Talk:D-STAR

No Multipath?

This article states: "The quality of the data received is also better than an analog signal at the same signal strength, as long as the signal is above a minimum threshold, and there is no multipath propagation."

The Wiki page on multipath states correctly: In digital radio communications (such as GSM) multipath can cause errors and affect the quality of communications. The errors are due to intersymbol interference (ISI). Equalisers are often used to correct the ISI. Alternatively, techniques such as orthogonal frequency division modulation and rake receivers may be used."

The statement about no multipath appears to be unsupported, unless D-STAR is immune to ISI or phase ambiguity. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.0.142.169 (talk) 19:00, 21 March 2016 (UTC)

The second comma in the sentence significantly altered what the sentence should be saying. Akld guy (talk) 14:39, 10 May 2016 (UTC)

Questionable lede

The lede for this article is very misleading. It needs a re-write.

The first paragraph states: "D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. The system was developed in the late 1990s by the Japan Amateur Radio League and uses frequency-division multiple access and minimum-shift keying in its packet-based standard. There are newer digital modes (Codec2, for example) that have been adapted for use by amateurs, but D-STAR was the first that was designed specifically for amateur radio."

D-STAR is *not* FDMA. There are no sub-carriers being transmitted by a D-STAR repeater. D-Star has no control channel that would help mobiles to find an available carrier.

D-STAR does not use MSK. D-STAR's modulation scheme is GMSK.

D-STAR (DV) is not packet based. Although the digital transmission has a header that contains call signs for routing, the subsequent voice information is sent as a continuous stream, rather than individual packets, each with their own headers.

Codec2 is not a digital mode, it is a codec type. D-STAR uses DVSI's AMBE proprietary codec for encoding voice. Codec2 is another codec that is open source. Other examples of digital voice modes on ham radio include [Digital_mobile_radio|DMR] and System Fusion.

D-STAR has two modes: DV - Digital voice and DD - Digital Data. DD is packet based and can carry voice packets. These two modes should be introduced in the lede, and the details should be given below in the main part of the article.

The second paragraph states: "Several advantages of using digital voice modes are that it uses less bandwidth than older analog voice modes such as amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and single sideband. The quality of the data received is also better than an analog signal at the same signal strength, as long as the signal is above a minimum threshold and as long as there is no multipath propagation."

While it is true that digital voice modes have several advantages over analog voice, this article is not about digital voice modes, it's about D-STAR. The main advantages of D-STAR (as a system) need to be presented here.

Although D-STAR occupies half (6.25 KHz) of a Narrow-Band FM transmission (12 KHz), Single-Sideband (3 KHz) is still narrower in bandwidth.

The quality of D-STAR received voice is not as clear as conventional FM under full quieting. However, under noisy conditions, D-STAR performs better. (Reference needed).

The last line states: D-STAR compatible radios are manufactured by Icom, Kenwood, and FlexRadio Systems.[1]

The reference appears to be a blatant advertising for FlexRadio.

(edited)  kgrr ^talk 13:12, 14 October 2016 (UTC)

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G3 Gateway software

I understand that there is a new version of the gateway software, known as G3. If I can learn enough about it I will write something. One of the few things I have heard is that it does not work well with 1.2 GHz Digital Data. ;Bear (talk) 00:24, 27 August 2017 (UTC)

There have been several further developments that render much of the main article badly outdated. For example Icom Gateway software has moved from G3.0 to first G3.1 to support new-generation repeaters and most recently G3.2 (May-2024) which supports Alma Linux v9. The vast majority of systems utilise G3.x Mjnmjn (talk) 19:46, 2 June 2024 (UTC)