Digital Voice on The Ham Radio Lab

Beyond the Static: A Tech-Sector Guide to Digital Voice and Data Modes

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In our previous discussions, we walked through the process of taking an organized frequency list from Excel or Google Sheets and “deploying” it to your handheld radio using CHIRP. By now, you should be comfortable with the “Read-Import-Write” workflow—always downloading the factory config from your radio first to create a baseline before importing your custom CSV.

But once your radio is programmed and you start scanning, you will eventually land on a channel that sounds like rhythmic buzzing or data “hiss” instead of a human voice.

Allstar Adventures: Skywarn, DVswitch, and Chasing Connections

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hey fellow hams!

For those of you who follow along, you know I’m a sucker for tinkering, especially when it comes to connecting different radio systems. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been diving deeper into the world of Allstar Link, and let me tell you, it’s been an exciting, albeit occasionally frustrating, journey. Today, I want to share some of my experiences experimenting with Allstar Link, focusing on my setup involving Skywarn, DVswitch, and connecting to various nodes.

Decoding the Digital Maze: Yaesu System Fusion, D-Star, DMR, and Allstar Link Compared

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ham Digital Modes

The world of amateur radio has changed significantly in the last couple of decades, with the introduction of various digital modes offering enhanced clarity, wider coverage, and new avenues for experimentation. If you’re just getting into digital or considering adding another mode to your toolkit, it can feel like navigating a complex maze. Today, we’re going to compare four popular choices: Yaesu System Fusion, D-Star, DMR (Digital Mobile Radio), and Allstar Link. But there are many more out there so this is not an exhaustive list by any means.