State of D-Star Repeater Software
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 8:44 pm
We have a reasonably active group of D-Star users here in Sun City Center, FL (south of Tampa). We have a repeater stack of Icom repeaters (modules B & C) controlled by Icom software running on CentOS. A couple of us are interested in possibly "upgrading" to a more contemporary application suite and hardware (preferably a Pi-3 or 4). Of course, some prefer the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach, and maybe that's the best path forward.
I'd expect that folks on this forum are much more in tune with the latest developments in D-Star capabilities, software and general interest in the amateur community than I am. While I am familiar with (and like) DR mode, REF/DCS/XRF reflectors, Gateway CQs, and callsign routing, there are probably other features that I'm not aware of. And some repeaters and hot spots support some of those features, but not all of them (is that even possible?)...
So, I'm looking for comments from knowledgeable hams on what alternative/better software is currently available (that works with the Icom repeater stack) and what features are most desired in a D-Star repeater in 2021. For example, we've been looking at QnetIcomGateway, possibly Pi-Star (DStarRepeater - does that work with the Icom repeater stack?), and so on.
Thanks & 73!
Keith / KI5US
I'd expect that folks on this forum are much more in tune with the latest developments in D-Star capabilities, software and general interest in the amateur community than I am. While I am familiar with (and like) DR mode, REF/DCS/XRF reflectors, Gateway CQs, and callsign routing, there are probably other features that I'm not aware of. And some repeaters and hot spots support some of those features, but not all of them (is that even possible?)...
So, I'm looking for comments from knowledgeable hams on what alternative/better software is currently available (that works with the Icom repeater stack) and what features are most desired in a D-Star repeater in 2021. For example, we've been looking at QnetIcomGateway, possibly Pi-Star (DStarRepeater - does that work with the Icom repeater stack?), and so on.
Thanks & 73!
Keith / KI5US