DSTAR

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D-STAR D-STAR Repeater Basics Icom America
Inc. TSR
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What is D-STAR?
D-STAR Digital Smart Technology for Amateur
Radio Open protocol, published by the JARL
(Japanese Amateur Radio League). Available to be
implemented by anyone. Digital voice (DV) and
Digital Data (DD) operation. Currently, Icom is
the first and only radio manufacturer selling
D-STAR radios in the USA. http//www.arrl.org/Fan
dES/field/regulations/techchar/
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What is D-STAR?
Icom D-STAR Digital Voice and Digital Data
rates. 144 and 440 MHz data rate 4800
bps Digital voice _at_ 3600 bps (including error
correction) Digital data _at_ 1200 bps 1.2 GHz
Data rate 128 kbps High speed data _at_ 128 kbps
(Ethernet connection) or Digital voice _at_ 3600
bps (including error correction) Digital data _at_
1200 bps
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Whats required?
Repeater Call Sign First, you need is a unique /
club call for the repeater. You can not have
the same call sign in 2 different roles in the
D-STAR network. (eg, the repeater call sign can
not also be your individual call sign.) You will
need a unique / club call sign for your repeater
system that is not used anywhere else in the
network.
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Whats required?
Repeater Components Next, you need the desired
repeater modules. The RP2C is REQUIRED for the
D-STAR repeater system. The current D-STAR
repeater modules are RP2D 1.2GHz, 128K Digital
Data (DD) RP2V 1.2GHz Digital Voice
(DV) RP4000V 440MHz Digital Voice
(DV) RP2000V 144MHz Digital Voice (DV)
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Whats required?
Additional hardware Each physical install is
different. What your install requires may
vary. Examples of additional equipment Duplexer
s Power Supply Antennas Window Filter
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D-STAR RP2C Controller Icom America Inc. TSR
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Gateway Configuration Diagram
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Whats required?
Programming PC (Windows) To program the repeater
controller and frequencies you need Windows
based PC with at least 1 Ethernet and 1 USB
port USB A to B cable Ethernet cable (not
crossover) Install the included software
on the Windows PC for ID-RP2C
ID-RP2VD ID-PR2000V ID-RP4000V
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Whats required?

• Before programming you must know the IP address
  of your RP2C controller.
• Default 172.16.0.1
• Recommended 172.16.0.10

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RP2C controller The controller is programmed via
the Ethernet port on the front.
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RP2C controller We must configure the PC to the
same IP scheme as the controller to program.
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RP2C controller Start the RP2C software and
enter the controller IP address in the Network
Setup.Default from Icom is either 172.16.0.1 or
172.16.0.10
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RP2C controller Click the Read button and
enter the password. (PASSWORD, all in caps, is
the default password.)
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RP2C controller Now, you should see something
like this ?
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RP2C controller Enter the repeater call sign
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RP2C controller Select the module
configuration from the drop down menu.
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RP2C controller Select the active ports
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RP2C controller And assign the proper module
letter designation. Recommended
designations RP2D (1.2 GHZ) A RP4000V
(UHF) B RP2000V (VHF) C
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RP2C controller The RP2V and RP2D must be A.
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RP2C controller Select Use Gateway if
connecting to a gateway PC.
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RP2C controller Click Write to save the
settings to the controller
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Repeater Module

• The repeater modules are programmed via the USB
  ports on the front of the repeater. There is one
  port for TX and one port for RX.

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Repeater Module
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D-STAR Router / Linux Configuration Icom America
Inc. TSR
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Gateway Configuration Diagram
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Whats required?
Internet Connection (Fixed IP address) The
D-STAR gateway software REQUIRES a fixed IP
address and, at least a DSL speed
connection. You will also need a router capable
of Class A internal subnet (LAN) 10.0.0.1 /
255.0.0.0 Port forwarding Setting a fixed IP
address, such as for PPPoE for WAN Refer to the
RS-RP2C manual for additional requirements. (The
Linksys WRV54G meets all the requirements)
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Whats required?
Gateway server PC (Linux) This is what we are
here for, right? Minimum PC requirements (per
Icom) Linux OS (recommend Fedora Core 3 or
4) Pentium grade 2.4GHz or faster CPU At least
512MB RAM 2 LAN cards (NIC from Intel
recommended) At least 10GB hard drive free
space These instructions are based on a Linux
Fedora Core 3 install.
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Router settings Make sure your local IP
settings are set as shown. ?
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Router settings You need to forward a few ports
through the router. Data sync 20005 TCP Voice
RX 40000 UDP Data RX 40001 TCP
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Router settings You may also want to allow
additional ports like SSH
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Gateway server configuration Select statically
set IP Input the settings for eth0 as
shown Eth0 (LAN side) Address 10.0.0.2 Subnet
255.0.0.0 Def Gateway 10.0.0.1
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Gateway server configuration Select static IP
for eth1 as well and enter the proper
settings. Eth1 (gateway / RP2C side) Address
172.16.0.20 Subnet 255.0.0.0 Def Gateway none
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Gateway server configuration Select the DNS
tab. Set the Primary DNS as shown in the
manual. When complete, close and save. Primary
DNS 127.0.0.1
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Gateway server configuration Add these lines to
the named.conf with your favorite Linux text
editor. Syntax is VERY important here.
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Gateway server configuration Create a new folder
/var/dsipsvd This is where the software stores
the backup files.
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Gateway server configuration Next, you need to
create the dstar.local.db database file, once
again using your favorite Linux text
editor. This file will reside
at /var/named/chroot/var/named/dstar.local.db
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Gateway server configuration Syntax is VERY
important in this file!
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Gateway server configuration After creating the
dstar.local.db file, activate and re-start the
named service. Select and edit runlevel 3
from the menu.
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Gateway server configuration In Runlevel 3, and
Runlevel 5 click on named and then click
restart An error in the named
configuration is a common cause for the gateway
to not operate properly.
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Gateway server configuration In a terminal
window, type dig router.dstar.local You should
see an answer like this ? If its all correct,
you should see the routers IP address here
(10.0.0.1)
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D-STAR Gateway Software Icom America Inc. TSR
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Gateway Configuration Diagram
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Whats required?
D-STAR / Gateway software Icoms Gateway
software is a licensed vendor product, and can
not be copied, shared or re-distributed.
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Gateway software configuration Double click the
application to extract.
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Gateway software configuration Make sure to
extract the program to the root directory. (A
new folder will be created.) DO NOT create a
dstar directory.
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Gateway software configuration Edit the
following in the dsipsvd.conf file TRUST_SERVER
ZR_CALLSIGN IPSV_ADDR DNS_ZONE_FILE_PATH NAMED
_PID_FILE NOTE The IP address of the Icom test
system is 65.102.167.146
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MAC address Type the command arp in a terminal
window. Look for 10.0.0.1 and the MAC address
connected to it. Take note of the MAC address
for use in the dsgwd.conf file.
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Gateway software configuration Edit the
following in the dsgwd.conf file ZR_ADDR ZR_CAL
LSIGN DNS_MAC
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Gateway software configuration Add the lines
here in the /etc/syslog.conf file for
D-STAR local0. /var/log/dsgwd.log local2. /var/l
og/dsipsvd.log Make sure to type this right.
Its local before the number.
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Gateway software configuration Now, lets add
the command line to start the software. Insert
the following in /etc/rc.d/rc.local /dstar/exec
-mgsv NOTE Some manuals are WRONG!
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Gateway software configuration Finally, change
the default runlevel to 3 Locate the file
/etc/inittab Change the runlevel to 3 here.
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D-STAR Gateway Server Setup Verification Icom
America Inc. TSR
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Setup Verification You will want to check for
two services to be running. Type ps ef grep
dstar You should see at least two programs
running dsipsvd dsgwd Without both, it will
not work!
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Setup Verification If the services are not
running, we can check the log file
at /var/log Both logs are saved
as dsipsvd.log dsgwd.log
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Setup Verification The easiest way to see if it
synchronized is to look at the dstar.local.db
file. You can use the GUI by typing startx on
the command line, if desired. Open the
file /var/named/chroot/var/named/dstar.local.db
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D-STAR Adding Users Icom America Inc. TSR
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Adding users First, you need to reserve IPs for
the users. Open a terminal window and type cd
/tmp Next type Echo reserve gt
/tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin
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Adding users To see the reserved IPs,
type cat /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdout You should see
results like this ? IPs are reserved in blocks
of 32. As the administrator, we recommend
creating a log file to track these IP addresses.
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Adding users Now you can add the users. You
will add 1 call sign user per reserved IP (fixed
IP address, 10.x.x.x). The command line is shown
in the guide. Syntax is VERY important!
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Adding Users From the linux command
line Change directories to tmp cd /tmp The
add usercommand format is echo "add
user_IDarea repeater call signzone
repeater call signGW IP addressusers
assigned IP addressalias name for DNS gt
/tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin" User ID is the users call
sign it must be 8 characters. add spaces to the
end
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Adding Users echo "add user_IDarea repeater
call signzone repeater call signGW IP
addressusers assigned IP addressalias name
for DNS gt /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin" Area Repeater
Call Sign is the system call sign with the letter
A in the 8th position, use spaces between the
call sign and the A Zone Repeater Call Sign is
the system call sign it must be 8 characters add
spaces to the end GW IP Address is the public
address of the gateway system Users Assigned IP
Address is the address assigned to the user by
the local address coordinator Alias Name for DNS
is the users call sign, in lower case, with no
spaces at the end.
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Adding Users echo "add user_IDarea repeater
call signzone repeater call signGW IP
addressusers assigned IP addressalias name
for DNS gt /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin" The following
is an example. echo "add W7JRL71 N7IH9
AN7IH9 65.102.167.14610.140.194.xxxw7jrl71"
gt /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin
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Important Points! Only users added to the
gateway can cross the D-STAR gateway to access
the network. Once a user is added to the D-STAR
gateway, they have gateway rights via any D-STAR
gateway pointed to the same trust server. Any
user can operate locally on the repeater, with or
without a call sign.
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Adding users Once all the users are added,
type cat /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdout You should see,
per the number of entries 200 Command OK
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D-STAR Checking GIP, RIP and MNG Tables Icom
America Inc. TSR
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Gateway server The gateway software uses 3
tables RIP Reserved IP addresses GIP
Gateway IP addresses MNG Call sign manage
table The backup tables are stored in the
/var/dsipsvd folder The production files are
resident in memory, downloaded from the trust
server. You can write the tables to a text file
to view, if desired. You can not edit them direct
because they are in memory. All files are
updated / merged automatically with the trust
server and all the other gateways on the network
at least once a day.
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GIP (gateway IP), RIP (reserved IP) and MNG (call
sign manage) tables. All 3 Live tables are in
memory and can not be directly edited. All 3
tables store a backup in the /var/dsipsvd
folder. You must write the tables from memory
in order to view the current files.
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Writing tables From a terminal window, type
the command echo write MNG /tmp/mng.txt gt
/tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin Replace MNG with GIP or
RIP
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Writing tables View the files you just created
by typing cat /tmp/mng.txt Replace MNG with
GIP or RIP
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GIP (gateway IP) and RIP (reserved IP) tables.
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D-STAR Testing and Going Live Icom America
Inc. TSR
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Testing and going Live In order to go live
on a D-STAR network, we recommend being 100
functional on the Icom test system first. Contact
Icom D-STAR support team for testing at
dstar_at_icomamerica.com If you have ANY questions,
contact Icom before you do something. We dont
want to corrupt the network and make it bad for
all the other users. Once operational on the
test network, you need to kill clean your
gateway, change the TRUST_SERVER IP address, and
re-boot your PC.
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Testing and going Live (cleaning) To clean
your system and start fresh (on the live
network) Kill all DSTAR services 1).
Execute a 'ps -ef grep dstar' command. This
will give you the process numbers for the dsgwd
dsipsvd processes. 2). Execute a 'kill xxx'
command, where 'xxx' is the process number
revealed in step one, for each of the two
processes.
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Testing and going Live (cleaning) 3). Execute
a 'rm /var/dsipsvd/.' command. Verify the
/var/dsipsvd directory is empty. 4). Edit the
file /var/named/chroot/var/named/dstar.local.db
with a text editor and delete any call sign
entries after DSTAR A RECORD. 5). Execute a
'cat /etc/dsipsvd.conf' command, and ensure that
your TRUST_SERVER points to the proper server IP
for the desired network xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Use a
text editor, such as joe or the GUI interface to
change the TRUST_SERVER IP, if needed.
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Testing and going Live (cleaning) 6) Execute a
reboot command on your gateway. 7) The gateway
will come up clean, and pull new files from the
TRUST_SERVER, then re-synch with each of the
other gateways.
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TRUST_SERVER A trust server, IARoot, is provided
by Icom as a service to the D-STAR community.
There are other trust servers around the
country such as USRoot provided by K5TIT in
Dallas TX. You can use your own private trust
server to create your own D-STAR network or you
can link to one of the other trust servers around
the country, if desired. Any PC running the
gateway software can be set as a trust server to
create your own private network. The Gateway
server MUST be located at the repeater. The
172.16.0.20 LAN segment (controller to gateway)
is VERY sensitive to latency!
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Important Points! All gateways pointed to the
same trust server share the same GIP, RIP and MNG
tables. These tables CAN NOT be changed or
cleaned-up on your own. It requires all
connected gateways to be killed and cleaned
first. Once all connected gateways are killed,
the trust server files can be edited BEFORE any
gateway is re-booted. When the gateways are
cleaned and re-booted, they will download the
new GIP, RIP and MNG tables from the TRUST_SERVER.
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D-STAR D-STAR radios Icom America Inc. TSR
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Icom ID-1
1.2GHz D-STAR amateur radio Digital Voice,
Digital Data and Analog Voice operation. 10 watt
TX power. PC control via USB or direct control
via RC24 control head. USB Cable, software and
RC24 control head all provided.
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Icom IC-2200
144MHz D-STAR capable amateur radio Digital
Voice, 1k Digital Data and Analog Voice
operation. 65 watts TX power. Requires
optional UT118 module for D-STAR operation
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Icom ID-800
144 / 440MHz D-STAR dual band amateur
radio Digital Voice, 1k Digital Data and Analog
Voice operation. 55 / 50 watt TX
power. Detachable control head, 1 band at a
time. Same chassis as the IC-208.
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Icom IC-V82 / U82
144 or 440MHz D-STAR capable amateur radios
(mono band) Digital Voice, 1k Digital Data and
Analog Voice operation. 7 / 5 watts TX
power. Requires optional UT118 module for
D-STAR operation
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Icom IC-91AD
144 / 440MHz D-STAR amateur radio (dual
band) Digital Voice, 1k Digital Data and Analog
Voice operation. 5 watts TX power. True dual
band / display operation.
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D-STAR How it works Icom America Inc. TSR
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Understanding how it works
D-STAR utilizes call signs to route the radio
call. Every repeater must be assigned a unique
call sign (club call recommended). Every owner /
operator programs their radio with their own call
sign. Call sign is transmitted digitally with
each transmission. No need to voice ID with
D-STAR since digital ID is part of each TX.
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Understanding how it works
Each radio has 4 call sign fields to be
programmed. What you need to know to program a
radio is Operating frequency Simplex or Duplex
frequency MyCall Your call sign (primary
operator) UrCall Call sign of the person / zone
being called Rpt1 1st repeater Rpt2 2nd
repeater
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Understanding how it works (Simplex)
To complete a local simplex call, program 2
fields along with the frequency in the
radio. MyCall My call sign (eg.
W7JRL) UrCall Your call sign or CQCQCQ
MyCall - W7JRL UrCall CQCQCQ
MyCall - N9JA UrCall KD7DIQ
MyCall - KD7DIQ UrCall CQCQCQ
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Understanding how it works (Simplex)
In this example, all parties in digital mode hear
all the traffic on the simplex channel.
MyCall - W7JRL UrCall CQCQCQ
MyCall - N9JA UrCall KD7DIQ
MyCall - KD7DIQ UrCall CQCQCQ
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
To complete a local zone repeater call, program 3
fields along with the frequency in the
radio. MyCall My call sign (eg.
W7JRL) UrCall Your call sign or
CQCQCQ Rpt1 Local repeater call sign
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
When you program your radios RP1 location, and
the proper frequency, your radio tells the
desired repeater to activate. This is similar to
PL tones in analog. Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH
A UrCall CQCQCQ RPT2 nothing
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall CQCQCQ RP
T2 nothing In this example, the N7IH repeater
would activate on the repeater frequency you were
transmitting on (1.2GHz). (In this example, we
are using the ID-1 radio.)
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
All parties on the local repeater channel will
hear all the local radio traffic on that
frequency.
Repeater N7IH
MyCall - N9JA UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH A
MyCall W7JRL UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH A
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
To complete a gateway repeater call, program all
4 call sign fields within the radio. Repeater
must be connected to a gateway server
PC. MyCall My call sign (eg. W7JRL) UrCall Your
call sign or / zone and module (eg. /K5TIT
A) Rpt1 Local repeater call sign Rpt2 Local
repeater G as the 8th letter (eg. N7IH G)
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT RP
T2 N7IH G In this example, the N7IH repeater
would activate on the repeater frequency you were
transmitting (1.2GHz) and then (In this
example, we are using the ID-1 radio.)
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT RP
T2 N7IH G routed to the gateway and directed
to the proper remote repeater through the
internet.
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT RP
T2 N7IH G The gateway is told where to route
the call based on what is in the UrCall field
of the radio. /K5TIT tells the gateway to route
the call to the K5TIT repeater. The / means
zone call.
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
Using / in front of the repeater call sign in
the UrCall field activates that zone (module)
at the remote repeater.
Gateway / Internet
Repeater N7IH
Repeater K5TIT
MyCall W7JRL UrCall /K5TIT Rpt1 N7IH Rpt2
N7IH G
MyCall - N9JA UrCall /N7IH Rpt1 K5TIT Rpt2
K5TIT G
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT
? RPT2 N7IH G Since we did not designate a
module in the UrCall field, the system
automatically routes to the A module of the
remote repeater (K5TIT).
K5TIT Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT
C RPT2 N7IH G If we add the designator as
the 8th letter, we can route to different modules
at the remote repeater site.
K5TIT Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall /K5TIT RP
T2 N7IH G Currently, you are not able to
activate more than 1 module at the remote
repeater site.
K5TIT Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall N9JA RPT2
N7IH G If you use the call sign of the person
you wish to call, the gateway automatically
routes the call to the last known location of
that call sign within the repeater network.
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
Using the call sign of the desired party to be
reached in the UrCall field automatically
routes to wherever the radio was last heard.
Gateway / Internet
Repeater N7IH
Repeater W1AW
MyCall W7JRL UrCall N9JA Rpt1 N7IH A Rpt2
N7IH G
MyCall - N9JA UrCall W7JRL Rpt1 W1AW A Rpt2
W1AW G
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
In both examples, all parties on the local
repeater and remote repeater hear all the radio
traffic on the frequency.
Gateway / Internet
Repeater N7IH
Repeater W1AW
MyCall W7JRL UrCall /W1AW A Rpt1 N7IH
A Rpt2 N7IH G
MyCall - N9JA UrCall /N7IH A Rpt1 W1AW
A Rpt2 W1AW G
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
Both radios must be properly programmed to
operate via the gateway in order for
transmissions to be heard both directions.
Gateway / Internet
Repeater N7IH
Repeater W1AW
MyCall W7JRL UrCall /W1AW A Rpt1 N7IH
A Rpt2 N7IH G
MyCall - N9JA UrCall /N7IH A Rpt1 W1AW
A Rpt2 W1AW G
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Understanding how it works (Gateway)
In this example, N9JA would hear W7JRLs
transmission but, W7JRL would not hear N9JA since
no gateway is selected.
Gateway / Internet
Repeater N7IH
Repeater W1AW
MyCall W7JRL UrCall /W1AW A Rpt1 N7IH
A Rpt2 N7IH G
MyCall - N9JA UrCall /N7IH A Rpt1 W1AW
A Rpt2 none
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
To complete a cross-band (cross-module) repeater
call, program all 4 call sign fields within the
radio. Repeater must have multiple voice modules
installed. MyCall My call sign (eg.
W7JRL) UrCall Your call sign or
CQCQCQ Rpt1 Local repeater input module call
sign (eg. N7IH A) Rpt2 Local repeater output
module as the 8th letter (eg. N7IH C) Signal
is repeated on both input and output frequencies
/ modules locally.
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
Eg. MyCall W7JRL RPT1 N7IH A UrCall CQCQCQ RP
T2 N7IH C When using the designator of another
local module in the RPT2 field, the call is
routed to that module locally.
N7IH Repeater
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
In this example, all parties listening on 1.2GHz
and 440MHz would hear all radio traffic.
Repeater N7IH
MyCall - N9JA UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH C
(440 MHz) Rpt2 N7IH A
MyCall W7JRL UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH A
(1.2 GHz) Rpt2 N7IH C
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Understanding how it works (Repeater)
In this example, W7JRL would not hear N9JA reply
because he is not properly programmed for
cross-band operation.
Repeater N7IH
MyCall - N9JA UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH C
(440 MHz) Rpt2 none
MyCall W7JRL UrCall CQCQCQ Rpt1 N7IH A
(1.2 GHz) Rpt2 N7IH C