On this page, you’ll find some basic information about D-Star, and some handy information for those in and around Essex.
What is D-Star?
Most amateur radio voice chat is analogue. D-Star is one of the relatively new Digital Voice (DV) modes.
D-Star is championed by manufacturer Icom. Other DV formats include DMR (Motorola and others) and Fusion (Yaesu)
D-Star offers some strong advantages over analogue voice:
- Connectivity around the world using the Internet
- Can be used to GPS positioning information
- Automatic logging of callsigns, plus online logs of traffic
- Digital audio quality
- Option to set your radio to “Call Squelch”, so you will only receive calls for you.
- Reflectors (Regional ‘chatrooms’)
Using D-Star
You’ll need a D-Star radio – they’re made by Icom, and they’re not cheap – Prices for a typical D-Star handheld are around £300.
Setting up a D-Star radio can be tricky, as you are required to program extra settings for each repeater, and also set the radio to transmit your callsign in text format.
One of the benefits of D-Star, is that you can link your radio and your repeater to others over the Internet. You could be driving around Chelmsford, connected to the Danbury D-Star repeater, talking to someone driving around New York. Before you can use the Internet connectivity, you have to be registered on the D-Star network (See D-Star Registration in Essex)
D-Star Repeaters In/Around Essex
Here is a list of the D-Star repeaters in Essex, together with their settings.
Note that “RPT” columns contain two blank spaces, shown here as underscores.
| Repeater | Location | Output | Input | Offset | CTCSS | Notes |
| GB7ZP | Chelmsford | 439.4875 | 430.4875 | -9.0 | N/A | Run by ERG |
| GB7HH | Romford * | 439.7500 | 430.7500 | -9.0 | N/A | Multi-mode |
| GB7CH | Hainault * | 439.6125 | 430.6125 | -9.0 | N/A | Multi-mode |
| GB7TE | Clacton | 145.775 | 145.175 | -0.6 | N/A | Run by Martello Tower Group |
D-Star Gateways In/Around Essex
The following is a list of D-Star Gateways. A gateway is not the same as a repeater – it provides access to the D-Star network, and is simplex.
Note that “RPT” columns contain two blank spaces, shown here as underscores.
| Repeater | Location | Output | Input | Offset | “YOUR” | “RPT 1” | “RPT 2” |
| MB6CE | Chelmsford | 144.8625 | 144.8625 | 0.00 | CQCQCQ | MB6CE__C | MB6CE__G |
| MB6ZZ | Basildon | 144.8125 | 144.8125 | 0.00 | CQCQCQ | MB6ZZ__C | MB6ZZ__G |
| MB6SE | Shoebury | 144.850 | 144.850 | 0.00 | CQCQCQ | MB6SE__C | MB6SE__G |
| MB6CL | Clacton (70cm) | 430.1875 | 430.1875 | 0.00 | CQCQCQ | MB6CL__B | MB6CL__G |
| MB6DS | Clacton (2m) | 144.8375 | 144.8375 | 0.00 | CQCQCQ | MB6DS__C | MB6DS__G |
Icom IC-E92D Information
How to set the E92D to transmit APRS data using the optional GPS mic: gb7wc.ukace.co.uk/D%20APRS.htm
Handy Links
- D-Star Settings Calculator
- Last Heard on D-Star – A list of who’s been heard using D-Star around the world (handy for testing)
- List of worldwide Reflectors
- Repeaters in Essex
Got a question on D-Star in Essex? Please ask below…
Having problems with DStar. It seems that my new Icom ID 4100 E can’t be registered on a Repeater to allow it to work. I put the repeaters on the SD card OK. Cloned the settings into the Radio Ok. Applied to be registerd on a repeater and was told it was OK. When I checked I was told
They may report that: Registration NOT OK! (IP outside of assigned pool!) or something similar. This is because the Trust Server and our GB7IC Gateway are using an updated version of system software.
Which is exactly what I received when I checked up.
No registration, so not able to talk with anyone. I can hear people talking. Since I became a Radio Amateur to avoid being a short wave listener, I don’t think much of this radio.
Anyone any ideas, so far I’m out of pocket over £500 on a non working DStar radio
What licence do I need to operate d-star if I would like to contact someone in Canada from UK. Do I need Full licence or Fundation is enough?
you only need a Foundation Licence to reach either a repeater with up to 10 Watts, or a Hotspot with milliwatts of actual “radio”, the internet does the connection to Canada (or wherever).
Does anybody have a programming cable for an Icom IC-E92D that they would like to part with?
But how do you actually use D-Star through your repeaters?
The technical information is easy.
But all the on-line videos and the manuals supplied with the radios appear to assume that you know how to use D-Star already!
How do you actually use D Star? I’ve registered, I’ve set up the radio (IC 7100). I can hear people talking on GB7TE, but thats as far as it will go, can’t access the repeater, it keeps coming up UR?, what does that mean? What am I doing wrong?
All helpful information appreciated. Don’t assume I know what I’m doing, explain like I’m an idiot because that’s what I feel like.
Laurie G8FYH
Laurie,
I have just ordered a new ICOM and noticed it has D-STAR capability. It’s not due to be delievered until after the weekend, so I’m learning what I can about the radio (9700) and D-STAR before it arrives. Registration with a local repeater seems to be the key? I note GB7TE is likely to be my strongest DSTAR rptr but perhaps Kelvedon Hatch is in the running too? During my research this arvo I spotted your message of 25/Jan/2021 – and thought…. “Laurie’s in the same boat as me.” I wonder if you either got a response to your query or whether you managed to sort out the UR issue? It sounds to me that UR could easily be a request for your Registered Callsign? Maybe you needed to add your callsign to your call in configuration….. or not. What do I know? Nothing! Anyway good to see your name and callsign on the essexham site and I hope you got a response. Now it’s my turn to figure out what I need to do, or what is best to do, in order to use DSTAR. Cheers young man – catch you on the club net sometime soon. Kit G6FLW
Hi Kit
Just seen your post. No I’ve not had a reply, still floundering in the dark despite reading alI i can find about D Star. I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that it is too much Faff, is it worth it? The jury’s out on that one.
Speak to you on the net one evening.
Cheers for now. Laurie
Can you use dstar from abroad using internet then repeater or does that follow the same licence rules as if transmitting abroad?