Icom America, Inc.
2380 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.454.7619
D-STAR Radio Programming Guide
Digital D-STAR opens up a new technology for amateur radio. Use and linking are not
exactly preformed as we know conventional FM, IRLP or internet repeater operations.
There are two methods of digital repeater linking with D-STAR: user and port linking.
This document is an introduction to D-STAR linking and Internet operating (many
thanks to the Alabama D-Star group for providing the information in this Guide).
Example 1: Local conversation
Greg (W4OZK) calls Ron (W4VM) on the Huntsville local D-STAR 2 meter repeater.
Greg configures his IC-91AD radio as follows:
UR : CQCQCQ
R1 : KI4PPF C
R2 : NOT USE*
MY : W4OZK
Greg calls Ron stating that he is on Huntsville port C. The Digital Voice, DV data is
only repeated on the local 2 meter port C repeater.
Ron hears Greg calling him on the Huntsville repeater port C.
Ron configures his ID-800 radio as follows:
MYCALL : W4VM
UrCALL : CQCQCQ
PRT 1 C : KI4PPF C
RPT 2 C :
Ron returns the call and they have a local DV conversation.
Example 2: Local crossband conversation
Greg, (W4OZK) moves to the 1.2G port A, on the Huntsville local D-STAR repeater.
Ron, (W4VM) remains on the 2 meter repeater. They are cross-banding between the
two repeaters.
Greg configures his ID-1 radio as follows:
UR : CQCQCQ
RPT1 : KI4PPF A
RPT2 : KI4PPF C
MY : W4OZK
Greg calls Ron stating that he is on Huntsville port A. The DV data is now cross-
banding between 1.2g port A and 2 meters port C. DV is heard on both port A and C.
Ron hears Greg calling him on the Huntsville repeater port C.
©2007 Icom America Inc. Page 1
Icom America, Inc.
2380 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.454.7619
Ron configures his ID-800 radio as follows:
MYCALL : W4VM
UrCALL : CQCQCQ
PRT 1 C : KI4PPF C
RPT 2 C : KI4PPF A
Ron returns the call and they have a crossband conversation.
Note: If Greg did not state what port he is calling on, Ron thinks he is on the port he
hears Greg on. Ron will call Greg on the port he is on, port C, but will not be heard
by Greg. You do not have to state band or frequency, only the port.
Example 3: User Linking over the Internet
Actual configuration of two Alabama D-STAR repeaters
Robby (KG4PLK) in Huntsville AL wants to call David (W4MD) on Digital D-STAR
repeater in Tuscaloosa AL. KG4PLK is on 70cm repeater in Huntsville. The 70cm
repeater is called “repeater port B”. KG4PLK does not know or he does need to know
where David, W4MD is located. This is called user linking.
Robby configures his IC-91AD radio as follows:
David configures his ID-800 radio as follows:
MYCALL : W4MD
UrCALL : KG4PLK
PRT 1 C : W4KCQ C
RPT 2 C : W4KCQ G
©2007 Icom America Inc. Page 2
Icom America, Inc.
2380 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.454.7619
David returns the call to Robby and they have an Internet linked DV conversation.
Notice that Robby has one space between his call and the “G”, and David has two
spaces. The port designator must always be in the 8th position.
Example 4: Port Linking over the Internet
David, (W4MD) in Tuscaloosa AL wants to call anyone on 2 meters in Huntsville AL.
David is on the 2 meter repeater of the Tuscaloosa repeater system. The 2 meter
repeater is called “repeater port C”. This is called port linking.
David configures his ID-800 radio as follows:
MYCALL : W4MD
UrCALL : /KI4PPFC
PRT 1 C : W4KCQ C
RPT 2 C : W4KCQ G
David makes a general call, stating that he is on the W4KCQ repeater port C. The DV
data mode from David is heard on the Huntsville repeater system, port C.
Robby, (KG4PLK) hears David calling on the Huntsville repeater port C and wants to
talk with him.
Robby configures his IC-91AD radio as follows:
UR : /W4KCQ C
R1 : KI4PPF C
R2 : KI4PPF G
MY : KG4PLK
Robby returns the call to David and they have an Internet linked DV conversation.
Notice that Robby, KG4PLK has one space between the UR call and the C. The port
designator always has to be in the 8th position.
©2007 Icom America Inc. Page 3
Icom America, Inc.
2380 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.454.7619
Call Sign Designator Definitions:
ICOM radios have different descriptions for the call sign configuration but they are
used the same way.
UR: The person or port call sign you want to call.
R1: The call sign of the repeater that you are talking on.
R2: The call sign plus port designator you want to cross link to or gateway
designator.
MY: Your call sign
Digital Radio Display Status Indication:
Digital radios will indicate a status of the repeater and user that you are calling when
you attempt to call them.
A repeater or users call sign display indicates who you are talking or listening to.
IC-91AD
No repeater signal: no indication
UR?: When the target station does not reply the call
UR*: When the linking repeater is unable to be found
ID-800
UR?: When the target station does not reply the call
UR*: When the linking repeater is unable to be found
ID-1
RPT UP: When the receiving signal of another station accessing the repeater
UR?: When the target station does not reply the call
RPT?: When the linking repeater is unable to be found
©2007 Icom America Inc. Page 4
Icom America, Inc.
2380 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.454.7619
Additional Notes:
If you are not using the Alabama repeaters in these examples, simply replace your
call sign and the repeater call sign in your radio digital call sign configuration for the
digital repeater that you want to use.
The users in examples 3 and 4 need to be pre-registered by their local repeater
administration person to be able to use Internet linking. Amateurs who are not
registered can listen in on the conversation, talk locally, but not talk over the
internet.
These examples do not use all the different configurations that are available to the
operator. Consult the radio operator’s manual for full operation, programming, use,
other options and short cuts for user and port linking. Also, explore the digital
messaging, data transfer, digital squelch, GPS operation and many other neat
features.
This technology is new, so practicing controlling the radio and operating over the
Internet will make you a more proficient amateur operator. The radios can also be
programmed manually, via front panel or with computer software.
©2007 Icom America Inc. Page 5
