[Dstar] VK5REX update

[Michael Carey]

Hi Everybody,

I thought it was time for an update email.

Soon(ish), VK5REX will have a 2m (C) module up and working. Frequencies 
have been assigned by the WIA (146.9625 -600), the licence alteration 
form hasn't been sent through to the ACMA yet, but hopefully this will 
be completed this week.

The interesting thing is that I'm not using an Icom ID-RP2000V, instead 
my home brew D-Star repeater will be pressed into service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MALY_mEDp_8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BshKlf0QTPY

Members of the GMSK_DV_NODE Yahoo Group can see close up photos of the 
repeater and interface I built here :-
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gmsk_dv_node/photos/album/608983576/pic/list

Initially, I wasn't going to make the home brew repeater a permanent 
addition to VK5REX... but in the end I thought, "Why not?".

The RFI folded dipole antenna was installed over the weekend (20-21 Mar) 
and the repeater installed in the rack. I am still awaiting a duplexer 
solution, so everything is still in the testing phase at the moment. The 
repeater is only active while I am on site. I did a great stress test 
yesterday (Mon 22 Mar) during the Ozark Mountain D-Star Net, I ran the 
transmitter on full power for the duration of the net to make sure the 
forced air cooling was sufficient to keep the transmitter happy. Aside 
from the occasional glitches caused by issues with REF001 at the moment, 
it was a successful test. I was able to check in to the net via VK5REX C 
using my IC-91AD handheld radio.

I still have to configure D-Star Monitor to include the extra module, so 
VK5REX C is not appearing on the APRS network, nor are stations received 
by VK5REX C reported to www.dstarusers.org.

I'll post further updates as thing progress.

Michael.
VK5ZEA

President LEPARC
Port Lincoln SA