VE7TKO
11-11-2005, 11:31 AM
<span style='color:red'>Comparing the IC-208H to the ID-800H is not a difficult task.</span> Both work equally well in the FM analogue mode. The biggest question that the new prospective buyer has to ask himself or herself is, “Do I want to be a leader in the new digital revolution?” If you are just a casual user, and are just interested in talking on the regular 2-meter FM repeaters, than the IC-208H is the correct choice for you. You will be able to add a digital board later on and save big bucks over the cost of an ID-800H.
My friend owns an IC-2200H and is content with it. Unlike the ID-800H, the IC-2200H does not display the other stations callsign when you are in digital mode. This is a first-generation D-STAR radio, and lacks some of the refinements that are found on the ID-800H. In the digital mode, the tail squelch that you hear when using analog FM, is not there. On the ID-800H, they have added a tone that lets you know when the other party has unkeyed the mike.
If you are interested in new technology and want to be part of the digital revolution, than I recommend that you follow my example and get an ID-800H. It would be nice if you could sell at least of your friends on the D-STAR concept, so that you would have someone else to experiment with. I have been using D-STAR DV on 145.600 MHz simplex for about 6 months now. Since I got one of my personal friends involved, I have had a lot of fun.
The real fun is not going to start until a D-STAR repeater is installed in my area. Once this happens, any D-STAR compliant radio can connect with any other D-STAR compliant radio, no mater where in the D-STAR network they roam. Simply using your radio on a D-STAR repeater will register your call sign with the D-STAR registry and allow it to be shared with all other D-STAR repeaters. This way you can make a call sign to call sign call, anywhere in the D-STAR world, if you have correctly programmed your radio.
<span style='color:red'>D-STAR Digital will allow simultaneous use of voice, data and D-PRS at the same time, on the same frequency.</span> That is something that regular packet was never able to do. The capabilities of D-STAR are just starting to be learned as application developers design new software. This is a new frontier for the ham that is interested in new technology.
On the weekend of October 15 and 16, 2005, field tests of the 2-meter and 70 cm D-STAR repeaters were conducted. The results may be viewed on the ICOM Forums at: http://www.icomamerica.com/support/forums/.
Jim McClellan - N5MIJ - of Dallas TX said it best: <span style='color:blue'>“This is ham radio. We're not trying to turn this into a business - we're having fun learning. There will always be folks who disbelieve everything they're told. There will be some who quote theory and history, without the benefit of current experience. (I'm really glad my idea of what computers will do isn't determined by my history with them several years ago!) There will also be those who learn from other's experience. Endeavour to be one of the latter, and enjoy the fun. D-Star works. It's going to be fun.”</span>
I live in Abbotsford, B.C. There are only 4 D-STAR radios in my area. Three of them are mine. For me, it is an investment in the future of ham radio. Go to http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dstar/ and read D-STAR For the Second Century of Ham Radio. Still better, drop ICOM America a line, and ask them to send you enough hard copies so that every member of your club can read up on it. The D-STAR protocol is really worthy of your time and effort.
My friend owns an IC-2200H and is content with it. Unlike the ID-800H, the IC-2200H does not display the other stations callsign when you are in digital mode. This is a first-generation D-STAR radio, and lacks some of the refinements that are found on the ID-800H. In the digital mode, the tail squelch that you hear when using analog FM, is not there. On the ID-800H, they have added a tone that lets you know when the other party has unkeyed the mike.
If you are interested in new technology and want to be part of the digital revolution, than I recommend that you follow my example and get an ID-800H. It would be nice if you could sell at least of your friends on the D-STAR concept, so that you would have someone else to experiment with. I have been using D-STAR DV on 145.600 MHz simplex for about 6 months now. Since I got one of my personal friends involved, I have had a lot of fun.
The real fun is not going to start until a D-STAR repeater is installed in my area. Once this happens, any D-STAR compliant radio can connect with any other D-STAR compliant radio, no mater where in the D-STAR network they roam. Simply using your radio on a D-STAR repeater will register your call sign with the D-STAR registry and allow it to be shared with all other D-STAR repeaters. This way you can make a call sign to call sign call, anywhere in the D-STAR world, if you have correctly programmed your radio.
<span style='color:red'>D-STAR Digital will allow simultaneous use of voice, data and D-PRS at the same time, on the same frequency.</span> That is something that regular packet was never able to do. The capabilities of D-STAR are just starting to be learned as application developers design new software. This is a new frontier for the ham that is interested in new technology.
On the weekend of October 15 and 16, 2005, field tests of the 2-meter and 70 cm D-STAR repeaters were conducted. The results may be viewed on the ICOM Forums at: http://www.icomamerica.com/support/forums/.
Jim McClellan - N5MIJ - of Dallas TX said it best: <span style='color:blue'>“This is ham radio. We're not trying to turn this into a business - we're having fun learning. There will always be folks who disbelieve everything they're told. There will be some who quote theory and history, without the benefit of current experience. (I'm really glad my idea of what computers will do isn't determined by my history with them several years ago!) There will also be those who learn from other's experience. Endeavour to be one of the latter, and enjoy the fun. D-Star works. It's going to be fun.”</span>
I live in Abbotsford, B.C. There are only 4 D-STAR radios in my area. Three of them are mine. For me, it is an investment in the future of ham radio. Go to http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dstar/ and read D-STAR For the Second Century of Ham Radio. Still better, drop ICOM America a line, and ask them to send you enough hard copies so that every member of your club can read up on it. The D-STAR protocol is really worthy of your time and effort.