(STICKY) Using local repeater for local and distance use

[Broncus]

Greetings,

Is there a link or file that describes setting up the radio for the many options regarding contacting:

1. A local friend (known call sign) through a local repeater
2. General contact, (unknown call sign) through a local repeater
3. Distance friend (known call sign) on different repeater
4. Distance general contact (unknown call sign) on different repeater

Best regards,
Fred

[n5ebw]

Hi Fred, I don't know if anyone has that info handy, but, we are currently working on those documents to post on this site.  As soon as they are done, we will post them and announce them here.

[ewoodrick]

Number 1 and 3 are the same. RPT1 and RPT2 for your local repeater and gateway and UR the friends callsign.

#2 RPT1 and RPT2 with local repeater, UR CQCQCQ
#4 RPT1 and RPT2 with local repeater, UR /CALLSNC

Check out the D-STAR Calculator at www.DSTARINFO.com for details on #2 and #4

[n5ebw]

#4 RPT1 and RPT2 with local repeater, UR /CALLSNC

Actually, let me clarify something I saw slightly confusing.

If you are calling a distant repeater, you must specify the node in the last character of the entry.

Also, when you program callsigns in URCALL, RPT1, and RPT2, they have to be 8 characters in length when specifying a repeater node.  One other thing you have to do when calling a repeater is put a forward slash before the callsign (This counts as one of the 8 characters).  When calling another operators callsign, the slash is not needed.  You MUST specify the node you want to come out on as well, or else your traffic may get routed to the 1.2 GHz node.  Some repeaters don't have one of these installed, so traffic would in effect get lost.

Lets go through a couple of scenarios as example.  We'll use my call and local repeater as an example.

Scenario #1: General contact, (unknown call sign) through a local repeater (Corresponds to #2).

MYCALL: N5EBW
URCALL: CQCQCQ (This denotes you are talking in local mode)
RPT1: K5TIT  B (Note, two spaces in between the call and B, totaling 8 chars)
RPT2: K5TIT  G (Note, two spaces in between the call and G, totaling 8 chars)

The node you come out on in RPT1 is specified by A, for 1.2 GHz, B, for 70 cm, or C, for 2 meters.  If there is no node specified here, I think it is set up in the gateway software to come out on the 1.2 GHz node by default.  That said, make sure you always program in the node!

Now, I'm going to call Gerry, W5MAY, across town and don't want to bore everyone else with our QSO:

Scenario #1: Local Friend/Distance Friend (Corresponds to #1 and #3).

MYCALL: N5EBW
URCALL: W5MAY
RPT1: K5TIT  B (Note, two spaces in between the call and B, totaling 8 chars)
RPT2: K5TIT  G (Note, two spaces in between the call and G, totaling 8 chars)

Note that the only thing that changes here is the "URCALL" field.  There is now traffic being routed to a specific callsign.   
This also works if Gerry is anywhere else on the D-Star network.  The system remembers the last node he keyed down on, and subsequently, knows where to route the traffic.  If he took a trip to California, and keyed down on the K6MDD system, the exact settings above would produce the same results.  Pretty nifty, right?

For our last example, we're going to call a different repeater.  In D-Star, we call these "zone calls".  In this example, let's imagine Gerry is telling me what a nice time he is having talking to everyone on K6MDD and tells me to join in.

Scenario #3: Distance general contact (unknown call sign) on different repeater (Corresponds to your #4).

MYCALL: N5EBW
URCALL: /K6MDD B (Note the slash, and one space now.  Totaling 8 chars)
RPT1: K5TIT  B (Note, two spaces in between the call and B)
RPT2: K5TIT  G (Note, two spaces in between the call and G)

Note, again, that the only thing that changes here is the "URCALL" field.  There is now traffic being routed to a specific repeater node.   The slash (/) is mandatory, and we will have 8 total characters.  This will output my audio on the 70 cm node on K6MDD.  Only stations capable of listening to that frequency will hear it (And, dongle users).

That is the general breakdown of how it works.  Generally, RPT1 and RPT2 don't change unless you switch frequencies.

This is the down and dirty part of the upcoming document, but feel free to share.  There is the calculator tool, but most of us use D-Star in a mobile situation, and a calculator does me no good driving down the interstate at 60 mph.  It's a very good idea, as well as very important, to learn how to do it and why you're doing it.

-Eric

[Broncus]

Greetings,

I think I understand it now or at least better than before. 

With an HT, it seems obnoxious to have to enter into a menu mode to change repeaters and such. Does it make more sense to have multiple entries for a repeater? For instance, one entry might be for a general CQ and another might be for a particular contact?

Obviously, Scenario 3 has to be done on the fly since we have no data for the future.

The calculator is interesting. It may not be useful mobile, but for determining configurations for PC programming it is useful.

Next, I took a trip down to CT and before I left, I noticed repeaters in Rocky Hill and Vernon CT. I programmed in the frequencies but did not have CQCQCQ or the call signs programmed. After I threw out a call, I could see the repeater call sign in the display. No one came back to me, so, either no one responded or there was no audio for someone to respond to. If someone was there with a radio on the repeater frequency, would they have heard me?

Thank you!

Best regards,
Fred, N7FMH, U-82

[n5ebw]

I think I understand it now or at least better than before. 

Fantastic!

With an HT, it seems obnoxious to have to enter into a menu mode to change repeaters and such. Does it make more sense to have multiple entries for a repeater? For instance, one entry might be for a general CQ and another might be for a particular contact?

Yes, I normally have "Per Person Entries", as I like to call them, for regular people.  The only problem is, that after a while, on that V82 you have, you will start running out because it doesn't generally have as many memories as desired.  On all of the D-Star radios, except the V82, U82, and IC-2200H, we have a "One Touch Reply" that I utilize more often, but it isn't available on the V82.  So, in your case, yes, utilize the memory channels for each person you frequently talk to, and it should make your life a bit easier.
 

Next, I took a trip down to CT and before I left, I noticed repeaters in Rocky Hill and Vernon CT. I programmed in the frequencies but did not have CQCQCQ or the call signs programmed. After I threw out a call, I could see the repeater call sign in the display. No one came back to me, so, either no one responded or there was no audio for someone to respond to. If someone was there with a radio on the repeater frequency, would they have heard me?

I *think*, but am not totally sure, you get a response back from a node without any programming, as long as it sees a valid D-Star header.  There were actually 2 things preventing a contact, or from others hearing you:

1) You didn't have CQCQCQ programmed
2) You didn't have RPT1 set for that repeater's call and node.  If you had this, then CQCQCQ not being set would probably cause the repeater to throw the traffic out.

Now that you mention it, I will have to do some experimentation to see the outcome of that one.  More importantly, I would like to see what exactly gets transmitted when you have incorrectly programmed nodes.  To the lab!

[Broncus]

Lucky for me, I guess, I don't know many people with DStar radios, yet.    It also sounds like I should just use it for DStar to save memory locations.

So to recap, to chat from the K1HRO Salem repeater to K5DIT Dallas repeater, I would use these settings:
YOUR: /K5DIT▪B  <== I exit distance on 440
RPT1: K1HRO▪▪B  <== I enter locally on 440
RPT2: K1HRO▪▪G  <== It is gated through here
The above would also allow joining a net (ARES maybe) on a particular repeater. I would assume that everyone joining in the area of K5DIT would have to have CQCQCQ as YOURCALL to keep it general.

This would attempt a connection through the repeater you last used:
YOUR: /N5EBW  <== I exit here on wherever you last were
RPT1: K1HRO▪▪B  <== I enter here on 440
RPT2: K1HRO▪▪G  <== It is gated through here

I am curious what happens if you were to visit Salem NH area and used that system. Would it even be gated? Hmm...

BTW, to use DStar right now, I would have to drive south for 30-45 minutes because the local candy store, HRO, has the only system so far.

Today I registered on the AA1HD link (Vernon, CT). Assuming I am approved, does that mean I am registered on the K5TIT repeater as well?

This whole thread makes me wonder if there is a way to send commands to the radio through the data port. I have used it for the GPS and to send/receove data, but it would be nice to be able to connect PDA for a quick update of call signs and repeaters without having to go through the official programming sequence.

Okay, one more question for now, should I have a letter or number at the end of my callsign? In APRS, I use a -7 or -9. Is there a recommended character? I have a 1 currently that i entered under the / in the programming software.

Thanks again! This thread has been very helpful!

Best regards,
Fred, N7FMH

[n5ebw]

So to recap, to chat from the K1HRO Salem repeater to K5DIT Dallas repeater, I would use these settings:
YOUR: /K5DIT▪B  <== I exit distance on 440
RPT1: K1HRO▪▪B  <== I enter locally on 440
RPT2: K1HRO▪▪G  <== It is gated through here
The above would also allow joining a net (ARES maybe) on a particular repeater. I would assume that everyone joining in the area of K5DIT would have to have CQCQCQ as YOURCALL to keep it general.

Yes, the settings are correct.  Bear in mind, though, that you wouldn't hear traffic routed back to you unless they programmed in your local node.  We're in the process of setting up D-Star reflectors and multicasting (actually, they work but arent widely used yet), so that would give you the capability to join a multi gateway net.

This would attempt a connection through the repeater you last used:
YOUR: /N5EBW  <== I exit here on wherever you last were
RPT1: K1HRO▪▪B  <== I enter here on 440
RPT2: K1HRO▪▪G  <== It is gated through here

1 minor error: you don't need a slash if you are going to a users call sign.  That's only for "zone calls".

I am curious what happens if you were to visit Salem NH area and used that system. Would it even be gated? Hmm...

Yes, there are two requirements for that to work:
1) You have to be registered on a gateway
2) The node you are gating through needs to have the gateway enabled/.

Pretty self explanatory, though.

BTW, to use DStar right now, I would have to drive south for 30-45 minutes because the local candy store, HRO, has the only system so far.

So the repeater is 45 minutes away?  Try this:  connect an external antenna to that talkie and see if you can hit it.  This narrow band emmission stuff gets some real good results.

Today I registered on the AA1HD link (Vernon, CT). Assuming I am approved, does that mean I am registered on the K5TIT repeater as well?

No, but, you can use the K5TIT repeater gateway because you are registered on the other.  It only requires you be registered somewhere.

This whole thread makes me wonder if there is a way to send commands to the radio through the data port. I have used it for the GPS and to send/receove data, but it would be nice to be able to connect PDA for a quick update of call signs and repeaters without having to go through the official programming sequence.

I don't know about this radio, but I know most of the D-Star radio's have control software.  If you "rolled your own", anything is possible!

Okay, one more question for now, should I have a letter or number at the end of my callsign? In APRS, I use a -7 or -9. Is there a recommended character? I have a 1 currently that i entered under the / in the programming software.

If you only have one terminal (radio), it's not needed.  Even if you have multiple radios, but only use one at a time, it still isn't needed.

[Broncus]

Thanks for taking the time out for the good replys! There is a lot of good information.

I think I have a good understanding, for now anyway.

One last question, how do I see if I am registered or not?


Best regards,
Fred

[n5ebw]

That depends on how your local gateway is handling things.  Some do all of the registration themselves.  If they are like K5TIT, they have a link for you to register on the gateway, then the gateway administrator will approve it once all of their requirements are met.  Some do not have requirements, though.

The best advice I could give, is to get in touch with your local gateway admin and get them to help you through the process.