[aprssig] Did ICOM DSTAR ever take off ? can it be used for APRS ?

[Gerry Creager N5JXS]

I just bought an ID-800 dual-band mobile for about $500 at HamCom. 
Wasn't a special deal for the show.  There were 2 dealers there with 'em 
and I got the last one.  Both had similar pricing.

gerry

John Gleichweit wrote:
> On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 16:44:37 -0400, "Rich Garcia"
> <k4gps at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>>I loved the idea of the D-Star till' I saw the price of just 1. My idea was
>>for last mile Internet to the repeater site since 1.2 would work but 2.4
>>WiFi is
>>pushing the path a bit. If they ever get the mobiles down to the $500 range
>>I think they got a winner but the last price I saw was somewhere near
>>$1200!!
>>
>>Rich
> 
> 
> Which brings up another point where digital radio is concerned: Why go
> D-Star when you can get a tried and proven standard like P-25 digital
> for voice, and pay roughly the same amount, and get analog and digital
> approved on commercial frequencies (when needed).
> 
> The concept of a D-Star WWAN is great, but the problem is in the cost
> of equipment. 
> 

-- 
Gerry Creager -- gerry.creager at tamu.edu
Texas Mesonet -- AATLT, Texas A&M University	
Cell: 979.229.5301 Office: 979.458.4020 FAX: 979.847.8578
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Office: 903A Eller Bldg, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843