James KD0AJZ wrote: "My problem is that D-Star is not all that far from me but
I cannot talk on it while I am at my home. However I can walk yes, walk less
than a block and talk all day on it."
Sounds like a problem I've had with a nearby repeater. That repeater's signal
strength is good at my location, but I cannot get through reliably, often only
as R2D2.
I've concluded I'm in an unlucky location where I experience multipath, and
DStar doesn't like multipath. (The repeater's antenna is just on the other
side of the tall hill or mountain, and the top is between me and the antenna.)
Mobile, I make the repeater all over this area, but as I pull into my driveway,
it goes R2D2.
Solution for me was to put up a HotSpot using a Mini Hotspot board and the DVAR
Hot Spot software and a spare analog radio. My DStar HT has no problem working
my HotSpot, which I typically connect to the "local" repeater.
I could also have gotten a DVAP, but that would have been a bit more expensive
and a little shorter range. Alternatively, the DV Dongle would also give me
access to DStar repeaters and reflectors.
If I were you, I'd borrow a directional antenna (Elk Antennas has a nice
dual-band LPA) to see if the problem is simply signal strength. If that
doesn't fix it, you may be having multipath and you may want to go the HotSpot,
DVAP or DV Dongle route. That would be cheaper than moving, I suspect.
Jim - K6JM
----- Original Message -----
From: James Earl Wells
To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] DSTAR communication
This sounds pretty good. My problem is that D-Star is not all that far from
me but I cannot talk on it while I am at my home. However I can walk yes, walk
less than a block and talk all day on it. Some of this I can understand because
of some of the things that block my path to the repeater. However what bugs me
is to listen to people who talk on the same repeater who are 40 miles and some
more away from it and are talking on a HT like me. I do not know if a different
kind of antenna would help me. I use the antenna that I put on my car but it
does not seem to help at all. I hear people (sometimes and sometimes they are
R2D2). I can hear but not talk. I just think the whole thing is weird plus I
spent all this money to talk on D-Star and the only time I can use it is when I
am not at home. Also I live in an apartment. (Oh.. and for those who are not
from the Kansas City area. The repeater sits on top of a very tall building
less than twenty miles from me.)
Oh Well.. Just venting.
Hope everyone else is having fun with it. I have just put my sites on doing a
lot more Echo Link. Would like to get involved in APRS but can't figure that
out yet either. My radio has the GPS built in the mic but have not figured out
if I need to do something else.. But thats another group...
Thanks for letting me vent.
James
KD0AJZ
----- Original Message -----
From: interpretercat
To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 4:05 PM
Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] DSTAR communication
Hello all!!
So, a while ago, I noticed there was a lot of discussion about ways to
improve DSTAR. Was there any discussion about possibly establishing a "QUE" so
that way transmissions will not get lost? So, if one person is communicationg,
and "doubles" with another, the messages would still get across to each other?
This is one thing in LA that has been a MAJOR source of frustration! I try to
have a QSO with someone, and my transmission gets "lost" and is never received.
Any ideas? I am using a repeater which is still used often here in LA, but
seems to be better than some others.
Any feedback or ideas would be great. Otherwise, I honestly feel like
throwing my dstar radio in the toilet and using regular comms instead of Dstar!
73,
CAT KG6PPA
