Communications Equipment / Radios
Who has CB/ ham/ or radio scanners in their vehicles, and why? I've been considering the three for a while, and ended up ordering a CB setup last night. I don't have a ham license and don't want to...
Forum Discussion
jshupe wrote:
What is everyone's consensus on DSTAR vs APRS? Looking at the Kenwood TM-D710GA and ICOM ID-5100A.
I'd rather spend the money to get a radio I'll want for a while up front rather than go down an upgrade path that ends up at the same point with more money spent.
Seems like the ICOM has a nicer interface but the Kenwood has APRS, which sounds more widely used. I also want to make sure whichever radio is used, it's easy to disable the location services.
DSTAR and APRS are two different animals.
DSTAR is a digital voice mode while APRS is a tracking system. DSTAR is ICOM's proprietary digital mode. the advantage to DSTAR is crystal clear communications but the equipment is expensive. the downside is that the DSTAR radio is only compatible with other DSTAR repeaters. more info HERE
Yaesu makes a product called System Fusion. it is also a proprietary digital mode but that radio can be used on both analog and other System Fusion repeaters. Clubs sponsoring System Fusion repeaters can have them in digital mode or digital and analog mode (whatever mode the fusion machine hears is what it repeats). it's more flexible than DSTAR. more info HERE
Sometime this year or early next a German company is supposed to be releasing a new dual band transceiver capable of all digital modes (P25, DMR, DSTAR and Fusion as well as analog. I saw the prototype at the Dayton HamVention last spring and if it actually comes to market it will be a game changer. The expected price tag is believed to be somewhere in the $1000 range.
APRS is a tracking and resource mode. radios equipped with APRS will "see" repeaters and other ham related info such as meetings, hamfests, etc. depending on whether the sponsors actually place those items and events on the APRS system. APRS can be handy if you want to broadcast your current location so that family and friends can track you. coverage around the country is not 100% but it's pretty good, especially in more urbanized areas. more info HERE.
as you've noted Kenwood is probably the leader in fusing APRS with their radios. At the Dayton HamVention this year Kenwood reps suggested that Kenwood and ICOM have reached an agreement that will result in Kenwood radios being able to include DSTAR functionality.
in addition to the provided links I suggest you do a google search on all of the above...lots and lots of good information.
