Contact us
Craig Jerome - WA4TCD@gmail.com Jim Davis -WA4TCD@gmail.com
Welcome to the WA4TCD D-STAR repeater! We encourage any and all licensed amateur operators to enjoy this fully functional D-STAR machine which serves the Treasure and Space Coasts of Florida with extensive coverage of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Brevard counties on 145.400 mHZ (-600) from a 420 foot transmitting antenna located in Vero Beach. WA4TCD (which stands for Treasure Coast Digital) is a club station operated by the Treasure Coast Digital Amateur Radio Technologies (TC-DART). We invite you to like us on Facebook (Search: WA4TCD)). Registration is not necessary to enjoy the WA4TCD repeater. However, all users that desire to use the Gateway features of any D-Star system must register with their local gateway before being allowed access to the Worldwide network of users. Without a registration you will be able to use a our system without access to Networked Gateways and Dongle users. In another portion of this website, you will find the Registration Info page which will provide more details on how to signup for these important features. Our goal is to have a friendly place to meet old and new friends who share a common hobby, and want to have a good time (maybe even talking to the world!). If you are in search of a repeater group with lots of rules, this is probably not the place for you.
The WA4TCD Repeater System has G2 Gateway Access. All users who wish to access the G2 gateway system nationally will need to register but only once. Please don’t attempt to register on more than one Gateway. Once you receive an email confirmation of your initial registration then you must sign back in through a link you will find here.
If you have questions contact: Craig – K4CPJ WA4TCD@gmail.com
What is D-STAR. (D-STAR is an advanced digital voice and data communication system designed with amateur radio in mind. It connects repeater sites and users to form a Worldwide Amateur Radio Network. The D-STAR system also provides new capabilities and functionality to amateur radio that increases the effectiveness of our ability to provide vital emergency communications.
Helpful Tips and Programming Examples
Zone Call Example -> WA4TCD Repeater to K5TIT 440 Repeater through the WA4TCD Gateway
URCALL = /WA4TCD C This "URCALL" entry indicates that you are calling to the WA4TCD 2 meter Repeater, please note the leading character is the "/" followed by the repeater call with module "C" in the 8th character position. There is NEVER more than 8 characters in a D-STAR Callsign field including the slash if used in the first position. The "/" denotes a "Zone" call, in other words a call to a Gateway not a User.
RPT1 = "WA4TCD C" The "C" (2 meter Repeater) must be in the 8th character position
RPT2 = "WA4TCD G" The "G" (Gateway) must be in the 8th character position
MYCALL = Set to your Callsign
Gateway Call to a Individual -> Last Heard on the Gateway.
URCALL= "W1ABC" Finding where W1ABC was last heard, the Trust Server will automatically route your Gateway call to the last "known" module that W1ABC was heard on.
RPT1 = "WA4TCD C" The C (2 meter
Repeater) must be in the 8th character position.
RPT2 = "WA4TCD G" The G (Gateway) must be in the 8th character position.
MYCALL = Set to your Callsign
Gateway User Functions
The WA4TCD system supports D-Plus User functions. Currently enabled is the ECHO function. In order to access this feature see the examples below. When accessed you should be able to speak a test message into the system and when you release your PTT you should hear the system play it back. This can be very useful for seeing if you are making it into the system or checking radio programming.
Echo Test
URCALL = WA4TCD E "E" is in the 8th character position
RPT1 = WA4TCD C "C" is in the 8th character position
RPT2 = WA4TCD G "G" is in the 8th character position
MYCALL = "Your Callsign"
Suggested system Guidelines for smooth D-STAR Operations
Don't be too quick on the key (we call that quick-keying)! • D-STAR needs time to make connections, and that takes several seconds. • When in a QSO, wait several seconds before keying-up to reply. • After keying-up, allow 1 full second for data transfer before you start talking. 2. When you want to get the attention of others on the system: • Key up to send your CQCQCQ, and speak your call sign. • Some might not be watching their screen while you transmit – they might be mobile or across the room, or just doing something other than watching their radio, so if you do not say your call sign, they might not know you even keyed up, and in any case they might not know who keyed up. 3. When talking to several people, keep the turn-overs smooth. • Give the person following you in the rotation the turn-over by saying their name or call sign. • Remember that you do not have to give your call sign every time you talk, just every 10 minutes. • It’s polite to say your call sign at the beginning of a series of transmissions. • Make sure you designate someone to answer your question rather than just “tossing it up in the air!” • Do not quick-key to answer the previous speaker – you can’t just inject comments on D-STAR. • Remember the repeater needs time to finish data transmission, and some radios are speaking the call sign of the last person to transmit – It’s preferable to wait on that or your transmission may cut it short.