W6CX-DV -- Using D-STAR


Quick Links
Check out our Dashboard
We host the W6CX-DigitalVoice forum
For New D-STAR Users – Register Your Callsign


Our D-Star mode has the most advanced features available in the D-Star world. Here's a summary of what you can do:

Link to REFxxxx reflectors (default currently is REF014C)
Link to DCSxxxx reflectors
Link to XRFxxxx reflectors
Callsign Route to user and gateway callsigns

RF users are free and encouraged to link to other reflectors (just check first that others are not using the repeater).

These options give our users access to thousands of users worldwide. While you will probably link to REF reflectors most of the time, the DCS and XRF systems open up a very large network of other D-Star users.

Linking

Your radio can be in either DR Mode or use pre-programmed memories. The UR callsign field would look like UR=REF030CL to linking to reflector 30C. Check out Linking to Reflectors or Repeaters. When finished using that reflector, try to relink back to our default reflector. If that is not possible, the system will relink to the default if there is no local RF D-Star activity for 15 minutes.

Please remember our objective is to give the best experience for all club members and users within RF range of W6CX-DV. Our hope is no one mode will "take over" the repeater, and a good way to achieve that is to avoid very busy talkgroups unless you can find no one else to talk to. (The same caveat applies to D-STAR reflector REF001C and DMR talkgroup 91 WorldWide). Thanks!

Setting up your radio

Make sure you have registered your callsign for D-STAR. Click the above “For new D-STAR Users” link (then click the "Register" button. We recommend setting up one "terminal" with a space in the so-called "initial" box.

Check your radio's Callsigns -- After configuring DR Mode or selecting the memory for QSOs, as a final check, go to your radio's Menu and select Callsigns. Here is what you want to see:

UR: CQCQCQ
R1: W6CX C (3 spaces so C is in 8th position)
R2: W6CX G
MY: <your callsign> as registered, ideally with no trailing "initial"


Nets

If you are interested, check out the available nets on D-STAR here. For example, these two nets are interesting:

Wednesday 7pm Ham Nation After Show Net on REF014C
Saturday 7pm
Western Digital D-Star Net on REF029A


Help or More Info

Email us at dstar@mdarc.org for questions or help. And join our W6CX-Digital Voice forum to keep up to date on changes and improvements. You can ask questions on the group.


NOTE: Terminal/Accesspoint features - Newer D-STAR radios support Terminal Mode, for example, the ID-51A Plus2 and later, the ID-4100A and the IC-705. But please be aware Terminal and AccessPoint features only work using ICOM Callsign Routing, not Linking. This means when you connect to another gateway via your radio's Terminal mode or AccessPoint mode over the internet, you will be heard there, but users who want to reply will need to know how to use Callsign Routing and capture your callsign (usually by pressing the radio's Callsign Capture button while you are still transmitting). If they don't do that, you will not hear their reply. The same applies to when you want to reply to a callsign routed call. Bottom line -- Terminal and AccessPoint features do not support linking to REF, XRF etc reflectors.