December 27, 2011 | Amateur Radio & Scanning
Yaesu's DMR publication uses the words "digital" and "communication" four times on the cover alone
The paper basically states that the GMSK modulation that D-STAR uses is outdated and inferior, saying that GMSK “is considered old fashioned and no longer used by [Land Mobile Radio].” Later in the paper, Yaesu explains the benefits of C4FM modulation, used by APCO Project 25, and states “We need to pay attention to the C4FM (4-level FSK) method because we believe this is the most important technology in digital communications. This method will definitely find increasing use in Amateur radio communications within the near future.”
Yaesu drops another bomb under the heading of “Misunderstanding #5: D-STAR is the standard digital communication for Amateur radio”:
This is not true. We are not sure why D-STAR, which uses GMSK, is recommended. However, it is neither good nor appropriate to limit the Digital radio selection to only one method for all Hams worldwide. If only one manufacturer is developing only one type of Digital radio for all Hams, the digital technology would not advance and Hams would be forced to use inferior equipment at higher costs. A good example is the continued use of the older GMSK technology. We see no advantage in pursuing outdated technology when better technology exists.
While they are going head-to-head with the D-STAR protocol (and Icom’s equipment), I do not feel this will be similar VHS vs. Betamax or Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD. Both digital radio protocols have their advantages and disadvantages, and they will co-exist with their own userbases. Everyone will end up winning with more competitive offerings from each company.
I own four VHF/UHF radios. Of them, three are D-STAR capable, and the fourth is APCO P-25 Phase I. That’s the beauty of amateur radio… we’re not stuck with a single mode and we can play with what we want.
D-STAR was the first in the game to promote digital voice and data specifically for amateur radio, and they have quite the stronghold right now — at this moment, there are 835 internet gateway-enabled repeaters and 20,000 registered gateway users around the world. It will be interesting to see Icom’s reaction to Yaesu’s entry to the digital radio market that appears to be inevitable in 2012.
Logic tells me that it would be quite easy for Vertex Standard to re-tool their radios and software and throw a Yaesu badge on their DMR equipment at a relatively low cost.
There’s quite a bit of technical discussion happening in the dstar_digital Yahoo Group. This will definitely be fun to watch — DMR users may finally get an inexpensive front panel programmable DMR radio, and D-STAR users may see some more competitive pricing on Icom’s offerings. If you haven’t read the document by now, head on over there and read it for more juicy details.
Tags: 144 MHz, 440 MHz, Amateur Radio & Scanning, D-STAR, Icom, Motorola, MotoTRBO, opinion, Project 25, repeaters, Vertex Standard, Yaesu
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[...] on the heels of a publication from Yaesu and Vertex Standard announcing they’re entering the digital amateur radio market, the companies announce a corporate reorganization that brings Vertex Standard’s land mobile [...]