Martin,

The D-star dongle is a dongle that hooks up to the USB port on a computer 
and allows you to use d-star over the internet.  You connect to d-star 
repeaters that have an internet gateway, and talk to people through the 
dongle.  It's similar to EchoLink, in that it uses VOIP technology, but 
you're limited to d-star only repeaters.  With EchoLink, you can have a bit 
more flexibility, and there are some who think that anything that uses the 
internet in combination with radio really isn't ham radio.  But the bottom 
line is, the d-star dongle is a relatively cheap way to have access to that 
form of technology.

73,
Chris, w8cjs
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin McCormick" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: more on the dstar dongle


> I started to ask this question a few days earlier and
> don't know if I deleted the message without posting or what so
> if you already saw it, I am sorry.
>
> What exactly is the DSTAR dongle?
>
> I know what dongles are and what DSTAR is, but what is
> this?
>
> If there is any DSTAR around here, It is very limited,
> maybe in Tulsa or Oklahoma City, but it is not in wide use in
> this general area. Thanks.
>
>
> Martin McCormick WB5AGZ  Stillwater, OK
> Systems Engineer
> OSU Information Technology Department Network Operations Group
> "Ray T. Mahorney" writes:
>>dropped a note to Robin AA4RC who developed the DSTAR dongle and I 
>>mentioned t
>>hat Java and JAWS don't play
>>well He says there might be something he can do with the Java GUI which 
>>might
>>render it accessible.  Don't
>>take any bets but I'll try to keep you folks updated on any developments 
>>in th
>>at area.
>>Ray T. Mahorney
>>WA4WGA
>>Al Gore and the perpetrators of the "man made" global warming hoax are to 
>>be c
>>onsidered as terrorists
>>
>