In my area there are 3-4 D-Star systems, some UHF only and some VHF/UHF, think one with 1.2 G. None, none of these systems are workable with an HT from my QTH. I require a 5 ele beam up 15 ft to think about hitting them. Couple can be worked from a mobile with mobile, not HT, rig.
I think anyone thinking one puts up a D-Star system and then says what HTs can work it is what they shoot for and be finished I believe they are selling their system short. 25 watts is good level, repeater and user, but adding equipment to get to the mobiles out 30+ miles is as important as doing with analog. I have yet to see test with D-Star in mobile flutter situations. Normally digital with its slow recovery times really chops the signal. I also see this with distant repeaters from base due to propagation changing. It totally crashes the signal where analog gives some means of recovery. Most all is point-to-point stationary stations and D-Star definitely shines over analog. I do think digital and D-Star are the coming thing, but we have barely scratched the surface. Our local EDACS system refuses to use digital for a number of reasons. One is cost of radios, 50% more, but from their test it did not do as well mobile/HT use fro good voice comm. Cel phones use it primarily for muplexing more on one carrier. Time will tell. 73, ron, n9ee/r Ron Wright, N9EE 727-376-6575 MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL No tone, all are welcome. [ED - Can we move on? Some will add to their repeaters, some will not, each installation has its own requirements.]
