Thanks. It's nice to see somebody using a white board to explain Dstar ! Too many people try to just talk in advanced terms and assume everyone understands their level of knowledge. This was clear and explained a lot. Thank you for spending the time it took you to do all the hard work. :) KB2QQM
CP - Thank you so much for easy simple and to the point. This is one of the best explanations and practical exercise I have seen. I am now on the air and operating with my ICOM ID-51A Plus and I am looking forward to mounting my new ICOM -ID-5100A in my truck and following your series on how to best do that. Keep up the great work...
This is an excellent video. I have been trying (for months) to understand how to use my 51a+. This is very informative. Thank you for taking the time to prepare this!
All dont give up, keep watching the video over and over, after few times get a pen and white paper, make sense and try the three different tests instructor is recommending here. You will be pro the more you do it.
What an excellent video...thank you! I just got an ID-51A Plus and had a vague understanding of DSTAR, and was utterly clueless on how to change the DV settings from the radio's keypad. This video made these settings very clear and easy for even me to understand. Thank you again. 72, Dennis KJ4HSB
Outstanding video! I'm fairly new to D-Star, bought an 880H figured it out and now just got a 51Plus2, quite a difference in menus and such. Thanks for making it so much easier to grasp. 73 DE Rick - WA4RG dit dit
I'm back to the hobby after many years of absence, just received my Icom-7100 and Kenwood TH-D74A, and was somewhat lost on the DStar stuff. This was the most informative video I've found yet. I hope all the info. is still valid. *lol* Thanks for the video!
Very helpful explanation of dstar configuration and routing. Even though this was for an ID51 the menus you showed are very similar to those on my ID4100. This helped me a lot. Thank You! KY4ROD
Very nice explanation on Dplus and routing. In relation to prepping and tactical use of Dstar though, a video showing how it can be used locally without a repeater for small teams in the field to keep track of each others positions, send short tactical text messages & staying undetected while operating in a potentially hostile environment. I'd love to collaborate with you on a video. I think it might be fun.
Nice video. I've never seen so much analog finger-work for a digital mode. This is even more difficult if you have something like a Kenwood TH-D74, for a lot more money.
Fantastic! This is just a great, very informative video (as are all of your others.) I have heard D-STAR explained before, but never was clear about it until your video. I like your style! I have an ID-51 A Plus on order. I considered the Plus 2 for its ability to connect to a smartphone and supposedly use the phone for your radio's internet connection when no repeaters are near. But the connection from the radio to the phone is wired. The tethering did not excite me. And I wonder how the feature really works in practice (I could find no reviews that have tested it to date.) So I think I will wait for a radio that can do this via Bluetooth or perhaps built in WiFi. Besides, the ID-51A Plus can now be had for $300 (after Icom's $50 rebate through the end of December 2016). That's a decent price I think. The new Plus 2 is $500 and no rebate is being offered for that one at this time.
I just got this radio, and I'm brand new to ham. I'm trying to listen to a local police/ems frequencies and can't figure it out. I hit the V/MHz and scrolled to the frequency (154.860), but I hear nothing. I've tried a bunch of frequencies. I'm wondering if there is something else I have to do to hear it. When I looked up the frequency online it had 203.5 PL under "TONE", and I have no idea what that means. Appreciate any help!
Thank you for the lesson. Could you show what button you are pushing at each step during your explanation of 'gateway' changes, etc, when you are configuring in the 'call-sign' menu, please? I cannot tell if you are pushing the top, bottom, left, or right button, or the center one.
+TheMountainRN Check them out. When you add in all the features (GPS, NOAA radio, Broadcast radio, analog and digital - with data options) the price is very fair.
that’s what I was thinking. Actually if I could suggest you should make a video on that. As some people may dismniss the options rapidly because of the $$. But they are like a multi tool.
I know this video is a bit older, but I have an ID-51 but I don't seem to have the ability to do Reflector Operation. At least I don't see it in the same menu like the video at 8:03. Is this feature only available on the Plus model?
Wow - totally confusing. I had a hard time understanding this explanation. For starters - what is the 8th position? What does that mean? And then what is a reflector? Is that a radio or a computer, or what? And what is a gateway and what does it do? I'm new to this and finding it very frustrating trying to understand it. Do you know of any D-star for dummies type of resource that I could review of a more basic explanation?
The 8th position is the character count. Call signs don't exceed 6 characters, one space character (7th position), then the 8th position. A reflector is a server that acts like a conference call bridge that links a group of repeaters together via the Internet. The gateway is an Internet port in the repeater rack that allows the D-STAR repeaters to connect to the Internet. D-STAR repeaters are stacked by modules (individual repeaters VHF=C, UHF=B, and 23cm=A). If someone buys one or all three of the repeaters (modules C, B, and A), the modules also have a "gateway" deck that connects to each repeater and provides a path to the Internet. That path can connect to a reflector - sharing traffic will all the other repeaters connected to the same reflector. I don't know of a single book for D-STAR. Hope this helps.
Thanks for that super fast response. I'm gradually piecing this together but the terminology is a killer for me. I think I am probably lacking in some of the computer and radio skills that other people have. I'm very new to this so its a bit overwhelming. Thanks again for the response and the video.
reading down below ... it appears the repeater you choose is connected to a specific reflector, right? So it's a local selection ... not your out of state target.
1. You can't reach the repeater. It's too far away, you don't have enough power, you need an external base or mobile antenna. You can check this by going into reflector and select information (Sending an I in the eighth position to trigger the repeater to report it's status, then return to the gateway mode). 2. The folks you are hearing are coming in on a reflector, not the RF side of the repeater, and your radio is in local CQ mode and not gateway mode.
Commsprepper Excellent diagnosis... I was able to manipulate the j-pole in my living room and finally got a QSO. My1st D-star conversation. I still have little understanding of what I am doing with it, but finally made contact. I need more understanding with reflectors and the several steps involved therein. Your video was very helpful.
This is not a problem. Only version of radio. If it's possible to borrow an older ID51 radio (without "plus") and made similar video. There is more difficult.
Got to a place I can type. Ok what I have is a couple of Hotspots 1. is an Openspot 2 and the other is a TGIFspot. They are set up to do DMR and Dstar. On the TGIFspot it is depending on the mode coming in to the hotspot. On the Openspot2 you have to change the Profile. Lets take the TGIFspot. I am on 432.700 simplex. I am set on the XREF002 Reflector. So I don't know how to set the radio up and how to get to all the alphabet I have to add after my call to get to where it needs to go or how to link and unlink or basically where I want to go. I heard the XRefs are better than the Refs. I guess that would be so with X equalling Extra? Is there a list of talkgroups oops there I go with DMR. Well what ever the Japanese equaliviant is.I never like Japanese manuals either. How do you do a typical conversation in Japanese oh I mean Dstar on an ID-51. I know there are suppose to be shortcuts. When I was in Illinois Chicagoland areas a friend who had a couple of Repeaters in Gary, IN wanted to convert them to Digital. We started out going to convert them to DStar. The equipment for the client side was so expensive traffic took a horrific hit! so We switched it to DMR. At first Brandmeister setup a talkgroup for the area. Once the code plug was written away you went. Well a bunch of people from New York Pirated our Talk Group and my friend go mad so we took it to C-Bridge. Things were smoother. When moved here the guys were wanting to go UHF digital I convinced them to go DMR right off. Didn't want to get into Radios costing as much as HF rigs again. Anyway I had an Icom IC80 from days in Illinois and then bought an ID-51A plus 2. Wanting to get on DStar with a hotspot. I started with a Jumspot it lasted about 3 years, before that I got an Openspot1 for DMR. That worked I don't remember how it was set up in the IC-80AD but I used it to check into the North Colorado Hotspot Devices net. until the jumspot died. I bought the openspot 2 for traveling back to Illinois and set profiles to go back and forth between DMR and Dstar. Having know Idea what reflectors to use. I don't on one that will take me a year to disconnect from. So there I am the Hotspots are up how do I set up the ID-51A Plus 2? Oh, my email is macmikeal (at) mac (dot) com.
Wow, that makes things far more clearer ! Much thanks !!! Best Reflector video on UA-cam. It would be interesting if your UR: CQCQCQ could be changed to someone's call sign on that reflector across the globe; for personal a connection.
May want to let people know that you need to register your info before you can even use any DStar repeaters. It's not a instant process as well since you are at the mercy of someone acknowledging your submitted information.
Commsprepper I'm about to get my licence and looking at the Kenwood D74 as my first radio and an open spot. Worried I'll have no idea how to work it all lol
+Commsprepper Packet Radio used standardized protocols. Exactly what DV needed from day 1. My comment was meant for the way manufacturers are implementing DV, should've word it a bit different. BTW, great videos. 73
![Lp. Последняя Реальность #107 РОДНОЙ ДОМ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3QKzKUlHM/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks. It's nice to see somebody using a white board to explain Dstar ! Too many people try to just talk in advanced terms and assume everyone understands their level of knowledge. This was clear and explained a lot. Thank you for spending the time it took you to do all the hard work. :) KB2QQM
CP - Thank you so much for easy simple and to the point. This is one of the best explanations and practical exercise I have seen. I am now on the air and operating with my ICOM ID-51A Plus and I am looking forward to mounting my new ICOM -ID-5100A in my truck and following your series on how to best do that. Keep up the great work...
Thanks for the feedback and congrats on the new rigs!
Thank you! I've been looking for this kind of video for over a year! Now it makes sense to me! KG7THL 73
+Brian “KG7THL” Moses Glad it helped.
This is an excellent video. I have been trying (for months) to understand how to use my 51a+. This is very informative. Thank you for taking the time to prepare this!
+Mark S. Tanner Glad it helped. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. CommsPrepper
All dont give up, keep watching the video over and over, after few times get a pen and white paper, make sense and try the three different tests instructor is recommending here. You will be pro the more you do it.
What an excellent video...thank you! I just got an ID-51A Plus and had a vague understanding of DSTAR, and was utterly clueless on how to change the DV settings from the radio's keypad. This video made these settings very clear and easy for even me to understand. Thank you again. 72, Dennis KJ4HSB
Glad it helped.
Outstanding video! I'm fairly new to D-Star, bought an 880H figured it out and now just got a 51Plus2, quite a difference in menus and such. Thanks for making it so much easier to grasp. 73 DE Rick - WA4RG dit dit
Glad the videos have helped. Hank
Great presentation. Love the theory followed with the demo. D-Star is looking to be very useful.
+arthurbrown13 thanks for the positive feedback.
Very instructive video. The capability to connect through the internet to distant repeaters is an awesome resource. Thanks for sharing.
+TheRealWorldPrepper Thanks for taking the time to watch.
This makes me love my $99 DMR radio even more. I rotate the knob to the talk group I want and key the mic. Done!
DMR is cool stuff for sure.
Thanks for this video. I just picked up the new Kenwood TH-D74 and was clueless on DSTAR...This has seriously helped to plug some of those questions.
Glad it helped.
Glad it helped.
Fantastic tutorials. Clear and concise.
Thanks for the comment.
God Bless you. Excellent informative video, straightforward, and well organized.
Thank you so much!
Glad it helped.
This is a wonderful video. I've been a ham for years but didn't understand what a reflector did until I saw this
Glad it has helped.
Great video, I am new to the ID-51a+ as well as D-STAR
+TheChasFred It's a bit to learn but a great technology!
I'm back to the hobby after many years of absence, just received my Icom-7100 and Kenwood TH-D74A, and was somewhat lost on the DStar stuff. This was the most informative video I've found yet. I hope all the info. is still valid. *lol* Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the comment and channel support.
@@Commsprepper You're welcome!
Very helpful explanation of dstar configuration and routing. Even though this was for an ID51 the menus you showed are very similar to those on my ID4100. This helped me a lot. Thank You! KY4ROD
Glad it has helped.
Outstanding video. I want to get into DSTAR but need to understand basics first. This video helped immensely! Thank you. 73, N8HUS.
Glad it has helped
Very clear explanation. It will help me plug the holes in my understanding of how to drive my TH-D74.
Glad it helped
Clear as mud. Sr you did a great job 73s
Sorry. D-STAR has allot of moving parts. It's hard to capture them all.
Very nice explanation on Dplus and routing. In relation to prepping and tactical use of Dstar though, a video showing how it can be used locally without a repeater for small teams in the field to keep track of each others positions, send short tactical text messages & staying undetected while operating in a potentially hostile environment. I'd love to collaborate with you on a video. I think it might be fun.
+K6UDA Check out my playlist on the ID-51A Plus - I have several videos showing, texting, pictures and GPS tracking.
Nice video. I've never seen so much analog finger-work for a digital mode. This is even more difficult if you have something like a Kenwood TH-D74, for a lot more money.
Better understanding after this, thank you. Complicated for a new-be
Many thanks for the explanation. Seems quite complex but you explained it well.
Thank you
Fantastic! This is just a great, very informative video (as are all of your others.) I have heard D-STAR explained before, but never was clear about it until your video. I like your style!
I have an ID-51 A Plus on order. I considered the Plus 2 for its ability to connect to a smartphone and supposedly use the phone for your radio's internet connection when no repeaters are near. But the connection from the radio to the phone is wired. The tethering did not excite me. And I wonder how the feature really works in practice (I could find no reviews that have tested it to date.) So I think I will wait for a radio that can do this via Bluetooth or perhaps built in WiFi. Besides, the ID-51A Plus can now be had for $300 (after Icom's $50 rebate through the end of December 2016). That's a decent price I think. The new Plus 2 is $500 and no rebate is being offered for that one at this time.
Glad the video has helped.
What a fantastic video!
Thank you.
EXCELLENT direct English... And Graphics too.... Well done! Thank you. :-) 73, WK0I
Thank you. I hope you enjoy D-STARs.
Thank you very much! Very helpful!
Glad it helped.
I just got this radio, and I'm brand new to ham. I'm trying to listen to a local police/ems frequencies and can't figure it out. I hit the V/MHz and scrolled to the frequency (154.860), but I hear nothing. I've tried a bunch of frequencies. I'm wondering if there is something else I have to do to hear it. When I looked up the frequency online it had 203.5 PL under "TONE", and I have no idea what that means. Appreciate any help!
Great info. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
DE VA3DGA: Good Work Sir... I still don't understand it, but it makes WAY MORE SENSE now. Thank you for your time in making this video. 73s...
I have a few other videos that may fill in the gaps for you.
Thank you for the lesson. Could you show what button you are pushing at each step during your explanation of 'gateway' changes, etc, when you are configuring in the 'call-sign' menu, please? I cannot tell if you are pushing the top, bottom, left, or right button, or the center one.
If I make another video on the topic I will try harder not to block the buttons. Thanks for the feedback. Respectfully - Hank
You have me inspired to conquer my ID-51A
73 de David / KF7ETX
Doc thanks. Let me know how you got the RPT2 to G. Hank
Very Nice ! I have a better understanding (After watching your video) of this DSTAR topic. Thanks
KK6URQ
Glad it helped.
Love your serie. Make me want to buy one 8)
+TheMountainRN Check them out. When you add in all the features (GPS, NOAA radio, Broadcast radio, analog and digital - with data options) the price is very fair.
that’s what I was thinking. Actually if I could suggest you should make a video on that. As some people may dismniss the options rapidly because of the $$. But they are like a multi tool.
+TheMountainRN I thought I covered that in the first video. Perhaps I was not articulate enough?
I know this video is a bit older, but I have an ID-51 but I don't seem to have the ability to do Reflector Operation. At least I don't see it in the same menu like the video at 8:03. Is this feature only available on the Plus model?
Sorry but this video covered the ID-51A Plus radio.
New to dstar. This seems like a bunch of work to talk.
Wow - totally confusing. I had a hard time understanding this explanation. For starters - what is the 8th position? What does that mean? And then what is a reflector? Is that a radio or a computer, or what? And what is a gateway and what does it do? I'm new to this and finding it very frustrating trying to understand it. Do you know of any D-star for dummies type of resource that I could review of a more basic explanation?
The 8th position is the character count. Call signs don't exceed 6 characters, one space character (7th position), then the 8th position. A reflector is a server that acts like a conference call bridge that links a group of repeaters together via the Internet. The gateway is an Internet port in the repeater rack that allows the D-STAR repeaters to connect to the Internet. D-STAR repeaters are stacked by modules (individual repeaters VHF=C, UHF=B, and 23cm=A). If someone buys one or all three of the repeaters (modules C, B, and A), the modules also have a "gateway" deck that connects to each repeater and provides a path to the Internet. That path can connect to a reflector - sharing traffic will all the other repeaters connected to the same reflector. I don't know of a single book for D-STAR. Hope this helps.
Thanks for that super fast response. I'm gradually piecing this together but the terminology is a killer for me. I think I am probably lacking in some of the computer and radio skills that other people have. I'm very new to this so its a bit overwhelming. Thanks again for the response and the video.
This is why DMR radios at $99 each are taking over the digital arena.
Excellent explanation... very helpful. Max NG7M
Glad it was helpful!
You never explained how you selected the "reflector" which was 30. Is it the one closest to your target or your local reflector?
reading down below ... it appears the repeater you choose is connected to a specific reflector, right? So it's a local selection ... not your out of state target.
Good News, I can hear people talk to each other, but I cannot talk to them.
What is your best guess on my error?
1. You can't reach the repeater. It's too far away, you don't have enough power, you need an external base or mobile antenna. You can check this by going into reflector and select information (Sending an I in the eighth position to trigger the repeater to report it's status, then return to the gateway mode).
2. The folks you are hearing are coming in on a reflector, not the RF side of the repeater, and your radio is in local CQ mode and not gateway mode.
Commsprepper Excellent diagnosis... I was able to manipulate the j-pole in my living room and finally got a QSO. My1st D-star conversation. I still have little understanding of what I am doing with it, but finally made contact. I need more understanding with reflectors and the several steps involved therein. Your video was very helpful.
It would be nice to see similar video according to ID51E (not plus or 2)
I think the E is the European version. I only have the one radio. Sorry.
This is not a problem. Only version of radio. If it's possible to borrow an older ID51 radio (without "plus")
and made similar video. There is more difficult.
ID-51a/a+/a+2 are all the same functionally, hardware features are the only difference. This video will work on any version.
nice job.
Thanks.
Nice job! I think this is one of the clearest explanations of understanding reflectors and how to use them. Thanks. (KI3C)
Thanks.
Nice tutorial
KM6DDD
+joe wyrick thank you
Got to a place I can type. Ok what I have is a couple of Hotspots 1. is an Openspot 2 and the other is a TGIFspot. They are set up to do DMR and Dstar. On the TGIFspot it is depending on the mode coming in to the hotspot. On the Openspot2 you have to change the Profile. Lets take the TGIFspot. I am on 432.700 simplex. I am set on the XREF002 Reflector. So I don't know how to set the radio up and how to get to all the alphabet I have to add after my call to get to where it needs to go or how to link and unlink or basically where I want to go. I heard the XRefs are better than the Refs. I guess that would be so with X equalling Extra? Is there a list of talkgroups oops there I go with DMR. Well what ever the Japanese equaliviant is.I never like Japanese manuals either. How do you do a typical conversation in Japanese oh I mean Dstar on an ID-51. I know there are suppose to be shortcuts.
When I was in Illinois Chicagoland areas a friend who had a couple of Repeaters in Gary, IN wanted to convert them to Digital. We started out going to convert them to DStar. The equipment for the client side was so expensive traffic took a horrific hit! so We switched it to DMR. At first Brandmeister setup a talkgroup for the area. Once the code plug was written away you went. Well a bunch of people from New York Pirated our Talk Group and my friend go mad so we took it to C-Bridge. Things were smoother. When moved here the guys were wanting to go UHF digital I convinced them to go DMR right off. Didn't want to get into Radios costing as much as HF rigs again. Anyway I had an Icom IC80 from days in Illinois and then bought an ID-51A plus 2. Wanting to get on DStar with a hotspot. I started with a Jumspot it lasted about 3 years, before that I got an Openspot1 for DMR. That worked I don't remember how it was set up in the IC-80AD but I used it to check into the North Colorado Hotspot Devices net. until the jumspot died. I bought the openspot 2 for traveling back to Illinois and set profiles to go back and forth between DMR and Dstar. Having know Idea what reflectors to use. I don't on one that will take me a year to disconnect from. So there I am the Hotspots are up how do I set up the ID-51A Plus 2? Oh, my email is macmikeal (at) mac (dot) com.
Very useful, thanks for sharing! 73 de M7JCG
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, that makes things far more clearer !
Much thanks !!! Best Reflector video on UA-cam.
It would be interesting if your UR: CQCQCQ could be changed to someone's call sign on that reflector across the globe; for personal a connection.
+Bruce Wayne I think it can but will cause confusion on the system because folks will see repeater activity and not hear the communications.
Commsprepper Perhaps dongle to dongle VR simplex?
Nice
Thank you.
GREAT JOB .. Thank you . KF5AXY
Thank you.
Thanks for the explanation. But i think the whole dstar is ridiculously complex.
May want to let people know that you need to register your info before you can even use any DStar repeaters. It's not a instant process as well since you are at the mercy of someone acknowledging your submitted information.
I have. This video is not the first on the topic. Videos build on previous videos.
Wait.... What? I’m so confused.
Sorry
Very Good! 73 PA3CRL
Thank you.
Looks complicated...
at first but it's not that bad.
Commsprepper I'm about to get my licence and looking at the Kenwood D74 as my first radio and an open spot. Worried I'll have no idea how to work it all lol
Digital voice.... segregating Hams one brand at a time.
+MZR0682 I see it as a new and emerging technology that will advance Amateur radio. There was a time when the CW folks despised Packet Radio.
+Commsprepper Packet Radio used standardized protocols. Exactly what DV needed from day 1. My comment was meant for the way manufacturers are implementing DV, should've word it a bit different. BTW, great videos. 73