How do I know if I can hit a repeater?

[KJ4HGZ]

I'm new to D-Star, having recently purchased a Icom IC-92AD. I've been trying to hit several repeaters in the area and don't seem to be able to determine if I'm hitting them. When monitoring the repeaters I don't hear any traffic. I fear that I don't have my radio set up correct. I have UR CQCQCQ, R1 NV4FM C, R2 NOT USE*, and MY KJ4HGZ. Maybe I'm not hitting the receiver due to too little power? Do D-Star repeater normally give an indication that they have received your transmission, such as a beep?

[n5ebw]

R1 and R2 have to be filled to 8 characters.  For instance, your NV4FM<space>C wont work because it is only seven.  You have to put the callsign, followed by the node on the end.

For it to be correct, you need to set it to:

NV4FM<space><space>C

[KJ4HGZ]

Okay, I changed it to NV4FM  C (with two spaces). Do I need to somehow pad my callsign to 8 characters as well?

[n5ebw]

Nope.  Mycall doesn't need to be padded.

You might want to take a moment and take a look at a presentation I did at Hamcom this year.  It should answer most of the questions you have regarding programming "nuances".

http://www.d-starusers.org/presentations/Hamcom2008.pdf

[k6wac]

I notice that you have NV4FM C as the rpt1 setting. If I read the description of your rpt1 programming correctly you will need to add an additional space between the last letter of the call sign and the port assignment. as in-NV4FM--C.  There must a total of 8 characters to access the repeater. You should hear an audible beep (courtsy beep) and observe a green l e d.

[n5ebw]

Exactly.

[KG4RRN]

Tip: I had to register to my local gateway repeater: W4HFH in ALexandria.
I believe the NV4FM system has a gateway too, but maybe not right now, they are planning on one. You should see your s meter rise and fall back after you tx to the D-STAR repeater
there may be no sound, or there may be a beep.
Keep trying, and eventually someone will reply.
I monitor both when I can , use a 2200H.
In addition by adding CQCQCQ to your URcall settings on a gateway enabled machine, you will
hear people from everywhere(only on gateway machines).
My problem is settings for getting out of Dodge ....
73,
Bob

[WY0X]

Tip: I had to register to my local gateway repeater: W4HFH in ALexandria.
I believe the NV4FM system has a gateway too, but maybe not right now, they are planning on one. You should see your s meter rise and fall back after you tx to the D-STAR repeater
there may be no sound, or there may be a beep.
Keep trying, and eventually someone will reply.
I monitor both when I can , use a 2200H.
In addition by adding CQCQCQ to your URcall settings on a gateway enabled machine, you will
hear people from everywhere(only on gateway machines).
My problem is settings for getting out of Dodge ....
73,
Bob

You shouldn't need to register to talk through a repeater, unless you're using the "G" callsign in RPT2.   UR: CQCQCQ and RPT1: set to the local repeater's callsign and port letter properly, should always work if the repeater's working.

Also, if your local Admins allow it, the "Echo" feature of dPlus (the "E" callsign) can be used to "echo" the last transmission made into any repeater with a Gateway equipped with dPlus, and you can tell that way if you made it into the repeater well enough to be copied by others.

UR: [repeater callsign]+E (in the 8th character location)
RPT1: [repeater callsign]+A/B/C (whatever port you're on)
RPT2: [repeater callsign]+G (in the 8th character location)

Should let you hear yourself if your local Admin allows the Echo server to be used by all users. 

Nate WY0X
Server Admin, W0CDS - www.coloradodstar.org

[KB3MHB]

Nate,

Well now that the Denver dstar repeater is supporting the 2 meter band I have been trying to learn the system and make some qso's. Well now I can confirm with my eyes and ears that I'm getting out of Dodge. I'm using the IC2200H which requires a lot of button pushing ,however, I'm getting used to it and can thumb the mike buttons okay. So I changed the "ur" setting from "cqcqcq" to "W0CDS  E" and keyed up the mike and called "cq" with a short and to my surprise the message was echoed back. One small step for me and a lot of other steps will follow in order to master "dstar". Thanks Nate! look forward to using the repeater more often and conserving bandwidth. My next step will be to install a ,hockey puck, gps from Garmin. This will require building a cable per the IC200H instruction manual. Wish I could use my cloning cable ,however, I've been advised by the ICOM tech. rep that I need to use the data jack port. If all goes well will give "drat" and "dchat" a go.

Bert M. Thompson KB3MHB/0 73