RE: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll.
Yep, it definitely is possible. I see it all of the time. While FM is a nice, clear wideband signal when it has sufficient signal strength and correct deviation settings, when it isn't full quieting and when radios have deviation and modulation settings from near 0 to 200+%, FM signals can sound quite crappy. DSTAR digital on the other hand, as is often stated, is much more all or nothing than FM. The FEC takes a weak signal and makes it sound just like a strong one. And at this point, since we have radios from 1 manufacturer (and DVDongles from another) the audio signals are much more consistent in level. And there's a number of installations of IRLP and EchoLink where the audio may get processed at an analog level maybe 10 times. At a bare minimum, the audio is processed in 4 places, compared to D-STAR's 2. And don't forget the extra beeps and boops common to EchoLink. Even if the repeaters are all interfaced to manufacturer specification, there's a lot of audio processing going on. And there's still weak and badly modulated end-user devices. Heck, The SEWX net is so much easier to listen to and understand than most of our local single repeater FM nets. Ed WA4YIH From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Nate Duehr Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 3:55 AM To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll. On Apr 4, 2010, at 10:57 AM, Woodrick, Ed wrote: and the audio is much better than FM equivalents of IRLP and EchoLink. Ed WA4YIH Not technically possible unless the repeaters are interfaced incorrectly. -- Nate Duehr, WY0X n...@natetech.commailto:nate%40natetech.com
Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll.
On Apr 4, 2010, at 10:57 AM, Woodrick, Ed wrote: and the audio is much better than FM equivalents of IRLP and EchoLink. Ed WA4YIH Not technically possible unless the repeaters are interfaced incorrectly. -- Nate Duehr, WY0X n...@natetech.com
RE: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll.
Interesting, because that's not what I 've seen. Of course training the users and familiarizing users with the details of the mode is always a big thing that we need to be focused on, and that's one of the reasons why we have the Southeastern Weather Net on Sunday evenings. We have stations from all over the South and visitors from around the world that check in and communicate quite reliably. Granted, there are indeed times when some connections are marginal. We couldn't do that on HF, and the audio is much better than FM equivalents of IRLP and EchoLink. Ed WA4YIH From: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dstar_digi...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of john_ke5c Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 6:53 PM To: dstar_digital@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll. After considerable experience on D-Star nets, both via dplus links and Icom's multiplex facility, and in callsign routed QSO's, I am of the distinct opinion that D-Star communciations are fairly unreliable
[DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll.
I agree. Each situation is so vastly different that no one can say with any certainty a mode will out preform another. We need all of the ammunition that we can have at our disposal. Emergency communications is NOT a contest or competition between modes. Its what we do, not with what we do it that counts. After considerable experience on D-Star nets, both via dplus links and Icom's multiplex facility, and in callsign routed QSO's, I am of the distinct opinion that D-Star communciations are fairly unreliable. Dropped streams are frequent. Folks double on each other and knock each other out. For strickly local nets with five or more folks, analog outperforms D-Star hands down. Icom's multiplex facility is as bad or worse, and cumbersome to set up. Comparison to wider area nets is difficult since I have little experience with echolink and IRLP, but I'd sure like to hear from folks who do. Ammunition is good so long as it is not a dud... 73--John
Re: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] Re: Emergency comms poll.
At 07:52 AM 4/4/2010, you wrote: After considerable experience on D-Star nets, both via dplus links and Icom's multiplex facility, and in callsign routed QSO's, I am of the distinct opinion that D-Star communciations are fairly unreliable. Dropped streams are frequent. Folks double on each other and knock each other out. For strickly local nets with five or more folks, analog outperforms D-Star hands down. Icom's multiplex facility is as bad or worse, and cumbersome to set up. Comparison to wider area nets is difficult since I have little experience with echolink and IRLP, but I'd sure like to hear from folks who do. Ammunition is good so long as it is not a dud... IRLP and Echolink are quite reliable for wide area nets. I use them all the time. D-STAR works reasonably well down here, though I do hear the occasional dropped stream. IRLP and Echolink are rock solid in my experience, and they have a long history of successful wide area emergency comms nets. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
