For anyone checking in on the comments for more info. This youtube channel is the best on how to operate your 705/7300 and d-star. No need to waste your time searching for more. All you have is here. Its explained very well and in detail.
That was excellent, I'm new to Transceivers and got my certificate a week ago. I find your video's way more instructive than reading the IC manual. Keep up the great videos, much appreciated!!!
Thanks Tom. Your videos are a wonderful asset to the HAM community. Narrated extremely well with super content. Thanks again very much for helping your fellow HAMS.
Tom, I have the same question. How do you setup and choose a hotspot for the first time? Is the hotspot something different that an internet wireless access point?
Thank you Tom, I have had dstar for a long time but never worked out how to change reflectors from the radio, always did it from the hotspot software. This will open up operating dstar properly for me now
You are a great teacher... Thank you for the videos I couldn't make heads or tails from the manual. I missed 2 I managed to get the 9700 to do D-STAR. It was a little different but I figured it out... Can't wait for further youtube from you... Again thanks for what you do...
Thank you Tom. Will you please consider a video on how to set up the Hot Spot? You mentioned new gateways needed to be saved to the SD card, then uploaded in to the 705. How does all that work? The manual does not even mention hot spot. Searching brings up your video. 😊
Thanks Tom for all the information on D-Star. I do have a question about the registration process, I have registered my ic-9700 about a year ago and I just got my new Icom id-52A. Do I have to register again since it is a second radio or is registration based on my call sign? 73 Wayne
Hi Wayne, When you register for D-Star, you are registering your callsign, not any particular radio. You only need to register once. You can go back and update your registration for other devices, like a hotspot. You shouldn't need to do anything for an additional radio as long as you program the same callsign into each new radio.
This is great if you have a IC-705 AND already know how to configure a Pi-Star/OpenSpot, it's just one half of the story if you don't... Any chance you can show the Pi-Star config in detail please?
Finally got my DSTAR registration and set up my IC-705. So far, so good. I've only found one local DSTAR repeater that seems to be active. I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing to connect to reflectors like REF032C or REF001C. Would appreciate more information about how to access the various reflectors and protocol for using them. Thank you! - K7LTZ
Hi Jim. Glad to hear your getting things up and working. On protocols and using reflectors, the best advice I can give is listen for a while (that's what I did). And also check out www.dstarinfo.com/home.aspx The home page some helpful tips. There is also an FAQ section and a list of reflectors. That's where I got a lot of my initial info from.
dstarinfo.com has a pretty good list of the REF reflectors. You can find that here: www.dstarinfo.com/reflectors.aspx There are also the DCS, XRF and XLX reflectors. F4FXL has a pretty good explanation of those here: www.f4fxl.org/ref-xrf-dcs-xlx-whats-the-difference/
I wonder why there are no HF repeaters with NVIS antennas. I'm on a little island and it's hard to get a VHF signal out from a lot of locations here. And not everyone has HF, so it would be cool if I could operate on HF to a repeater and the person I'm talking to could be on VHF.
Hi Tom, maybe I missed it in the video or didn't understand but in order to talk through a local dstar repeater, I have that repeaters info in the from box, but I am not sure what the to box should say? CQCQCQ?
Hi. Thank you. Family is doing fine. Lots of things going on with the family this summer. That’s part of what’s been making new videos slow to come out…
Hi. Yes, "Reflectors" are kind of like internet repeaters. They can be (and often are) connected to radio repeaters around the world. You can also connect to them with a Hotspot. It is like a tiny, low power repeater of your own that you have at your house. It has a radio receiver, transmitter and an internet connection. One of the more popular ready-made ones is the OpenSpot4. Google that and you'll find a bunch of information.
Tom wanted to ask a question. Most digital radios are HTs. So they have their "rubber duck" antenna. With the 705, if I have it connected to an outside antenna on my house would I be better off using some kind of "rubber duck" antenna when using my hotspot in my house? Other ops talk about poor SWR on the 705 using those types of antennas. I'm not sure what the proper antenna setup would be when I'm using my 705 with a hotpot. What power should I be running? 10 watts may not be necessary, but I'm not sure of the best approach. Thank you for any input!
Hi Brad. Two parts here- On the outside vs. inside antenna, I wouldn’t say you’d be better off with an inside antenna. The outside antenna will work find. If there are hams nearby and your both using the default frequencies on your hotspot, you might be bringing up your neighbors hotspots. Many rubber ducks don’t have a great SWR, but inside with your hot spot it doesn’t matter. 10 watts is definitely not necessary. Your hotspot is probably putting out
Hi Rich. Welcome to the hobby and congrats on the new radio. You’re going to love the 705. There is no special antenna type for DStar. You just need an antenna for whichever band(s) you will be using DStar on - Usually 2 meters and 70cm. You can operate DStar on 6 meters and HF too and the IC-705 is capable of that.
You should try connecting to DCS983A on Tuesday nights (Wednesday mornings) for the AmateurLogic SoundCheck net. The net starts at 8pm U.S. Central time (1AM or 2AM UTC, depending on daylight savings time). It is a digital mode net that has virtually every digital mode tied together. You can check in on DSTAR, DMR, YSF, P25, etc. etc. etc. 73, Tom
Hi..very good videos..but a cry out for help. When I start pistar I hear that I am connected to reflector. I can listen to the refector and the hotspot shows details of the station but I cannot transmit…any ideas…am pulling my hair out!!!!
I'm using Pi-Star as well. Mine is with a Pi-Zero and the MMDVM board from N5BOC. I have had a couple times where I could hear stations, but couldn't seem to transmit. I rebooted the Pi-Star and that fixed the problem for me. I'm guessing you've already tried that. I can't think of anything in the settings that would allow you to receive and not transmit. Have you checked the obvious/silly things like you have an offset programmed in the radio and you PiStar is set for simplex? Or the PiStar is duplex, but you have the wrong offset in the radio?
Where can you get a list of what Icom consider areas, When I went to school the Midwest was Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois. Arkansas was considered west, not midwest. And California was the Far West. Things have so changed.
I believe DStarinfo.com has the most complete information. I don’t believe Icom defines the areas. The have DStar repeaters searchable by map or by list and you can download the lists. This is a link to their site: www.dstarinfo.com/home.aspx
Those are great questions! Getting back into the swing of doing the videos again, I didn't even think to address those items in the video as I mentioned them. The D-STAR Quick-Start guide, one of the resources in the description is a pretty good primer describing most of the standard DSTAR terms. I've copied the link in this reply below as well. www.roblocher.com/whitepapers/dstar.html
I love your videos but could you please stop waving your pointer around in front of the camera. Please point to where you want to draw our attention but do it without waving it around. It is very distracting.
Hi- It is possible to save a station that you’ve worked with the CS and CD menus, but honestly the easiest way to add repeaters in the DR list is to just import a new .CSV file with the ones you want included.
Excellent IC-705/DSTAR videos, Tom! Keep 'em coming. Question for you .... I've now tried twice to submit my DSTAR registration via regist.dstargateway.org, but have gotten no reply. Am I doing something wrong? I've waited several weeks each time with no responses. When I check my registration status on the website, it says my call sign is not a registered. Any advice is much appreciated! -- K7LTZ
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For anyone checking in on the comments for more info. This youtube channel is the best on how to operate your 705/7300 and d-star. No need to waste your time searching for more. All you have is here. Its explained very well and in detail.
Yours is the best explanation of how DStar works I have seen. No need to look at other sites.
Thanks!
Would love to see a video on selecting and setting up a home DSTAR hotspot for my IC-705 and (future) ID-52A!
That was excellent, I'm new to Transceivers and got my certificate a week ago. I find your video's way more instructive than reading the IC manual. Keep up the great videos, much appreciated!!!
Merci pour ces excellentes vidéos bien construites et permettant vraiment de s'approprier le fonctionnement des appareils.
Je suis content qu'ils soient utiles. Merci pour vos gentils commentaires.
Thanks Tom. Your videos are a wonderful asset to the HAM community. Narrated extremely well with super content. Thanks again very much for helping your fellow HAMS.
How to set up Hotspot for the first time in the From field. You chose it in your video from previous use. I am using an OPENSPOT 2
Tom, I have the same question. How do you setup and choose a hotspot for the first time? Is the hotspot something different that an internet wireless access point?
Thank you Tom, I have had dstar for a long time but never worked out how to change reflectors from the radio, always did it from the hotspot software. This will open up operating dstar properly for me now
Superbly explained Tom. I'll try this out on the club 9700
You are a great teacher... Thank you for the videos I couldn't make heads or tails from the manual. I missed 2
I managed to get the 9700 to do D-STAR. It was a little different but I figured it out... Can't wait for further youtube from you... Again thanks for what you do...
Great tutorial Tom...could not of been done any better!!!🎙👍
Tom i appreciate your tutorial,really well explained
thanks for the amateur radio educational lesson part 1-2-3
Greg
Thank you Tom. Will you please consider a video on how to set up the Hot Spot? You mentioned new gateways needed to be saved to the SD card, then uploaded in to the 705. How does all that work? The manual does not even mention hot spot. Searching brings up your video. 😊
Thanks Tom for all the information on D-Star. I do have a question about the registration process, I have registered my ic-9700 about a year ago and I just got my new Icom id-52A. Do I have to register again since it is a second radio or is registration based on my call sign? 73 Wayne
Hi Wayne,
When you register for D-Star, you are registering your callsign, not any particular radio. You only need to register once. You can go back and update your registration for other devices, like a hotspot. You shouldn't need to do anything for an additional radio as long as you program the same callsign into each new radio.
This is great if you have a IC-705 AND already know how to configure a Pi-Star/OpenSpot, it's just one half of the story if you don't... Any chance you can show the Pi-Star config in detail please?
SW-Germany is waving a hand! 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter
Family first.
That's the way I prioritize it. Thanks!
Finally got my DSTAR registration and set up my IC-705. So far, so good. I've only found one local DSTAR repeater that seems to be active. I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing to connect to reflectors like REF032C or REF001C. Would appreciate more information about how to access the various reflectors and protocol for using them. Thank you! - K7LTZ
Hi Jim. Glad to hear your getting things up and working. On protocols and using reflectors, the best advice I can give is listen for a while (that's what I did). And also check out www.dstarinfo.com/home.aspx The home page some helpful tips. There is also an FAQ section and a list of reflectors. That's where I got a lot of my initial info from.
So where did you get the list of reflectors, REF030CL works for me now on IC9700, but where would I get a list of active REF reflectors?
dstarinfo.com has a pretty good list of the REF reflectors.
You can find that here: www.dstarinfo.com/reflectors.aspx
There are also the DCS, XRF and XLX reflectors.
F4FXL has a pretty good explanation of those here: www.f4fxl.org/ref-xrf-dcs-xlx-whats-the-difference/
I wonder why there are no HF repeaters with NVIS antennas. I'm on a little island and it's hard to get a VHF signal out from a lot of locations here. And not everyone has HF, so it would be cool if I could operate on HF to a repeater and the person I'm talking to could be on VHF.
Hello! Are you able to do a video on how to set up a hot spot, cheers
@15:26 how do you preprogram the reflectors? I've tried on both the radio and in CS-705 w/o success. 73!
Hi Tom, maybe I missed it in the video or didn't understand but in order to talk through a local dstar repeater, I have that repeaters info in the from box, but I am not sure what the to box should say? CQCQCQ?
That is correct. If you’re just making a general call, the TO call sign should just be CQCQCQ
Hope all is well with the family
Hi. Thank you. Family is doing fine. Lots of things going on with the family this summer. That’s part of what’s been making new videos slow to come out…
I'm confused. you're saying using reflector over the internet. You don't need an antenna?
Hi. Yes, "Reflectors" are kind of like internet repeaters. They can be (and often are) connected to radio repeaters around the world. You can also connect to them with a Hotspot. It is like a tiny, low power repeater of your own that you have at your house. It has a radio receiver, transmitter and an internet connection. One of the more popular ready-made ones is the OpenSpot4. Google that and you'll find a bunch of information.
Tom wanted to ask a question. Most digital radios are HTs. So they have their "rubber duck" antenna. With the 705, if I have it connected to an outside antenna on my house would I be better off using some kind of "rubber duck" antenna when using my hotspot in my house? Other ops talk about poor SWR on the 705 using those types of antennas. I'm not sure what the proper antenna setup would be when I'm using my 705 with a hotpot. What power should I be running? 10 watts may not be necessary, but I'm not sure of the best approach. Thank you for any input!
Hi Brad. Two parts here- On the outside vs. inside antenna, I wouldn’t say you’d be better off with an inside antenna. The outside antenna will work find. If there are hams nearby and your both using the default frequencies on your hotspot, you might be bringing up your neighbors hotspots. Many rubber ducks don’t have a great SWR, but inside with your hot spot it doesn’t matter. 10 watts is definitely not necessary. Your hotspot is probably putting out
@@HamRadioA2Z good stuff. Thanks Tom! 73 Brad K0WET
I’m a new ham. Just bought the 705. Now waiting in BNC connectors to hook up antenna. What type of antenna is used for Dstsr?
Hi Rich. Welcome to the hobby and congrats on the new radio. You’re going to love the 705. There is no special antenna type for DStar. You just need an antenna for whichever band(s) you will be using DStar on - Usually 2 meters and 70cm. You can operate DStar on 6 meters and HF too and the IC-705 is capable of that.
I have the IC9700, and DSTAR is a bit head wrecking..hence I don't use it much
You should try connecting to DCS983A on Tuesday nights (Wednesday mornings) for the AmateurLogic SoundCheck net. The net starts at 8pm U.S. Central time (1AM or 2AM UTC, depending on daylight savings time). It is a digital mode net that has virtually every digital mode tied together. You can check in on DSTAR, DMR, YSF, P25, etc. etc. etc.
73, Tom
Hi..very good videos..but a cry out for help. When I start pistar I hear that I am connected to reflector. I can listen to the refector and the hotspot shows details of the station but I cannot transmit…any ideas…am pulling my hair out!!!!
I'm using Pi-Star as well. Mine is with a Pi-Zero and the MMDVM board from N5BOC. I have had a couple times where I could hear stations, but couldn't seem to transmit. I rebooted the Pi-Star and that fixed the problem for me. I'm guessing you've already tried that. I can't think of anything in the settings that would allow you to receive and not transmit. Have you checked the obvious/silly things like you have an offset programmed in the radio and you PiStar is set for simplex? Or the PiStar is duplex, but you have the wrong offset in the radio?
du jamais vu merci et 73
je suis content que ça aide. 73 de WA2IVD
Where can you get a list of what Icom consider areas, When I went to school the Midwest was Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois. Arkansas was considered west, not midwest. And California was the Far West. Things have so changed.
I believe DStarinfo.com has the most complete information. I don’t believe Icom defines the areas. The have DStar repeaters searchable by map or by list and you can download the lists. This is a link to their site: www.dstarinfo.com/home.aspx
What is a hotspot? Reflector?
Those are great questions! Getting back into the swing of doing the videos again, I didn't even think to address those items in the video as I mentioned them. The D-STAR Quick-Start guide, one of the resources in the description is a pretty good primer describing most of the standard DSTAR terms. I've copied the link in this reply below as well.
www.roblocher.com/whitepapers/dstar.html
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
You need to increase the gain on your audio. It is a strain to listen.
I love your videos but could you please stop waving your pointer around in front of the camera. Please point to where you want to draw our attention but do it without waving it around. It is very distracting.
Sorry about that. I have received other similar comments and I try to be mindful of that. Talking with my hands is a hard habit to break.
@5:55 How did you add it to your repeater list????
Hi- It is possible to save a station that you’ve worked with the CS and CD menus, but honestly the easiest way to add repeaters in the DR list is to just import a new .CSV file with the ones you want included.
Excellent IC-705/DSTAR videos, Tom! Keep 'em coming. Question for you .... I've now tried twice to submit my DSTAR registration via regist.dstargateway.org, but have gotten no reply. Am I doing something wrong? I've waited several weeks each time with no responses. When I check my registration status on the website, it says my call sign is not a registered. Any advice is much appreciated! -- K7LTZ