Learn to love D-STAR
Short videos, guides, and news for D-STAR operators—built by fans, for fans.
Latest stories
Watch & learn
Short instructional Shorts from the DSTARfans YouTube channel—on the air in minutes.
Jump in
Videos
Full D-STAR Quick series: call sign, simplex, linking, and REGIST.
First steps
Call sign, suffix, and TX message setup that every D-STAR op needs.
Simplex
National calling frequencies and how to operate without a repeater.
Reflectors & nets
Favorite reflectors, nets, and where the activity is.
Software
Doozy, Peanut, D-RATS, RS-BA1, and mobile apps.
Community
SimpleX Chat, X, Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Gab, and Matrix.
Hamvention 2026 D-STAR Events
1320 N. Fairfield Rd
Beavercreek, OH
Learn how to:
• Get started with D-STAR
• Program your radio the easy way
• Connect worldwide in minutes
• Send images + data over the air
• Use hotspots to operate from anywhere
Bonus perks:
• Every attendee gets a D-STAR shirt
• Chance to WIN an Icom ID-52A handheld radio
10823 Chidlaw Rd A
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433
Hamvention 2026 News
Hamvention D-STAR Information
Field Day 2025
ARRL Field Day is an annual event that takes place the 4th full weekend in June. The 2025 event will be held on January 28th-29th, 2025.
This is a great opportunity to get out and test your gear in the cold weather, while running D-STAR.
Winter Field Day 2026
Winter Field Day is an annual event that takes place the last full weekend in January. The 2026 event will be held on January 24th-25th, 2026.
This is a great opportunity to get out and test your gear in the cold weather, while running D-STAR.
D-STAR QSO PARTY 2025
The D-STAR QSO party is back, over the holiday period from December 27th, 2025 00:00 UTC to January 5th, 2026 23:59 UTC.
The purpose is to encourage D-STAR operators to communicate with as many other operators worldwide but also to encourage the picture-sending function found in the latest D-STAR radios.
Log submission deadline: January 21st, 2026 23:59 UTC
Results will be announced on: February 28th, 2026
How D-STAR works in practice
Getting started
Configure MY call sign, suffix, and TX message so every transmission identifies you correctly.
Read guideSimplex
National 2m/70cm calling frequencies and digital features you can use without a repeater.
Read guideGateway registration
Why REGIST matters and how to unlock reflectors and internet-linked features.
Read guideGateway repeaters
YOUR, RPT1/RPT2, RX→CS, and the mistakes that keep you local-only.
Read guideReflectors & nets
Favorite reflectors, regular nets, last heard, and HF DV notes.
Read guideD-PRS & APRS
Share D-STAR GPS position onto the APRS network.
Read guideSoftware
Doozy, Peanut, D-RATS, RS-BA1, and mobile apps for D-STAR.
Read guideCallsign routing
Reply to the last station heard with RX→CS / ENT—even across gateways.
Read guideBrowse the full guide library · Training & videos · Call sign mnemonics
Online communities
D-STAR Community Site Statuses
Official & manufacturer resources
- JARL (Japan Amateur Radio League) — originator of the D-STAR standard
- JARL D-STAR technical pages (Japanese)
- Icom Japan — manufacturer site & events (e.g. D-STAR QSO Party)
- Icom America — D-STAR
- ARRL — U.S. national association
Local D-STAR Organizations
Testimonials
"this is the greatest amount of fun i've had with a handheld radio yet XD thanks to you" - EI9LC
Feedback
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