D-STAR Calculator

When you first start working with D-STAR, getting the callsigns and gateways and whatnot all in the correct spaces can be daunting.  Fortunately, the folks behind one of the D-STAR websites have built a calculator that will tell you exactly which items to put in which fields.  And once you set it the way you want, it gives a nice graphic of what those settings allow you to do.  Try it!

D-STAR Info Calculator

Sample output from http://www.dstarinfo.com/dstar-web-calculator.aspx

Timers

Timers on the VHF system are set as follows:

• Hang time: 3 s  
• time repeater carrier stays up after a user unkeys

• Courtesy tone delay:  250 ms
• time between when user unkeys and courtesy tone sounds

• Repeater time out:  180 s (3 min)

• Kerchunk timer: 150 ms 
• filters out many kerchunkers and lots of key-ups from interference


• ID timer: 540 s (9 min) 

(Updated) Note:  When a signal is sent to the repeater via the Stadium link, there is an extra delay.  Ordinarily there is:

• a delay from the time the operator pushes the PTT until the time the transmitter in the radio starts transmitting;
  
  
• a 150-ms delay to eliminate kerchunkers and stray keyups;
  
  
• a delay from the time that the receiver "sees" the CTCSS tone and activates the repeater transmitter;
  
  
• a delay while the repeater transmitter begins transmitting. 

When transmitting via the Stadium link, there is an additional (unquantified) delay while the receiver there sees the CTCSS tone and activates its transmitter.

Digi Update, Other News

Your editor apologizes for the lack of updates.  The NORMAN digi remains off the air.  During this hiatus, the Technical Committee is taking the opportunity to clean and test the equipment.  The digi will be off the air for some time, for reasons explained at the last club meeting. 

The antenna/feedline replacement project is proceeding.  We expect to have both the VHF and UHF antennas and their associated feedlines replaced before storm season peaks.  A new link to the Stadium Remote will also be installed.  This job will not be cheap, but we expect the upgrades to last for the next 20 years, weather permitting.

On a recent visit, settings were tweaked on the repeater in an attempt to prevent unannounced repeater time-outs.