how much have you actually listened to DStar?
yes, it's digital, but it's nothing like digital used to be.
occasionally you get some of that digital artifact stuff going on, but more 
often than not, it's very very good for a digital mode.
And don't forget, your ts2000 is all digital as well for the audio output, 
so don't be too quick to discount digital audio.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 5:35 AM
Subject: Re: Anyone used d star


> If you're audio sensitive, all the current digital modes sound like crap
> though I will say that much. IDAS/Nextedge being the best of them, but
> still, I can't stand to listen to it. So, if you're audio sensitive you 
> may
> not want to go there. I know one of the clubs I belong to is messing with
> IDAS/Nextedge which is a lot cheaper to get going than dstar but I'm going
> to miss that band wagon completely. It will be a long time before I spend
> serious money for a 2 meter radio again if I ever do.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 12:43 AM
> Subject: Re: Anyone used d star
>
>
>> well, the radios may well be non-accessible from a blind persons
>> perspective, but they are very usable once you get everything set up on
>> the
>> radio.
>> I have a friend that has a couple D star radios.  Perhaps one of these
>> lazy
>> sunday afternoons I'll go to his place and see if the DStar info can be
>> set
>> up through the programming software.  If so, then the rigs are quite
>> usable.
>> DStar is a great mode of operation.  Far better audio than IRLP or
>> echolink,
>> and some great folks using it so far.
>> On simplex operation, between two DStar radios, you can get right down to
>> an
>> almost non-existent signal into the receiver and still hear the audio
>> chrystal clear.
>> I was quite impressed with it after a couple hours of using it on my
>> friends
>> equipment.
>> He's got the IC 2820, and one of the DStar equipt HT's.
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Martin McCormick" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 5:18 AM
>> Subject: Re: Anyone used d star
>>
>>
>>> It's definitely something useful for us but the pointy-clicky
>>> mob thinks that's the only way to fly so this stuff will be land
>>> fill for us until something better comes along.
>>>
>>> Jed Barton writes:
>>>> Hey guys,
>>>> Has anyone successfully used d star?  It looks like the icom radios are
>>>> completely not accessible. Would be curious to hear some input whether
>>>> this
>>>> is even worth playing with.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Jed
>>>>
>>>>