[NCR-DStar] Fwd: RE: D Star emulation. (Astar)

[Tom Azlin N4ZPT]

Hi All.

I like Bob Bruninga WB4APR's idea on linking FM and D-STAR repeaters and 
after reading the web page hope it can be coded.

So I sent Bob Bruninga WB4APR's idea out to the local D-STAR association 
reflector. I got several positive responses from hams that are part of 
the local D-STAR repeater teams. As an example below is one of the 
responses I got on the A-STAR idea. I would add that the NVFMA is 
considering linking our Tysons Corner FM and D-STAR machines so the idea 
is particularly intriguing. The ideas Bob Bruninga WB4APR wrote about 
might be the way to have full call sign routing available. Up to now any 
cross links carried only the cross link call sign. We talked about FM 
users being able to use DTMF to select destinations or issue commands 
for their FM to D-STAR cross links but that seemed clumsy.

I also just spotted that the CODEC 2 will be briefed at one of the 
forums at Dayton.

73, tom n4zpt
p.s.  Sorry for my previous confusing posting to "Bob" - that note was 
addressed to Bob Rice KG4RRN as I was replying to a note from him. Not 
Bob Bruninga WB4AOR. I should have used last names and call signs.


On 5/17/2011 11:46 PM, Mark Braunstein WA4KFZ wrote:
> Tom,
>
> This is pretty cool stuff! I definitely need to add this to our
> presentations to show that there is strong interest in "digital" ham
> radio technology (above and beyond D-STAR). Frankly, I hope vendors
> other than Icom take note of this and start jumping on the digital
> bandwagon. I suspect that in a few more years, we're going to need to
> come up with "D-STAR 2.0" and start addressing ways to increase
> interoperability between the various systems.
>
> The future's so bright, I gotta' wear shades... (grin).
>
> 73,
>
> Mark WA4KFZ
>
>
> On 5/17/2011 4:03 PM, Tom Azlin N4ZPT wrote:
>> notes on fm to/from d-star using aprs mic-e to load or grab call signs.
>>
>> 73, tom n4zpt
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: RE: D Star emulation. (Astar)
>> Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 15:33:47 -0400
>> From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>
>> To: 'Tom Azlin N4ZPT' <tom at n4zpt.org>, 'AMRAD' <tacos at amrad.org>
>>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Thanks. Well, spread the word about the A-STAR concept, because we
>> have the
>> radios, we have the signall8ing, we have the displays and we have the
>> callsign eencoding. These radios even have the built in abilty to QSY
>> to a
>> commanded QSY frequency in an incoming packet. Think ham cellular.
>>
>> Plus, all one has to do is ker-chunk (in PTT mode) onto the A-star
>> frequency, and the A-star gateway will the record your presence and
>> automatically assign the repeater callsign.
>>
>> So much to do, so little time.
>> But spread the word till we find someone to write the code..
>>
>> And if you see any errors in design on my web page, lemme know.
>>
>> http://aprs.org/avrs.html
>>
>> Bob, WB4APR
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: tacos-bounces+bruninga=nadn.navy.mil at amrad.org
>> [mailto:tacos-bounces+bruninga=nadn.navy.mil at amrad.org] On Behalf Of Tom
>> Azlin N4ZPT
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:26 PM
>> To: AMRAD
>> Subject: Re: D Star emulation. (Astar)
>>
>> Hi Bob,
>>
>> There is a D-STAR hotspot up in Maryland that is connected to a packet
>> gateway so the slow speed data side of the D-STAR DV radio is transfered
>> over to the packet side and vice versa. However I think the data going
>> to D-STAR picks up the call sign of the gateway d-star radio. The D-PRS
>> -> APRS gateway already exists but is not quite what you propose as it
>> is one way.
>>
>> Using a built-in APRS radio that can do mic-e might be a good way to
>> solve the call sign "problem" when coming from the FM side. not just the
>> from and to call signs but the rpt1 and rpt2 might have be loaded on the
>> fly. PLUS the FM user will likely need to go register at their nearest
>> gateway if they expect their audio to go any where depending on what
>> they are depending on working.
>>
>> There are hams working the various alternate software that mimics a
>> repeater or creates D-STAR DV packets using the DVDongle. Some of that
>> software uses the DVDongle to encode/decode voice then uses a sound card
>> to send out the completed GMSK signal to a 9600 bps capable radio. Will
>> leave all that to them.
>>
>> 73, tom n4zpt
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5/17/2011 2:31 PM, Bob Bruninga wrote:
>>> The real boon to D-star will be the first person to take one of the
>>> D-star
>>> CODEC dongles, and write some analog gateway software and connect it
>>> to an
>>> Analog APRS repeater. This would be called an "A-STAR" repeater.
>>>
>>> All of the callsign handshaking on the ANALOG side is done by APRS
>>> radios
>>> which can include their callsign in every transmission (PTT mode),
>> including
>>> the callsign of who they want to talk to. On the receive side of the
>> analog
>>> side, the APRS display on the front panel of the radio displays the
>>> callsigns of who is connected (and where!).
>>>
>>> So APRS (built into now 8 different models of radio) does all the
>> signaling,
>>> callsign handling, and ID, and the GATEWAY then passes this over to the
>>> "D-STAR" network and to everyone on D-STAR it looks like a D-STAR call.
>>>
>>> Surely someone can write this simple A-STAR gateway code. And then the
>>> other 98% of ham radio operators (that do not have D-star) can
>>> participate
>>> in UNIVERSAL-BY-CALLSIGN voice contact.
>>>
>>> Please see: http://aprs.org/avrs.html
>>>
>>> Such a software writer would be considered a hero by 98% of ham radio
>>> operators and a traitor by the 2%.
>>>
>>> Bob, WB4APR
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Tacos at amrad.org
>> https://amrad.org/mailman/listinfo/tacos
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>