I totally agree with you, I like Direct Routing, and I like things like Callsign Squelch, it means I don't have to listen to some of the "less interesting" QSO's that go on and tie up 20 repeaters at a time all linked to one Reflector. And if someone wants me, they open my squelch and I'll hear them. Don't get me wrong, I like the Reflector network, but it has indeed reduced one of the big attractions to DStar (in my opinion) to something about 5% of people have any competence with. Ok, maybe 5% is dramatic, but in any event, a small number of people can competently use it.
On the subject of direct routing, and not having taken part in the Icom DStar Contest which requires Direct Routing as part of the rules, has it been a success or not this year? That would be a good/real measure of activity of Direct Routing, or at least the best measure we have. Dex. M0TMX From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Bosshard (NU5D) Sent: 30 July 2010 17:39 To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Please help me support D-Star ...and more ! Why tie up 15 to 20 repeaters with a chat between two stations - especially when some folks LIVE on a reflector and tie it up 12 hours a day ? Also reflectors while great for wide area nets have become much like back yard repeaters, further fragmenting users. Seems the bulk of the traffic is on one CB catch all reflector slot and then many many small fragments spread out over the remaining 90 - 100 reflector slots - just the opposite result of concentrating contacts for nets comes about. " the knowledge and ability to do it seems to be sliding away. " implies that there was such to begin with. As you say, so few bother to learn how to use call sign routing. The biggest single factor to me is the very unfriendly user interface to the radio. Why not have a mix and match basket for frequencies, UR's etc and make it easier to program ? or better yet ICOM make your interface known so others can replace your control head with a smart palm top that is easy to use ? Again my 5 cents (recent tax increases force me to go up from 2 cents), and I may as always be wrong, steve nu5d On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 10:21 AM, Declan Mc Glone <dexra...@gmail.com> wrote: I think the issue there is simply that the majority of people just don't do Callsign Routing, and depend on DPlus -- NU5D - Nickel Under Five Dollars
