Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio (D-Star) is a new communication mode which has started to get a foothold in the UK, having recently taken off in Japan, American, Australia and various other countries around the world. Developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League in conjunction with universities and amateur radio companies, D-Star is an open standard which enables anyone to make D-Star compatible equipment without paying a royalty - though to-date only Icom has committed by releasing relevant commercial kit.
D-Star kit can transmit both ethernet compatible digital data at a rate of 128Kbps, or RS-232 (serial) compatible digital data at 1200bps and digitally encoded voice simultaneously over the same narrow band FM channel - a feature unique to Amateur Radio.
It is, however, D-Star repeaters that are the most interesting part of the integrated system since they equipped with the ability to route data around the world-wide repeater network. It is considered to be the future of Amateur Radio and the UK is embracing it and quickly.
2 meter D-Star repeaters have been springing up all over the UK during February. First was GB7DG in Glasgow on 15th. It was soon followed on the air by GB7YD in Yorkshire, GM7MI in Manchester and GB7DE in Fife. United Kingdom D-Star repeaters have already become well established in the 70 cm band and the new 2 meter repeaters make D-Star accessible to many more UK Radio Amateurs.
This growth of D-Star adoption in the UK is gaining in popularity despite recent interference causing the GB7YD repeater to be forced off the air due to interference on its input frequency from legal unlicensed devices. The Radio Society of Great Britain's (RSGB's) Emerging Technology Co-ordination Committee website reports that the repeater has been removed from service until an alternative frequency can be found.
According to the committee, problems have been experienced at other 70cm D-Star repeaters with an input on 433.9125 MHz. Unfortunately this part of the Band is license exempt and used by a large number of micro power consumer electronic devices for remote control and telemetry applications. This includes automobile key keyless entry systems, wireless door bells and data links for in-home weather stations.
| Notes | This news report is brought to you courtesy of the Amateur Radio Newsline. |
