The Kings Point Amateur Radio Club (KPARC) continues to advance its communications capabilities with the addition of modern digital technology to our repeater network. Through the use of ICOM’s D-STAR system, KPARC members and visiting amateurs can enjoy both traditional analog FM operation and worldwide digital voice and data connectivity. D-STAR opens the door to clear digital communications, global linking, and message exchange with other radio operators across town or around the world — all while preserving compatibility with standard analog radios.
KPARC operates two ICOM third-generation digital repeaters: the ID-RP2010V (2 m) and ID-RP4010V (70 cm). These units are part of ICOM’s advanced D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) system and support analog FM, digital D-STAR, and mixed-mode configurations. While analog operation provides reliable local communications for everyday use, enabling D-STAR mode allows these repeaters to connect through the ID-RP3 G3 software to the worldwide D-STAR digital network, linking amateur operators across the globe.
Each G3-series repeater integrates both the RF module and D-STAR repeater controller into a single, compact 2U rack-mounted chassis, simplifying installation and management. The mixed-mode capability allows simultaneous support for traditional analog FM users and digital D-STAR operators, ensuring compatibility and flexibility for a wide range of users and equipment.
About D-STAR Technology
D-STAR, developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) and implemented by manufacturers such as ICOM, is a digital voice and data protocol designed specifically for amateur radio. Unlike analog FM, which modulates the voice signal directly onto the carrier, D-STAR uses digital modulation (GMSK) to transmit compressed voice and data streams efficiently and with greater clarity under marginal signal conditions.
Voice signals in D-STAR are encoded using the AMBE (Advanced Multi-Band Excitation) codec, which compresses speech while maintaining intelligibility. Alongside voice, D-STAR can simultaneously carry low-speed data (1,200 bps) on the same channel or high-speed data (up to 128 kbps) on separate digital data links such as 1.2 GHz DD-mode systems.
Each D-STAR transmission includes embedded callsign routing information, enabling advanced networking features such as call routing by callsign, gateway linking, and reflector access. This allows operators to call other amateurs by callsign—anywhere in the world—without needing to know the remote repeater frequency. The D-STAR Gateway System (G3) further extends this functionality by linking repeaters via the internet, providing worldwide connectivity, digital messaging, and position reporting capabilities.
Overall, D-STAR offers a robust, flexible, and network-aware communications platform that complements traditional FM operations and fosters experimentation with digital technologies within the amateur radio community.