IC-705 A to Z #6 DSTAR Part 1 - The basics

This time we start looking at using DSTAR. Many people think that DSTAR is only about hotspots, reflectors and internet gateways. It actually works just fine for communicating radio to radio over simplex. That's where we will start.
Check out the companion website for the channel at: a-2-z.tech/

[@crash4me719]

Thank you, I own the IC 705 and ID 5100 and have not done ANY D star communications. Your video got me started.

[@billdillon8139]

TERRIFIC tutorial on DSTAR. I had no idea what DSTAR was and now I have a basic understanding. Great voice for tutorials too. WA3SCW

[@user-jc6bu3om1x]

Thank you!!!!! This is such good content. I appreciate your work greatly.

[@domainadmin1963]

Thanks Tom. You have a great way of teaching so that I can understand.

[@josephdubiel7129]

I appreciate this Tom. Thank you. WU1Z in Connecticut. Joe

[@alfsphone]

Very good I may have to buy a D-STAR. That was a very clear to understand video.

[@K6TJO]

Great job. Waiting for the follow up video

[@neilbundle5112]

This is perfect !!! Thank you so mch for such a clear explanation ... I was struggling to get my head round D-Star !!! Neil G4LRV

[@dinikosama]

High quality instruction. Thank you!

[@larryhornerjr]

Wow! Great Video. Very good explanation. What a great instructor.

[@sideshowbob1544]

Great video! I'm thinking of getting a 705 myself.

[@djmambito2]

Excellent , you are a good teacher

[@JohnDoe-zg6fn]

WOW!!!! You are absolutely AWESOME sir!!!! Thank you so so very much for this walk through!!! You got a new subscriber!

[@r.j.sworkshop7883]

Thanks Tom for another interesting video. I have been waiting for a good D-Star tutorial. WY7AA

[@sptvids]

Very interesting video, looking forward to more

[@180mph9]

So cool, thank you both for a great explanation.

[@KF0ICI]

Thanks so much. I am starting to get into different modes and looking forward to getting into DStar soon KF0ICI

[@ManuelPinner]

Thanks for this Video, I have the IC52A and I like this Ht,

[@edballardwd8jvv601]

Thanks Tom, I agree and I like the new name.

[@WarrenDavies-en4ed]

Very helpful!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@Hogdriver88]

Very good. Used some of this to help with my new ID52.

[@KO4AFL]

Thanks for the videos. You have been a great help with my 7100 as well. I just need to find/make a video on how to connect to a hotspot with the 7100 for internet D-STAR.

[@lpark8]

Thank you! Very clear

[@alvinnorris6523]

I loved ham cured smoke

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Thanks Alvin! I kinda liked it too. Unfortunately, it didn’t translate very well for people who don’t speak English as their first language.

[@robertallbright]

Excellent, thanks Tom 73 Rob G3RCE

[@tonypritchard3520]

Hi Tom, I have found your videos on the Icom IC-7300 very helpful and interesting. I have tried DMR but found it too complicated, although I did make contacts. I don't have a D-Star rig at the moment and not sure I have any repeaters near. However, I would welcome some videos on getting started with D-star, perhaps an Icom handheld.

[@dbailey3024]

Great vid very well done thankyou m0dsy

[@jlocana1]

thanks

[@w4mkh]

My subscription survived but I almost skipped this vide to go looking for the Ham Cured Smoke 705 videos.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. Yeah, I’m sorry that the name changed caused some confusion. Thanks for being persistent!

[@peterkunka2694]

I'm a fan of D-Star and use it at home with an openSpot 3 and my ID-51, mostly monitoring Ref 001C and 004C. I bring a Verizon JetPack for internet while driving to access D-Star instead of using my iphone as a hotspot. I didn't know 145.670 was the digital calling frequency... I'll have to use it tomorrow in Phoenix to see if anyone is monitoring it (I have a ID-5100 in the Jeep). I'll have to catch up with your other videos to see what else I can learn. Cheers! Pete - KI7LIL

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Please let me know if you make any simplex DStar contacts. I’ve been disappointed with 146.52 just on FM. I listen there and make calls when I travel. I rarely get a response.

[@peterkunka2694]

@@HamRadioA2Z It's been a week and I've had zero contacts on DStar simplex (145.670) in Phoenix, and while driving this weekend between Phoenix - Blythe for a camping trip. Multiple calls per day, on high power (50 watts) in the Jeep, and nothing. I even confirmed I was getting out by listening on my ID-51. Now, 146.52 in Phoenix is busy and used often. Not so busy on the highway between Phoenix - Blythe this weekend. While camping, I did hear folks in Blythe using 146.52 occassionally. Pete

[@trrific1]

Hi! W2DXW here! I just started watching your videos and like them and also subscribed. My name is Peter and I’m also having issues with my antenna. I live in a HOA and that is part of my problem! Which commercial brands do work for your Icom 705 ah setup? Thanks looking forward to seeing more input from your videos too!😊

[@HamRadioA2Z]

There are lots of choices. If you’re looking for 2M/440, I was going to suggest Ventenna. It’s an antenna that looks like an extension to the plumbing vents on your roof. I just checked and it looks like the company closed in July of 2021. You may be able to find them used. If you’re looking for HF, I had pretty good luck with the Princeton EF-53 end fed antenna when we were in an HOA a few years ago. It’s pretty stealthy. All you need is a tree somewhere in your back yard at least 53 feet away from your house.

[@williamarquett5948]

i really enjoy your videos. I have watched all of your IC-7300 ones and I am now trying to set up my IC-9700 for D-star so I am using this 705 series as my guide. When i push the call-DR button i get a message, " no repeater found" and that is as far as I can go. I don't know what to do.

[@jorgeguzman9955]

Ok nice

[@bahathir_]

Great. Nice new channel name changes. Thank you . 73

[@theoldgronker]

Great stuff as always, Tom. I'm just starting to figure out the 705. One question about the callsign squelch - When Howard called you, did he need to put the /705 in your call sign to have it "match" and break callsign squelch... or just to have the callsign correct?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Only the callsign needs to match. Everything after the / is basically commentary. It isn't used for the call sign matching.

[@greglawrencemusic]

Demystifying D-Star the Easy Way! Thanks. Looking forward to the complete series. Man...it's so clean and clear with digital. Are you transmitting the full 50 watts?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

The IC-705 only puts out 10 watts maximum when powered from 12V (which mine was). I don't know what power my friend Howard was using. I'll have to check.

[@greglawrencemusic]

@@HamRadioA2Z -No need. You've satiated my curiosity! '73

[@1crazynordlander]

Thanks! I was wondering who the new kid on the KZbin block was. Congrats on the YT Channel name change. I asked you at one time to cover Dstar when you started the 7100 A to Z series. I appreciate this. What reflectors do you frequent. I will have to listen for you. Another great source of Dstar help is Frank Bednar K9WLW Radio on KZbin. Now that I have a IC-705 it will be lot more convenient to practice using it.

[@Paddy_Roche]

Hey Tom, Great video as always. I’ve had my 705 around 3 months but haven’t really used it in any great way. I am looking forward to using it more soon. Obviously I will be watching ALL the videos you produce for it, as I did with the Excellent 7300. I fully understand and support the name change although I did kinda like ’Ham Cured Smoke”. I am really pleased to see how your Channel has grown over these past 2 years Tom and I will continue to support and promote “Ham Radio A2Z” from here on in. Thanks for this fantastic resource Tom de 2E0TWD. Edit: Unbelievably I’ve had the radio 5 Months!!! Where does the time go?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Paddy. Thank you so much for the kind words and the support. I understand the time flying by. It’s hard to believe that I posted the last video more than a month ago. The family items I’ve been dealing with are mostly settled and my wife & I will be heading home shortly. So more videos coming soon.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

"I’ve had my 705 around 3 months but haven’t really used it in any great way" I use it for the D-Star. I have an ICOM ic-91ad walkie talkie but it gets hot quickly and not really suitable for talking more than 30 seconds at a stretch. I'm starting to experiment with digital modes on it; good results with FT8 and about to try VHF Winlink. Its built-in audio codec simplifies things dramatically.

[@nicgreek9993]

Very nice video, thank you! I have a question. If i would like to transmitt only through repeaters is it mandatory the registration step? Thank you in advance

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Nic. Thank you for the kind words. I believe the answer is no, you don’t need to be registered unless you want to go through internet gateways or use reflectors.

[@zyphrumzypheny2631]

So, I was looking at a list of D Star repeaters, there are a whopping 50 in the State of California. With 1 in my area. On the D Star website, the download to a radio shows 750 repeaters. Can I presume that those 700 are FM?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I am assuming that you’re on the DStar.info site? I’m pretty sure that unless you tell it to reserve a percentage of repeaters for FM in the list, then they will all be DSTAR. The list will be DStar repeaters from all around the country and around the world.

[@davidelliott8290]

Thank you Sir. DSTAR looks like something I want to explore. KE0WVB / Indep MO

[@LU7ACN]

Great video, any novice equipment you could recommend? Thanks. 73.

[@albing1397]

What is the FCC mode designator for DSTAR? Why did I see the USB indicator on the top row? What about HF DSTAR? (WA9RYO)

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Al. The DSTAR transmission is sent over narrow band FM. The modulation is something called GMSK- Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying. I don't know what the actual mode designator is. The USB you saw on the 705 display is for Universal Serial Bus, not Upper Side Band (confusing, isn't it). I had the radio connected to a USB port on my computer to record the audio.

[@kenthufford743]

The ICOM 705 and the 7100 can do DSTAR on all bands, 160-6m, 2m and 440. International DSTAR HF VOICE Testing Net - SUMMER Schedule - DSTAR HF VOICE Simplex.... NO Internet, NO Repeater, NO Reflector used. Here is a video from K6UDA DSTAR HF Voice simplex on a 705. Making DSTAR Voice contacts coast to coast with 10 watts HF. kzbin.info/www/bejne/amawkn2ffr2EjtE Please join [e-mail] Join Groups.io at groups.io/register We are on each band only for 5 min. or so as to spend less time, if the band is dead we move on earlier. You can go back to a good freq after the net. MONITOR REF030C to coordinate. WE may need to move early or if the freq is busy. We do not want to step on any AM or SSB activity. We also use a web page to keep track of who and where we are at - hf.dstar-relay.net/ You also can check-in to this web site anytime 24/7 to find a DSTAR HF Ham to talk to. We have a PRENET for 30 min. before the start of the scheduled time. This PRENET is for ‘FREE FORM” contacts. One should check the web site hf.dstar-relay.net/ sign in and find a working freq to work on. When the net starts at the scheduled time, please join the net and follow the freqs. DSTAR HF VOICE SCHEDULE Sat PM 7:00 E (2300Z) Sunday AM 10:00 E (1400Z Sunday)(Spend more time on each open band, and start on 80m) Sunday PM 7:00 E (2300Z) Check USB/LSB on freq to make sure the freq is clear. SUNDAY AM, we start with 80m and work towards 6 meters. 6 mtrs 50.210 DV for 2 mins 10 mtrs 28.570 DV for 5 mins 12 mtrs 24.938 DV for 5 mins 15 mtrs 21.380 DV for 5 mins 17 mtrs 18.148 DV for 5 mins 20 mtrs 14.345 DV for 5 mins 40 mtrs 7.285(or another open freq) DV for 5 mins 75 mtrs 3.855 DV for 5 mins. NCS will check the freq ahead of time to make sure we don’t step on anyone 3KC up and DOWN. "Digital voice is defined in the FCC Commission’s rules based on content as voice (i.e. phone), not data, per Section 97.3(c)(5) of the Rules." Kent KQ4KK [e-mail]

[@amorylazlo9579]

Dstar IS emperors new clothes, the voices sound like robots with a cold. The only thing radio related is spending 000s' to enable using a handy in order to access voice over internet - something that anyone with a computer or mobile telephone can do at no extra cost

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I’m not a fan of DStar voice quality either. The good thing about DStar is that all of the radios, hotspots and using the mode at all are 100% optional. 😁

[@K1DTC]

I’m new to the digital world and some of my local repeaters that are digital, have a tone of CC1, CC2 etc… i cannot find how to program these on the 7100. I guess my question is…. How can i talk on a digital repeater like i do an analog repeater that has a PL tone? I really can’t find much on this type stuff. TIA

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. If you are looking at repeaters that list CC1 up to (I believe) CC15, those are referring to Color Codes. That is a term that is used on DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) radios. Unfortunately, your 7100 cannot communicate with DMR radios or repeaters. The only digital mode it supports is DStar. Sadly, “digital” voice is not like analog where any radio that can do FM can talk to any other radio that can do FM. With digital modes you have to have a radio that supports the correct mode. The two main modes that are specifically amateur are DStar and Yaesu System Fusion (YSF). Other popular modes are DMR, P25 and NXDN. Those are all commercial modes that have been adapted to amateur radio. Hope this helps. 73, Tom

[@RicksReddirtslots]

Do you have similar videos for the IC7100 about DStar

[@timothytapio4252]

Any plans to show "terminal" mode and doing DSTAR without RF for those of us that are unable to access a repeater?🙂

[@HamRadioA2Z]

That sounds like a good suggestion. I’ll have to put that one on my list.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Tom, are you in Spring Hill, Florida? I'm about to retire and am working with the real estate agents to buy in Spring Hill.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

No, sorry. Spring Hill, Kansas.

[@BobBroeking]

I got my 705 in D repeater mode and for the life of me cannot figure out how to get it back into D Star VFO mode... any assistance? I wanted to follow your videos step by step and just getting into D Star... Thx Bob

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. You've probably figured this out by now. You can just press the DR button again or, I think just tap the Memory channel/VFO on the screen.

[@speedgoat-k2vfz]

Should've gone with Ham Radio Snout-to-Tail

[@forgetyourlife]

No opening picture on boot up yet I see.

[@kd5dcj1]

Does this radio have a built in hotspot?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Michael. Not exactly. It can connect directly to reflectors over the internet if it has a WiFi connection. The radio transmitter is off in this mode. So it can’t act as a conventional hotspot for other radios. I haven’t tried this mode myself. Tommy Martin did a video about how to do this on one of the AmateurLogic TV episodes. I have very limited internet where I am right now. So I can’t easily look up which episode it was.

[@soupdragon12345]

Hi Tom, just registered my call sign and waiting for my email . i have a FT70 do you have any videos on this radio and using dstar? thanks in advance and 73 KJ7ZTI

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi. The Yaesu FT70 radio supports YSF- Yaesu System Fusion - digital audio (also called C4FM). This is similar to DStar, but unfortunately not compatible. I do not yet own any digital capable Yaesu radios. So, I don’t have any experience with setting up or using YSF.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

I think the name change is a good move.

[@keivkeiv]

Can the Icom 705 transmit on business frequencies like 466.000?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Not out of the box. Mod instructions are published for many radios. I haven’t checked to see what is available for the 705. Be aware that modifications to open up transmit frequencies will almost certainly void your warranty and may not be legal depending on your country.

[@ToumalRakesh]

They have so much space in the menu. Why does it have to be called "EMR"? Why not spell it out on the screen?

[@HamRadioA2Z]

I wish I had a good answer for you.

[@paulfrancis8836]

Close to $2000 for that radio. Why not use a bit of free software and the internet for free and you can have any digital mode. Save $2000 and do the same thing, and a lot more.

[@gary8397]

A minor point about changing your name. The rest of the English-speaking world pronounces "z" as zed not as zee.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

That is an excellent point. I never thought about that. I’m not sure I want to change my standard sign off, but I will think about how to work in the international pronunciation.

[@ralphbailey736]

Thanks for the information, very informative N7ZXG

[@mewrongway]

What was wrong with Ham Cured Smoke? If you cant understand that much English then your not going to get much out of the videos anyway!