D-Star In Essex

On this page, you’ll find some basic information about D-Star, and some handy information for those in and around Essex.

What is D-Star?

Most amateur radio voice chat is analogue. D-Star is one of the relatively new Digital Voice (DV) modes.

D-Star is championed by manufacturer Icom. Other DV formats include DMR (Motorola and others) and Fusion (Yaesu)

D-Star offers some strong advantages over analogue voice:

• Connectivity around the world using the Internet
• Can be used to GPS positioning information
• Automatic logging of callsigns, plus online logs of traffic
• Digital audio quality
• Option to set your radio to “Call Squelch”, so you will only receive calls for you.
• Reflectors (Regional ‘chatrooms’)

 

Using D-Star

You’ll need a D-Star radio – they’re made by Icom, and they’re not cheap –  Prices for a typical D-Star handheld are around £300.

Setting up a D-Star radio can be tricky, as you are required to program extra settings for each repeater, and also set the radio to transmit your callsign in text format.

One of the benefits of D-Star, is that you can link your radio and your repeater to others over the Internet. You could be driving around Chelmsford, connected to the Danbury D-Star repeater, talking to someone driving around New York. Before you can use the Internet connectivity, you have to be registered on the D-Star network (See D-Star Registration in Essex)

 

D-Star Repeaters In/Around Essex

Here is a list of the D-Star repeaters in Essex, together with their settings.

Note that “RPT” columns contain two blank spaces, shown here as underscores.

Repeater	Location	Output	Input	Offset	“YOUR”	“RPT 1”	“RPT 2”
GB7ZP	Chelmsford	439.4875	430.4875	-9.00	CQCQCQ	GB7ZP__B	GB7ZP__G
GB7KH	Kelvedon Hatch	439.6125	430.6125	-9.00	CQCQCQ	GB7KH__B	GB7KH__G
GB7TE	Clacton	145.775	145.175	-0.6	CQCQCQ	GB7TE__C	GB7TE__G
GB7OK	Bromley, Kent	145.7125	145.1125	-0.6	CQCQCQ	GB7OK__C	GB7OK__G

 

D-Star Gateways In/Around Essex

The following is a list on D-Star Gateways. A gateway is not the same as a repeater – it provides access to the D-Star network, and is simplex.

Note that “RPT” columns contain two blank spaces, shown here as underscores.

Repeater	Location	Output	Input	Offset	“YOUR”	“RPT 1”	“RPT 2”
MB6CE	Chelmsford	144.8125	144.8125	0.00	CQCQCQ	MB6CE__C	MB6CE__G
MB6ZZ	Basildon	144.8625	144.8625	0.00	CQCQCQ	MB6ZZ__C	MB6ZZ__G
MB6SE	Shoebury	144.850	144.850	0.00	CQCQCQ	MB6SE__C	MB6SE__G
MB6CL	Clacton (70cm)	430.1875	430.1875	0.00	CQCQCQ	MB6CL__B	MB6CL__G
MB6DS	Clacton (2m)	144.8375	144.8375	0.00	CQCQCQ	MB6DS__C	MB6DS__G

 

Icom IC-E92D Information

How to set the E92D to transmit APRS data using the optional GPS mic: gb7wc.ukace.co.uk/D%20APRS.htm

 

Handy Links

• D-Star Settings Calculator
• Last Heard on D-Star – A list of who’s been heard using D-Star around the world (handy for testing)
• List of worldwide Reflectors
• Repeaters in Essex

Got a question on D-Star in Essex? Please ask below…