New to DSTAR with some questions

[W4TLE]

Hello all! I've just been named the assistant EC for our county and during the organizational meeting the state leadership made it clear that DSTAR was the way to go and there's going to be an emphasis on getting the ARES groups up and running on DSTAR as soon as possible. As I do research into this, I get more and more excited about the possibilities. I'll no doubt have many questions over time but for the moment, I just need to know if DSTAR capable radios will still work with non-DSTAR repeaters, and vice versa?
I realize there's an increased cost that will cause some hams to balk, but for myself, I've always been one that is okay with the cost as long as the return on the investment is equal or greater to the expenditure. My question is primarily for those in my group who have been in the hobby since the rock-lock days and aren't crazy about embracing new technology.

Thanks in advance for any input.

73, Rick/W4TLE

[N5MIJ]

Rick,

All D-STAR user radios have both Digital and Analog modes available.

Repeaters are D-STAR only.

Welcome to the FUN!

73,

Jim
N5MIJ

[W4TLE]

Rick,

All D-STAR user radios have both Digital and Analog modes available.

Repeaters are D-STAR only.

Welcome to the FUN!

73,

Jim
N5MIJ

Thanks, Jim. I probably would have figured that out when I started doing research on the radios, but I figured it would be quicker just to ask someone who already knew.
I appreciate the quick reply.

73,

Rick/W4TLE

[AB8XA]

Rick,
Due to the ubiquitous availability of analog repeaters compared to D-Star, I recommend you go with a D-Star radio that can monitor both an analog and a digital repeater at the same time, not just one or the other at a time. To future-proof your new radio(s), look at the:

IC-2820H mobile unit with UT-123 GPS/D-Star module

and/or

IC-92AD handheld with HM-175GPS GPS hand mike

[W4TLE]

Rick,
Due to the ubiquitous availability of analog repeaters compared to D-Star, I recommend you go with a D-Star radio that can monitor both an analog and a digital repeater at the same time, not just one or the other at a time. To future-proof your new radio(s), look at the:

IC-2820H mobile unit with UT-123 GPS/D-Star module

and/or

IC-92AD handheld with HM-175GPS GPS hand mike

Thanks so much for the heads up. I had been looking at the 2820 but no so much the 92AD. I'll not only take your suggestion to heart but I'll also pass it on to my ARES group.
Anything we can do to avoid unnecessary headaches or delays is helpful. I appreciate the input.

[K5JY]

You might want to connect to http://www.dstarinfo.com and use the "contact" tab on the web page.  The guys who run that site are very knowledgable about using DSTAR for EMCOMM, having played a part in getting (I think) all EOCs in Georgia linked that way.  They also put on DSTAR presentations -- I've seen them at the Atlanta hamfest, and they'd just gotten back from making a presentation at Dayton.

[W4TLE]

You might want to connect to http://www.dstarinfo.com and use the "contact" tab on the web page.  The guys who run that site are very knowledgable about using DSTAR for EMCOMM, having played a part in getting (I think) all EOCs in Georgia linked that way.  They also put on DSTAR presentations -- I've seen them at the Atlanta hamfest, and they'd just gotten back from making a presentation at Dayton.

Thanks, John. I'lll definitely check into it further.