Configuring ID-1 For High Speed Data

Information on setting up the ID-1, PC networking, and other items necessary to use the High Speed Data system should go here.

ID-1 User Radio Setup

Most of the important details on setting up your radio for D-STAR communications can be found in the user manual available at http://www.rmham.org/images/ID-1_ENG.pdf or the addendum here: http://www.rmham.org/images/id-1_addendum_12_04.pdf

For configuring the callsign fields, a useful tool can be found here http://www.dstarinfo.com/Calculator/DSTAR%20Web%20Calculator.aspx.

ID-1 Data Radios

The ID-1 in DD mode acts like an Ethernet bridge. That is, it does not have an IP address itself that is programmed into the device attached to the radio.

For communication in the W0CDS network, you must register with a gateway machine and get an assigned IP address (on the 10.0.0.0/8 net). The settings in the radio to get on the internet are:

Field: Setting

URCALL: W0CDS

RPT1: W0CDS++A

RPT2: W0CDS++G

MYCALL: NØHAM (do not take this literally, use YOUR callsign)

Configuring your PC

You will set the IP address in your PC to one of the ones registered to you at the gateway (http://gateway.coloradodstar.org.) Make sure that you ignore the security warning and/or create a security exception in your browser for it. The default gateway is 10.0.0.1, and the default DNS server would be 10.0.0.1.

IP Address: Get this from gateway.coloradodstar.org

Subnet Mask: 255.0.0.0

Default Gateway: 10.0.0.1

DNS Server: 10.0.0.1

In DD mode, make sure that the radio is on 1299.90MHz and in DD Mode, and is set for RPS mode. Data will not pass if these three items are not set properly. It will look like it’s working…but no data actually goes out. Also make sure that TX Inhibit (TXINH) is turned off, to allow the radio to transmit when the computer wants to send data. It’s pretty obvious if TX-INH is showing on the display and the ID-1 software shows a green light next to TX-INH if the inhibit is active.

Note that because of the much higher data rate associated with DD communications, you need a much stronger signal in order for the DD mode to work. Somewhere on the order of 10-12dB more signal is required, compared to DV mode. So, while you may be able to talk to the DV machine just fine, it is no guarantee that you will be able to use the DD repeater. A high gain yagi or a corner reflector antenna are a good idea.

Mobile data is severely affected by multipath. Tests show that data will not pass while vehicles are in motion, but if you stop, it will work perfectly.

Now, some quirks about DD mode with a gateway...

• You can use ANY 10.0.0.0/8 IP address that has been previously registered; it doesn't even have to have an initial or pcname attached to it. • The IP address does not have to match the registered MYCALL.

The implications of these quirks are still being studied.

About the "PC Name" you set in the Personal Information screen on the Gateway server you registered on. This name cannot end in a "-", it has to be a valid letter or number. PC Names must also only contain letters and numbers, no other special or punctuation characters.

Why? The name you set in PC Name is actually used by the Gateway system to create a unique hostname assigned to your IP address. When you register a PC Name, that actually gets expanded into PCNAME.dstar.local. In the internals of the Gateway software, your call is used to figure out what gateway you are on so other users can contact you.

Mostly plagiarized from dstar.ca, edited by John Maxwell, WØVG for WØCDS Colorado D-Star, 4/10/09 with significant content modifications. Revised 9/1/10.