As we have mentioned, D-STAR is radically different and yet very similar to the Amateur Radio we are used to. Similar in that many D-STAR concepts have analog analogies we are familiar with. Different in that, being digital, things just happen, well, differently. Let’s get started by talking about “Digital Voice”, or DV for short.

Since it is digital, the signal from your D-STAR radio is really just a bunch of zeros and ones. Along with your digitized voice, the data stream contains addressing information... what radio it is coming from, what radio it is going to, and how it is getting there. Kind of similar to email in that without the addressing info, the mail won't get through.

If you have ever worked packet radio, these concepts probably sound real familiar. D-STAR works like packet... MyCALL (who you are), UrCALL (who you're talking to), RPT1 C and RPT2 C. More on the last two later. Even working simplex, your radio needs to know "Who it is" and "Who it is calling"… again, it’s a digital thing. Check this link for a discussion on setting up your radio “MyCALL”, “UrCALL”, "RPT1 C" and "RPT2 C" parameters.

When you transmit a DV signal, the radio's codec digitizes your voice and addressing information is added. To receive, your radio checks that address info, and if the data is for you, it gets run through the codec and turned back into something we humans can use... sound.

To recap, Digital Voice is a digital mode, and while it may sound like good old analog FM coming from your radio, the way it all happens is quite different. Being digital, there are a lot of cool things we can do... such as deciding which callsigns will unmute your radio. Or sending your traffic to the local 70cm port and the 1.2 GHz port down in Texas... all at the same time! If you are ready, let's move on to another set of concepts, Areas, Zones and Gateways... oh my!