Icom ID-51A and D-Star

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Other Callsigns
WNØWEP
KAØLEN
KDØBY

My Ham Radio Interests
APRS & Packet Radio
HF SSB
VHF/UHF FM
PSK31 & other sound card digital modes
SDR experimentation
Kit building
ARES and Emcomm

Equipment
HF/VHF/UHF transceivers
Packet radio TNCs
WMR Advantage and Plug'n'Play interfaces
GPS

Other Interests
Taught electronics and computer programming full time for 23+ years at NEI College of Technology and Dunwoody College of Technology -- Principal Instructor.
Continue teaching Advanced Electronics one semester each year -- Adjunct Instructor.
Outdoors--Backpacking--Hiking--Hunting--Fishing
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

Clubs
ARRL -- American Radio Relay League -- Life Member
QCWA -- Quarter Century Wireless Association -- Life Member
Twin City FM Club
Anoka County Radio Club
Twin Cities Repeater Club
Maple Grove Radio Club
Richfield Amateur Radio Club
TAPR -- Tucson Amateur Packet Radio

Icom ID-51A and D-Star

From W0LED

1/29/2014 5:20:28 PM (0 comments) Add a comment Add Comment

I recently got an Icom ID-51A HT. It has D-Star capability and built-in GPS. I have been working on understanding D-Star and getting registered on a local D-Star repeater. It's been fun!

The ID-51A comes with a programming cable and software to make the process of programming memories easier. The software is basically like a spreadsheet that you enter your frequency data and other operating parameters into. Then the collected data can be downloaded (or is it uploaded?) to the ID-51A. It works pretty well.

I also ran across a cable/software package from RT Systems that is similar to the Icom-supplied software but it is more capable. In addition to the ability to program frequency, offset, and the usual data you can program all the radio control settings. This is a great way to set up the radio and sure beats digging through the menu hierarchy of the radio to set all the operating parameters. I like it!

I still have a lot to figure out about D-Star but I am enjoying the challenge.

73

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