZS4PR and Frik, ZS6FZ.

D-STAR, the acronym for Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio, is a digital voice and data protocol specification developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League. While there are other digital on-air technologies being used by amateurs, D-Star is one of the first on-air and packet-based standards.

D-STAR offer clearer signals and uses less bandwidth than its non-digital counterparts. As long as the signal strength is above a minimum threshold, and no multi-path is occurring, the quality of the data received is better than an analogue signal at the same strength.

D-Star compatible radios are available on VHF, UHF, and microwave amateur bands. In addition to the over-the-air protocol, D-Star also provides specifications for network connectivity, enabling D-Star radios to be connected to the Internet or other networks, with provisions for routing data streams of voice or packet data.

To operate the D-Star repeater switch any D-Star enabled digital radio to DV mode. Tune to 145.6875 MHz with the usual -600kHz offset to talk via the repeater. In the radio menu ensure that R1 and/or R2 are set to ZS6TJ. The UR can be set to CQCQCQ, and MYCALL should be your own callsign.

The SARL is looking for coverage, signal reports and comments. 

Send your comments to armi  sarl.org.za. 

Fonte:The South African Radio League