Whitton Amateur Radio Group

On Friday 11th June, Chris Howard 2E0CTH gave a talk about how he got into the hobby and why he got interested in D-STAR, & then how D-STAR works.

A basic overview is D-STAR is a Digital Mode for Voice & low speed data (name, callsign, location, etc) on 2m, 70cm and 23cm, and also High Speed Data (128Kbps) on 23cm only.

You can use D-STAR either in Simplex Mode, or via Repeaters or Links (most of which are internet connected). The Web connected Repeaters & Links can be connected to Reflectors (conference rooms) where communication around the world can take place. Chris mentioned that Reflectors REF001C (US) & REF005A (UK) are quite popular depending on time of day.

D-STAR users can also make use of DPRS (a D-STAR version of APRS) and send GPS data via the Links & Repeaters which is turn is feed to the internet (see GPS Mapping link below).

At the Moment Icom is the only manufacturer of D-STAR radios and these tend to start around the £350 price mark. The Programming Software & Cables, GPS units can be included or separate add ons which will cost more, and older radios which maybe “D-STAR Compatible” might need an additional add on board to work this mode.

Here are a few Dstar web links Chris sent to post on the webpage:-
Reflector 1C live audio stream - http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?feedId=1647

South Yorkshire repeater group dstar “shack cam” - http://www.southyorkshirerepeatergroup.co.uk/tv/gb7yd-tv

Bromley repeater group - http://www.gb3ok.com/gb7ok_homepage.html

Wikipedia article on Dstar - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR

Ambe chip manual - http://www.dvsinc.com/manuals/AMBE-2020_manual.pdf

DStar UK Yahoo group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dstar-uk

Article on GMSK modulation - http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/16190764/download?commit=Download+Now

DStar Tutorial - http://www.napasars.org/news/Mar09/Dstartutorial.htm

Icom dstar page - http://www.icomuk.co.uk/categoryRender.asp?categoryID=3786

DStar repeater directory - http://dstarusers.org/repeaters.php

GPS mapping site - http://aprs.fi/

Dstar DV Adapter – http://dstarradioclub-international.com/DstarDVAdapter.aspx

May 2010 the radio club participated in the CQWW WPX CW contest starting Friday Midnight and finishing Sunday Midnight GMT. Due to Antenna restrictions at the Community Centre the contest station was moved to a contest site located near Battle Hastings on the South Coast.

The category was multi operator – single transmitter. The main participants where:
Kevin G1KAW – Antennas
Michael G3WOE – CW Operator
Garo – G0PZA – CW Operator
Tony – G4KLF – CW Operator
David – G0MRF – CW Operator

Antennas
10m to 40M a 7 El YAGI at 100 feet on a portable Tower.
40M Vertical (backup)
80M Vertical
10 – 80M Windom (backup) (to second tower at 40 foot)
160M antenna
Long wire for receiving only

Radio Equipment:
Icom 756 PRO III + PW1 Linear
TenTec Orion II + IC2KL backup linear
3 PC/Laptops networked with Internet access

The station also had separate facilities for 6m and 2m SSB working deep into Europe as well as a fully functioning 2M and 70CM Satellite station making contacts via; SO-50 + AMSAT Oscar 51 QSOs contacting: UA3CTB – OZ1MY (Copenhagen) LA2MOA – EA1JM – UR5BFX – 2E1DMB and IK1FJI in JN44LL.

At the time of placing the photographs (which show the shack and antennas) the full breakdown from the logging software has still to be verified but first impressions are that the contest station ‘has done well’.

The attached photographs are courtesy of Phil, G3MGQ Hastings Electronics & Radio club (HERC) http://www.radioclubs.net/herc/ Chairman who commented

“magnificent set up at Dallington that I visited on Saturday during the CQ WW WXP CW contest. Quite envious!”

So how did we do

We will not know for sure until the results are published next year ! However, 2,750 QSO’s, where recorded. We anticipate that we should be in the top 5 in the UK (based on last year’s results) and might even be in the top 2 in our category.

Special thanks.

The following people need to be especially thanked for their hard work both physically and mentally in preparing and executing this contest:

Kevin G1KAW (Antennas and Towers) Kevin started his part at 4.30 pm Thursday to pick up the Tower and tow it there.

Chris (Also Antennas and Towers) Chris was there at 7 am on Friday and left 9 am Sunday! Chris was fantastic and he helped speed up the antenna work so we were all set by 3 pm, having started around 8-9 am.

Michael G3WOE (For Operating 22 out of 48 hours) Michael also constructed an unusual 160M and 80m vertical dipoles both worked very well.

Garo G0PZA (Also operating 22 out of 48 hours) sorted out the ‘Network’ for running the logging software N1MM which worked flawlessly.

Tony G4KLF (For operating up to 4 hours on Saturday and being there and helping us all day Sunday.

Michael (No 2), (who came on Friday morning to help us set up, and stayed till 2 am Saturday, i.e. to see the start of the contest, before driving back to London.

What a great ‘Bank Holiday weekend’.