GB7WF (MIDSTAR
UK)
Voice
& Low Speed DATA Repeater.
GB7WF B 70cm DVR
Status:
First Operational 8th March 2008
Location:
Bewdley, North Worcestershire
Locator:
IO82UJ
Channel:
RU759
Output 439.4875MHz Input 430.4875MHz
Access:
D-Star Protocol (Port B)
Keeper:
Mike G1ZRN
Transceiver: Icom IDRP4000V
Controller:
Icom ID-RP2C
Antenna: Dual VHF/UHF Co-linear
Internet
connection: D-Star Network (enabled 28th April 2008).
Transmit Timer is 3 minutes, please leave a gap of at least two
seconds after the beep
for the timer to reset.
Also very importantly there is a valid reason that we
request that you please DO NOT
use Auto GPS beacons through the repeater. DStar
transceivers wait until the frequency
is clear before transmitting GPS information. This sounds
ideal but in practice but if it collides
with the next users data header it can stop their
transmission from being passed through
the repeater and or the Gateway onto the network.
Manually transmitted GPS information is welcome and if
configured correctly will be
sent to the APRS servers (see below).
Below
is basic callsign settings to use with GB7WF,
YOUR:
(UR) CQCQCQ
RPT1:
GB7WF B (note the Port letter B must be
in the 8th position, two spaces after the F)
RPT2:
GB7WF G (note the G for Gateway must be
in the 8th position, two spaces after the F)
MY:
<your callsign>
Icom
IC-E2820 & IC-E92 icf Files with UK Repeater information can be found on
the Download page.
GB7WF D-Star Gateway.
Gateway Operation.
To
use the Gateway on GB7WF you will need to be registered on the D-Star
network.
Registration requests are only accepted from users within the RF
coverage
area of GB7WF. If you are a local RF user
of GB7WF and wish to
register
for Gateway use then please contact Mike G1ZRN.
Once
registered you will receive confirmation via
email with a copy of the
UK-IT
Reflector Guide attached. Also regular bulletins are sent out to
users
regarding the status of GB7WF. If any of the updates sent out are
returned
after three attempts then user details will be deleted so please let
me
know any change of email address etc.
If
you are not local to GB7WF then please contact your local keeper for
registration.
Click
here to search for
your nearest DStar Repeater.
To
view activity on the D-Star network click here.
GB7WF MIDSTAR (UK)
MIDSTAR
(UK) Regional Network
GB7SY (Shrewsbury) GB7WF (Wyre Forest) & GB7ZI (Cannock) are now linked on
a more permanent
basis
to create our own regional network, MIDSTAR, for local users which will be more
relevant to our region.
By
having all three repeaters connected to a regional default reflector any call
that is made on any of the
above
repeaters will be heard on the other two without users having to issue any link
commands.
This
is especially useful for mobiles users as it removes the difficulty of
linking/unlinking when mobile
to
continue their regional QSO as they move from the coverage area of one repeater
into another.
In
addition to creating a regional network and to maintain the flexibility
and choice that SY WF & ZI currently
offer,
users will still be able to connect to National & International Reflectors
as they can now. If already
connected
to MIDSTAR a standard “Unlink” command will have to be transmitted first,
then you can transmit
a link command to whichever Reflector or Repeater you wish.
When
RF is no longer detected after 10 minutes, an unlink command (if linked
elsewhere) is automatically
sent,
then after an additional 2 minutes a link command is sent which automatically
links back to MIDSTAR
giving
a total timeout period of 12 minutes. If you are in QSO with stations via other
Reflectors your QSO will
not
be interrupted as long as you transmit once every 10 minutes to reset the
timer. Also if you want to make
a
local call then if you transmit within the 2 minutes after the auto unlink
command it will reset the timer for
another
12 minutes before attempting to link back to MIDSTAR.
This
timeout period is set so the repeater is not connected for long periods to a
distance reflector with no one
listening
which puts off potential local users who may only wan to make a local call.
If
any one wants their local repeater to stay linked for longer
periods to other Reflectors just to listen, which
they
are welcome to do, then all they have to do is transmit their call within 10
minutes and the timer will be
reset,
also it would indicate to others that someone locally is actually listening.
If
a user does unlink from MIDSTAR and makes a call on another reflector then they
would have 10 minutes
to
receive a reply. Also if they are in a QSO involving a number of other stations
then they are not under
pressure
to transmit every 2 or 3 minutes.
We
hope this new facility will encourage the use and enjoyment of DStar in the
Midlands.
For
further information please contact your local DStar repeater keeper,
Don
M0FHM (GB7SY), Mike G1ZRN (GB7WF) Brian G8VPR (GB7ZI)
GB7WF Reflector Operation.
A
very useful facility provided by Robin AA4RC is the dplus Reflector
System.
This
system allows users to connect to any Reflector (Conference) or
Repeater
anywhere on the DStar network.
A
copy of the Wyre Forest Repeater Group Guide to Reflector operation
can
be found on the Download
page.
GB7WF Data & Tracking (setting
up GPS)
Click
here to download a printer friendly version of this set-up procedure.
GB7WF
is more than just a voice repeater. It
also carries low speed data, which
can
be used for computer communications and APRS style tracking.
This
section explains how to set up GPS TX MODE (DV-G), not GPS-A, so
your
position will be shown on other DStar transceivers & the APRS servers.
To
set up your IC-E2820 & IC-E92D to use GPS (DPRS) mode you will need to
create a
checksum
code to enter in the GPS message in the 2820 & the 92, this can be done
by
using the D-PRS Calculator
created by Pete Lovell AE5PL.
To
set up your IC-E2820 to send GPS Data (DV-G) you need to set the following
parameters,
MENU
> DV GPS >
GPS SENTENCE = RMC & GGA on, all others OFF
GPS TX = GPS (not GPS-A)
GPS AUTO TX = OFF (GPS data will be transmitted when you
press your PTT)
GPS MESSAGE = (enter your checksum code created by the D-PRS
calculator)
When your 2820’s GPS is receiving a valid signal the GPS
symbol will stop flashing (this can take sometime)
so when you press your PTT valid DVG information will be
transmitted.
To set up your IC-E92D,
MENU > DV SET MODE > GPS TX MODE = GPS > SENTENCE =
RMC & GGA = ON, all others OFF.
> GPS AUTO TX = OFF (GPS data will be transmitted when
you press your PTT)
MENU > MESSAGE/POS > GPS > (enter your checksum
code created by the D-PRS calculator)
On your 92’s display
you should see DV-G, and when the light is flashing (GPS lock) on the HM-175GPS
speaker/mic and you press your PTT then you will be
successful transmitting DVG.
*******************************************************************************************************
The Checksum code is unique to the callsign & the APRS
symbol that you select in the D-PRS
Calculator, the below examples is what I use in my IC-E92D
refering to G1ZRN with the
Rover symbol 
as I’m usually walking with my dogs when
using my 92.
LP MIKE DSTAR*5A
^^ there are two
spaces between the P & M
The code in my mobile 2820 
is
MV MIKE DSTAR*5D
^^ two spaces
between the V & M
and the code in my shack 2820 
BN MIKE DSTAR*4A
^^ two spaces
between the N & M
By setting my GPS TX MODE to GPS and not GPS-A all the above
examples will be
seen both on other 2820’s & 92’s (world-wide through the
DStar network) and the
APRS servers such as APRS.fi
For
computer communications members of WFRG have been using D-Star TV & DStar Comms
and
for APRS style tracking visit APRS.FI and enter
the callsign you wish to track.
(Callsigns
will only be plotted if the user is sending the correct DPRS/GPS Information)
Look
forward to meeting you on DStar,
Mike
G1ZRN.