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ARVN Amateur Radio Video News  |
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Digital
Voice
for Amateur Radio |
read
the (thanks, QST!) |
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 Digital Voice is
here, a
quiet little revolution in Amateur Radio. Will it replace SSB (and FM)
the way
SSB replaced AM? Some people think so. Some are afraid it will! This program will
introduce you most of the flavors of Digital Voice currently
in use in Amateur Radio: D-STAR and P-25 on VHF/UHF; and AOR, WinDRM
and DRM-DV* on HF, with a sample of the brand new FDMDV. You'll hear
what they sound like, see how they operate, and be ready for... the
future. I traveled to
Dallas, Alabama, Chicago, St. Louis,
Washington DC, and, of course, Dayton for interviews and demonstrations
from the hams
who are on the leading edge of this new technology.The complete program runs about an hour. That's a little long for some club meetings, so I've broken it up into two main segments, plus an introduction (all on one DVD):
6/13/08 Update: the program will say that D-STAR repeaters can't be linked the way IRLP/Echolink can. That is no longer true! New G-2 Gateway software, and an add-on program called DPLUS, add linking and reflector capability. D-STAR users and repeaters are now happily linking and reflecting away! *7/24/08 Update: The Windows based DV programs - WinDRM, DRMDV, and FDMDV were briefly pulled from distribution due to a licensing issue with the codec. WinDRM and FDMDV are back using an open-source codec. DRMDV, little used after the better FDMDV was released, has been dropped. The open source codec - Speaks - isn't as good as the codec used when this program was produced, so the audio quality you'll hear can't be duplicated until a better, open soucre or licensable codec is developed. (10/2009 Update: Mel K0PFX tells me a new CODEC is in the works!) 6-1-2010 Update. Digital Voice for Amateur Radio was shot mostly in 2007, then edited and released in early 2008. I thought it would have a useful life of about a year before it became obsolete. But here in the summer of 2010, I think it's still the best introduction to digital voice modes for radio club meetings, and useful for individuals, too. Digital voice, especially D-STAR for VHF/UHF, is growing. ICOM is still the only manufacturer selling off-the-shelf radios and repeaters, but more aftermarker accessories and devices for making D-STAR repeaters out of conventional FM equipment are on the market.. The HF programs (WinDRM, FDMDV) are about to get a new custom codec. The AOR Fast Modem still works fine, but as I say in the program, I don't expect DV on HF to really take off until a flexible version is built into radios. There are books that go into more technical depth, and other aids for learning how to program and use the radios. And there is a spate of YouTube videos showing some facets of operation (some better than others). Digital Voice for Amateur Radio is still the only professionally produced video that will really show you what digital voice looks and sounds like, and let you hear directly from the pioneers and leaders of this new technology.
 QST has given me permission to post a PDF version of my article "Operating D-STAR", published in September, 2007. You can download the PDF here. This article is © ARRL – you may download it, and link to this download, but please don't put it on your own web site or distribute it. On my OtherStuff page, I've got my review of the IC-92, and, well, other stuff. I can't re-print it here, but I've also written the revised VHF/UHF FM-Digital chapter in the new ARRL Operating Manual. And check out my new, free video on programming D-STAR call sign fields. |
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LINKS to Digital Voice resources D-STAR
HF
General
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