[Yeckel] recently put the finishing touches on an ambitious implementation of a simple D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) transceiver using some very accessible and affordable hardware. The project is D-StarBeacon, and [Yeckel] shows it working on a LilyGO TTGO T-Beam, an ESP32-based development board that includes a SX1278 radio module and GPS receiver. It even serves a web interface for easy configuration.
What is D-STAR? It’s a protocol used by radio operators for voice that also allows transmitting low-speed data, such as short text messages or GPS coordinates. While voice is out of scope for [Yeckel]’s project (more on that in a moment) it can do all the rest, including send images. That makes beacon-type functions possible on inexpensive hardware, instead of requiring a full-blown radio.
As mentioned, voice is a big part of D-STAR. While [Yeckel] was able to access the voice data, attempts to decode it were unsuccessful. A valiant effort, but we suppose voice decoding isn’t terribly relevant to beacon-type operations like transmitting APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System).
So far as [Yeckel] is aware, D-StarBeacon is currently the only open-source implementation of a D-STAR radio available on the internet, which is pretty interesting. We’ve seen projects that touch indirectly on D-STAR, but nothing like this.
Watch it go through its paces in the video embedded below. Since the T-Beam is just a microcontroller development board, the user interface comes from an Android app on a mobile phone, which is why you see a phone in the video.
D-Star is a dead mode. See DMR or Fusion or FreeDV.
The high cost of D-Star killed it from the start.
And I hope to one day see DVSI (AMBE+2 CODEC) without ANY footrprint in
Amateur radio. OSS only. One can dream!!! haha.
RADE (FreeDV) out preforms anything AMBE has, by far.
See: https://freedv.org/ for info :)
Take a look at M17 if you want a standalone mode rather than needing a tethered PC.
C4FM and DMR are a bit, um, annoying.. It’s both too smartphone-like.
Where’s the fun of that? As a computer and radio “nerd” I seek the difference, not a bad version of VOIP. 😞
C4FM is annoying on FM/C4FM hybrid repeaters,
because you’re always get to hear the noise on a normal FM scanner (for monitoring) if there are C4FM users!
So you’d have to build an external squelch for AF out of the FM scanner that decodes the CTCSS sub-tones and enables an external speaker.
But wait, the sub tones are being filtered out because they’re too low (to remove humming), so you can take the opportunity to tap the FM discriminator.
And not all FM repeaters to transmit CTCSS for a squelch.
Then there’s DMR which requires registering in a network.
How it’s called again? Waldmeister? I don’t know.
Anyway, it’s annoying I think. I had an DMR capable radio and setting it up causes headaches, not fun. 😒
By comparison, Echo-Link was straightforward. And it worked without special hardware and allowed visitors from far away to show up on local repeater.
Really, why couldn’t digital voice repeaters not simple use the KISS model, rather? 😮💨
Keep it simple and stupid? Use a dumb 70s era PCM circuit with a DAC/ADC and without protocols and computers?
To have the FM repeater experience in short, but digital.
Using the old 25 KHz segments of the day it was no problem to have some extra bandwidth on VHF, not to say UHF.
Also, no proprietary codec involved. Open as AM/FM or SSB.
The interesting thing about DMR is that is a system meant to be used for private commercial radios, and bent to be used on amateur radio services. While using commercial radios in FM for amateur use it’s quite straightforward, you end with a channel list you could associate to local repeaters or simplex frequencies, with DMR you need to add some bureaucracy. While on commercial system associate a numeric ID to a radio isn’t strange on amateur radio you have to register this id and associate to your callsign. When you have a DMR radio you have to reprogram it like a commercial radio, but there are a lot more parameters compared to a simple FM radio.
Thank you for your calm and helpful response.
I was already worried that my comment was seen as too agressive.
But that wasn’t intended, I’m rather a bit exthaused in terms of DMR.
I know of an OM who is a fan of DRM and wants me to participate (for the lack of other conversational partners) the hobby, but it’s a bit too stressful to me.
I rather enjoy vintage tech and pre-smartphone era.
Another thing that saddens me slightly about modern modes is that they focus on licensed radio amateurs and forget about the SWLs/listening amateurs or CBers.
Those who are using FM scanners, world band receivers and SDRs to listen to amateur radio.
As a CBer that feels a bit unfair. I wished DMR had a monitor function that would work without any ID, thus.
D-Star can be decoded via SDR meanwhile, but it’s s legal gray area because the voice codec is patented and normally would require a dongle with a chip.
The reason is understandable (origin being commercial radio), but it’s a bit sad.
Because I prefer that modes are free without patents, just like AM/FM and SSB are. Or PAL and NTSC television (thinking ATV).
These modes could be received using not just one technology.:
FM could be demodulated with de-tuned AM receivers, SSB with AM receivers that had a BFO.
AM could be demodulated using an SSB receiver, too.
PAL could be decoded using two NTSC circuits, basically.
That way, amateurs could communicate with each others despite technological or legal barriers (patents).
But with digital modes it’s all more closed and restrictive.
I guess that’s why old FM is still in use. It can be used with FM/PM radios of different manufacturers and different age.
No one’s left behind (except for CTCSS requirement vs old 1750 Hz opening tone).
“…Because I prefer that modes are free without patents, just like AM/FM and SSB are. Or PAL and NTSC television (thinking ATV)….)
I agree with you, completely.
I’m not against digital modes in the ham bands (I used to love TTY , PSK31, and others), but I’m of the opinion that there is no place for modulation schemes that are encumbered by copyrights, patents or licenses… unless those licenses provide specific, down-to-source-code, exemption for ham users, with ham equipment, on ham bands.
Any proprietary, closed-source, modulation method used on a ham band (especially in the worst-case where it actually became popular) would amount to a kind of commercial monopoly in parts of the spectrum where (at least under U.S. law) you’re not supposed to be making money.
Dead? Perhaps, but I think it was mostly due to the incredibly poor documentation, obstructionists licensing (and just general obstructionism, see: poor documentation) and bizarre gatekeeping for even getting on the system. It has real potential, but not as long as Icom holds the reigns. The hardware is fine (and yes other modes have better quality, but it’s still acceptable)
Good work… effort to get this working. Amazing how universal ESP32 is! Is D-Star best protocol to pursue today? D-Star allowed 128kbps and IP addressing at 1.2 GHz, not lower frequencies. >1GHz , LoS issues, and cost of equipment/lack of surplus… limited adoption. Amateur radio is littered with ideas that never quite find the practical application to keep going. Without wider adoption, sales and support, they wither and fade. APRS is terribly inefficient, slow and overly simple… New Packet Radio (NPR) can do IP over 500kHz BW at 430’s (except USA due to regulatory), but seems the latest packet renewal attempt isn’t exactly seeing excitement (I think NPR is a super effort!). General public (non-hams) playing with Meshtastic and Meshcore, which at LoRa speeds is OK for text and telemetry and limited range with sub 1W power. Of course, Hams aren’t limited by 1W. Try and put this on a high perch and it will collapse with noise and traffic control limitations. The ISP community has tried 900 MHz before and given up. AREDN (amateur radio emergency data network) is ham radio based transport (WiFi freqs), but is not a “drop” delivery to mobile / portable users.
Younger hams need a killer app they can achieve as a hobby, but with practical value…. they want to use it too! Cellular data is the gorilla in the room. Delivering wide-area high speed mobile data over-the-air independent of a public carrier is the counterpoise.
As a fan or the original AX.25 Packet-Radio, NPR sounds lame to me.
It has all the disadvantages of Packet-Radio, but none of the good things.:
300, 1200 to 2400/4800 Baud Packet using AFSK worked on any infrastructure, not just proprietary things.
It could be used on CB radio equipment, via geo satellites (nsrrow band transponder) and on shortwave, too!
Most importantly, it used a variant of good old X.25 protocol with built-in error checking for reliability (FEC via recent FX.25 extension).
NPR doesn’t deserve its name, IMHO, it has nothing to do with AX.25, cool serial terminals or intelligent TNCs (can be left “on air” without a PC).
It can’t use all the existing packet radio software. No KISS, TAPR-2 or TF compatibility.
It’s just something different that tries to get popular using an established, venerable name (PR). Akin to NewTrek does with ST. IMHO.
If a high-speed alternative to Packet-Radio is needed, then HAMnet is a better one, maybe.
It’s using WLAN technology and internet protocol.
(Then there’s also PACTOR IV, which can do dial-up speeds on shortwave.)
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAMNET
My understanding is that MMDVM (http://mmdvm.com/) is also an open source implementation of D-Star.
The worst thing, IMHO opinion was HAMs letting the D-Star, DMR and Fusion overlords into our hobby. That is why FreeDV, and M17 via Codec2 is such a refreshing project. With over 350 M17 repeaters now worldwide, this is where we should be focusing our Amateur Radio Hobby. I applaud the fellows effort on this project for the joy of it, not the D-Star protocol. Maybe a sister project using M17 would be in line now.
Codec2 used by FreeDV (HF digital audio) and M17 are free (GPL3) and unencumbered allowing experimentation which is one of the core values of Amateur Radio.
Also the comment above that scanner listeners are cut out of DMR would not hold true with M17 as there are no licensing fees to develop a radio.
Also if you haven’t heard FreeDV HF SSB it’s quick amazing, if you are into HF, check it out.
See for further info.
https://radio-hobbyist.com/m17-and-the-rise-of-open-source-digital-ham-radio/
Armature radio needs more open digital mode standards, and we need to demand them on commercial radios. What we have to much bifurcations into proprietary modes, peculiar to certain radio brands; this is not healthy for armature radio continued existence, nor would it be optimal in case of an emergency.
–Ham General, working on my Extra.
lol. Yes, (/\/) should absolutely adopt open-source only digital voice modes and integrate them into their multi-thousand dollar handsets so they can offer checks notes 250 of them to broke hams like myself. Love the idea, but in practice that’s not going to happen.