[TMRA] Announcing the TMRA's new forthcoming D-Star repeater!

[Joe Thielen]

My apologies if you receive this e-mail more than once, we are trying to
spread this message as far and wide as possible and you may receive this
message multiple times due to being on multiple e-mail lists.  This is a
one-time e-mail regarding this subject.

Toledo is getting a D-Star repeater!  The Toledo Mobile Radio Association
(TMRA) will soon be receiving a D-Star repeater and will shortly begin the
work to get it installed.  If you do not know what D-Star is and would like
some information, please see this link:

http://www.tmrahamradio.org/media/TMRA-D_Star_Handout_FINAL.pdf

NOTE:  Some of the information in the above PDF references a club vote.
This has already taken place and it was approved!  But there is some other
helpful information in there, as well as links for further information.

As with all of TMRA's repeaters, the new D-Star repeater will be open to all
amateurs, not just TMRA members.

The purpose of this e-mail is three-fold:

#1:  To let everyone know this is in the pipeline!

#2:  In order to fulfill our obligation to Icom, we will need to have at
least 10 new registered amateur call-signs on our new D-Star gateway within
90 days of delivery of the repeater.  More information regarding this can be
found in the above PDF link.  Basically, if you have, or are planning to
purchase, D-Star gear, but if you have never "registered" your call sign on
any other D-Star gateway (i.e., in another city), we would like to ask that
you consider not doing so until the TMRA gets our D-Star gateway in place.
This should be done within the next month or so.  More information about
this will be posted on the TMRA website in the near future.

#3:  This item relates to TMRA club members.  The TMRA Tech Committee is
seeking out members who may be interested in learning about how the D-Star
repeater system works and would be willing to volunteer their time towards
the installation, maintenance, testing, and operation of the repeater.  We
are especially seeking out club members who are not currently/particularly
active on existing committees.  D-Star is a bit different than traditional
analog repeaters.  It's digital, and has many interesting additional data
aspects to it, in addition to voice.  Think of it as having voice,
packet/data, APRS/GPS, and IRLP/Echolink all wrapped into one package.  So
if computers and the Internet are your thing, this is a new way to bridge
the gap with ham radio!  We expect the new repeater to be delivered within
the next week or so, at that point we have 90 days to get it installed and
on the air to fulfill one of our obligations to Icom (see the PDF referenced
above for more information about this).  This means that if you want to be
involved with the project from the ground-up, now is the time to speak up
and volunteer.  If you're interested but are NOT a member of the TMRA, now
would be a great time to join, hi hi!  If you're interested in volunteering,
please contact Joe Thielen, KJ0EYT, via e-mail: KJ0EYT at ARRL.NET - Note the
zero (0) in the call-sign, it's NOT the letter O!  You can also click on the
webmaster e-mail link on the TMRA web page and send e-mail via that address,
that goes to KJ0EYT as well.  You can also attempt to reach KJ0EYT on the
TMRA 147.270 W8HHF repeater (Toledo, +Duplex, 103.5PL).  Non TMRA club
members can find information on joining the TMRA via the following link:
www.tmrahamradio.org/membership.php



TMRA Webpage:  www.tmrahamradio.org


Thank you for your time!  And again, my apologies if you receive multiple
copies of this e-mail.

de KJ0EYT (Joe Thielen)