How to use the Star*DV on Windows |
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Star*DV also works with BlueDV software for:
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The Matrix Circuits Star*DV is a USB device that allows you to have D-STAR Digital Voice QSOs over the internet using a speaker/mike, headset or PC speakers/microphone. With the right software, you can also use it to adapt an analog radio to be able to have D-STAR QSOs over RF (for example, D-STAR on HF). The software can optionally work with a GMSK Modem to create a D-STAR Compatible Hotspot that also supports in-shack QSOs using a speaker/mike rather than a D-STAR HT.
This page shows how to install and configure the StarDV software on Windows. The open source software, StarDV, was written by Rick KD0OSS of Matrix Circuits. He leveraged techniques and some code in the G4KLX suite, and some GMSK Modem code by KI4LKF. StarDV works with the G4KLX ircDDBGateway program, which manages linking and connecting to DPlus, DExtra and DCS reflectors as well as callsign routing using StarNET, CCS and ircDDB.
You will be installing SDV for Windows and the G4KLX ircDDBGateway for Windows.
Download SDV for Windows
Install drivers for Windows
Download G4KLX
ircDDBGateway
Configure ircDDBGateway
Be sure the Star*DV is plugged into a USB port.
Start ircDDBGateway. You may want to set up a shortcut on your desktop with the GUI parameter. The target would be similar to "C:\Program Files\ircDDBGateway\ircDDBGateway.exe" -gui
Start SDV
Select a Reflector and band module, then click LInk.
For testing, you may want to link to the E module of an REF reflector, which will echo back your transmissions.
Speaker/Mike audio level (volume) controls -- There are two audio pots accessible on the back side of the Star*DV. The pot near the center controls the speaker level. The pot near the corner enclosure screw controls the mike level.
SDV Details - click here for more info Not needed for most installations
Keeping Host Files Up to Date
New reflectors are being set up all the time, and some move to new servers.
Both SDV and ircDDBGateway depend on "host files" listing the reflectors and
their web addresses.
On Windows, these are stored in the same directory as where ircDDBGateway is installed, for example at C:\Program Files (x86)\ircDDBGateway or on 32 bit Windows, at C:\Program Files\ircDDBGateway.
Your web browser may use Save Link As, or Save Target As, or similar words.
Configuration Tweaks
A few installations, mostly running Windows 7, have experienced timing
problems when having a QSO, where it takes longer and longer for your
transmission to be sent out to the reflector. The fix (starting with
version 1.56) is:
Go to SDV'S Configuration tab
Adjust the Time interval RX and TX values
Often RX of 12 ms and TX of 5 ms will fix the problem
StarDV source
StarDV is open source software published under the GNU version 2 license.
The source is available for download. Just join the
stardboardt Yahoo Group and go to the Files area of the website.
D-Star® is a registered trademark used for communication equipment (repeaters and transceivers) for amateur radio communications, and owned by Icom Incorporated.
Copyright © 2009-2019 James M. Moen. All rights reserved.