D-STAR D-STAR Repeater Basics Icom America Inc. TSR.

D-STAR

D-STAR Repeater Basics

Icom America Inc.

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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/FandES/field/regulations/techchar/

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/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 @ 3600 bps (including error correction)

Digital data @ 1200 bps

1.2 GHz Data rate – 128 kbps

High speed data @ 128 kbps (Ethernet connection)

or

Digital voice @ 3600 bps (including error correction)

Digital data @ 1200 bps

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What’s 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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What’s 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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What’s required?

Additional hardware

Each physical install is different. What your install requires may vary.

Examples of additional equipment:DuplexersPower SupplyAntennasWindow Filter

D-STAR

RP2C Controller

Icom America Inc.

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Gateway Configuration Diagram

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What’s required?

Programming PC (Windows)

To program the repeater controller and frequencies you need:

Windows based PC with at least 1 Ethernet and 1 USB portUSB A to B cableEthernet cable (not crossover)

Install the included software on the Windows PC for: ID-RP2C ID-RP2VD ID-PR2000V ID-RP4000V

What’s 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) ARP4000V (UHF) BRP2000V (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

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.

Repeater Module

D-STAR

Router / Linux Configuration

Icom America Inc.

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What’s 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 / 255.0.0.0Port forwardingSetting a fixed IP address, such as for PPPoE for WANRefer to the RS-RP2C manual for additional requirements.

(The Linksys WRV54G meets all the requirements)

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What’s 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 CPUAt least 512MB RAM2 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: 20005TCP

Voice RX: 40000UDP

Data RX: 40001TCP

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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: 10.0.0.2Subnet: 255.0.0.0Def Gateway: 10.0.0.1

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Select “static IP” for eth1 as well and enter the proper settings.

Eth1 (gateway / RP2C side)

Address: 172.16.0.20Subnet: 255.0.0.0Def Gateway: none

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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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Add these lines to the named.conf with your favorite Linux text editor.

Syntax is VERY important here.

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Create a new folder “/var/dsipsvd”

This is where the software stores the backup files.

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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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Syntax is VERY important in this file!

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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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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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In a terminal window, type:

dig router.dstar.local

You should see an answer like this

If it’s all correct, you should see the router’s IP address here (10.0.0.1)

D-STAR

Gateway Software

Icom America Inc.

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What’s required?

D-STAR / Gateway software

Icom’s 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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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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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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Edit the following in the dsgwd.conf file:

ZR_ADDR

ZR_CALLSIGN

DNS_MAC

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Add the lines here in the /etc/syslog.conf file:

# for D-STARlocal0.* /var/log/

dsgwd.loglocal2.* /var/log/

dsipsvd.log

Make sure to type this right. It’s “local” before the number.

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Now, let’s 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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Finally, change the default runlevel to “3”

Locate the file: /etc/inittab

Change the runlevel to “3” here.

D-STAR

Gateway Server Setup Verification

Icom America Inc.

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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

dsipsvddsgwd

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.logdsgwd.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

D-STAR

Adding Users

Icom America Inc.

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Adding users

First, you need to reserve IP’s for the users.

Open a terminal window and type: cd /tmp

Next type:

Echo “reserve” > /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdin

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Adding users

To see the reserved IP’s, type:

cat /tmp/dsipsvd-cmdout

You should see results like this

IP’s 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 user”command format is:

echo "add {user_ID}|{area repeater call sign}|{zone repeater call sign}|{GW IP address}|{users assigned IP address}|{alias name for DNS} > /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


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


The following is an example.

echo "add W7JRL71 |N7IH9 A|N7IH9 |65.102.167.146|10.140.194.xxx|w7jrl71" > /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

D-STAR

Checking GIP, RIP and MNG Tables

Icom America Inc.

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Gateway server

The gateway software uses 3 tables:RIP – Reserved IP addressesGIP – Gateway IP addressesMNG – 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” > /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.

D-STAR

Testing and Going “Live”

Icom America Inc.

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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 [email protected]

If you have ANY questions, contact Icom before you do something. We don’t 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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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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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.

D-STAR

D-STAR radios

Icom America Inc.

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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


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)


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)


5 watts TX power.

True dual band / display operation.

D-STAR

How it works

Icom America Inc.

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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 frequencyMyCall Your call sign (primary operator)UrCall Call sign of the person / zone being calledRpt1 1st repeaterRpt2 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 - N9JA

UrCall – KD7DIQ

MyCall - W7JRL

UrCall – CQCQCQ

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 - N9JA

UrCall – KD7DIQ

MyCall - W7JRL

UrCall – CQCQCQ

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 radio’s

“RP1” location, and the proper frequency, your radio tells the desired repeater to activate. This is similar to PL tones in analog.

Eg. MyCall W7JRLRPT1 N7IH AUrCall CQCQCQRPT2 nothing

N7IH Repeater

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Understanding how it works (Repeater)Eg. MyCall W7JRL

RPT1 N7IH AUrCall CQCQCQRPT2 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.

MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – CQCQCQ

Rpt1 – N7IH A

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – CQCQCQ

Rpt1 – N7IH A

Repeater – N7IH

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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 signRpt2 Local repeater + “G” as the 8th letter (eg. N7IH G)

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RPT1 N7IH AUrCall /K5TITRPT2 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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routed to the gateway and directed to the proper remote repeater through the internet.

N7IH Repeater

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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.

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – /K5TIT

Rpt1 – N7IH

Rpt2 – N7IH G

Repeater – N7IH Repeater – K5TIT

MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – /N7IH

Rpt1 – K5TIT

Rpt2 – K5TIT G

Gateway / Internet

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RPT1 N7IH AUrCall /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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RPT1 N7IH AUrCall /K5TIT CRPT2 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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Currently, you are not able to activate more than 1 module at the remote repeater site.

K5TIT Repeater

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RPT1 N7IH AUrCall N9JARPT2 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.

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – N9JA

Rpt1 – N7IH A

Rpt2 – N7IH G

Repeater – N7IH Repeater – W1AW

MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – W7JRL

Rpt1 – W1AW A

Rpt2 – W1AW G

Gateway / Internet

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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.

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – /W1AW A

Rpt1 – N7IH A

Rpt2 – N7IH G


MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – /N7IH A

Rpt1 – W1AW A

Rpt2 – W1AW G

Gateway / Internet

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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.

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – /W1AW A

Rpt1 – N7IH A

Rpt2 – N7IH G


MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – /N7IH A

Rpt1 – W1AW A

Rpt2 – W1AW G

Gateway / Internet

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Understanding how it works (Gateway)

In this example, N9JA would hear W7JRL’s transmission but, W7JRL would not hear N9JA since no gateway is selected.

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – /W1AW A

Rpt1 – N7IH A

Rpt2 – N7IH G


MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – /N7IH A

Rpt1 – W1AW A

Rpt2 – none

Gateway / Internet

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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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RPT1 N7IH AUrCall CQCQCQRPT2 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.

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

Repeater – N7IH

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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.

MyCall - N9JA

UrCall – CQCQCQ

Rpt1 – N7IH C (440 MHz)

Rpt2 – none

MyCall – W7JRL

UrCall – CQCQCQ

Rpt1 – N7IH A (1.2 GHz)

Rpt2 – N7IH C

Repeater – N7IH

D-STAR D-STAR Repeater Basics Icom America Inc. TSR.

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