This forum is dedicated to discussions pertaining specifically to the Motorola ASTRO line of radios (those that use VSELP/IMBE/AMBE), including using digital modulation, digital programming, FlashPort upgrades, etc. If you have general questions please use the General or Programming forums.
I'm a bit disturbed by DSTAR as it applies to the amateur radio community.
I don't object to the idea of moving to a narrower band digital system - quite the contrary.
I *am* disturbed by the selection of a codec that is not freely available. The whole idea of amateur radio is *supposed* to be that, if needed or desired, hams can build their own gear. Sure, you aren't going to build a modern HT at home - unless you happen to have a multi-hundred-thousand dollar pick-and-place machine in your basement. But you CAN build a 2 meter transceiver - it may be a big chunk, but you can build it.
Now, the problem I have with DSTAR is that the AMBE vocoder is NOT freely available - so if you want to build your own DSTAR rig you are going to have to buy a vocoder board from DVSI or a licensed reseller - no ifs, ands, or buts. You cannot feed the IF into your PC and use a program on your PC to decode the AMBE. You cannot hack on the AMBE vocoder to make an improvement.
Consider narrow band FM, or SSB, or any of the other modes created by hams. You will NOT see any innovation like that in DSTAR. If you play in DSTAR, you are going to be an appliance operator, period.
Now, when it comes to commercial radio I have little problem with proprietary codecs - that's part of the licensing to make a commercial radio.
But I'd really rather see DSTAR using something like Speex than AMBE.
(the proceeding is a personal opinion by N0YKG, and has absolutely nothing to do with any position Aeroflex may take).
This is my opinion, not Aeroflex's.
I WILL NOT give you proprietary information. I make too much money to jeopardize my job.
I AM NOT the Service department: You want official info, manuals, service info, parts, calibration, etc., contact Aeroflex directly, please.