D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol specification for amateur radio. The system was developed in the late 1990s by the Japan Amateur Radio League and uses minimum-shift keying in its packet-based standard. There are other digital modes that have been adapted for use by amateurs, but D-STAR was the first that was designed specifically for amateur radio.
Several advantages of using digital voice modes are that it uses less bandwidth than older analog voice modes such as amplitude modulation and frequency modulation. The quality of the data received is also better than an analog signal at the same signal strength, as long as the signal is above a minimum threshold and as long as there is no multipath propagation. [citation needed]
D-STAR compatible radios are available for HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave amateur radio bands. In addition to the over-the-air protocol, D-STAR also provides specifications for network connectivity, enabling D-STAR radios to be connected to the Internet or other networks, allowing streams of voice or packet data to be routed via amateur radio.
Around 2011, MERT was able to obtain mostly private grant funding to purchase three D-Star repeaters, one at the Fire Department Repair Facility on Maricamp (which eventually was moved to a 600′ tower at the landfill on Baseline Rd) and two others at the EOC. Ten D-Star radios were also obtained and placed in “Go Kits” that could be assigned and set up anywhere.
D-Star is a great asset for use in emergency situations because of its capablity to send data using a program called D-Rats from one point to another. This included text, forms, photos and other information that can be sent “on the fly” from one point to another.
All of the repeaters and “go Kits” (called SHREK) are still in operation, but for some reason MERT does not take advantage of this technology anymore in favor of using Winlink and sound cards.
For up to date information about D-Star and its uses go to www.dstarinfo.com.