+++ Webinar test +++

I will appreciate it if you who had the opportunity to take part in last Saturday's Webinar test will let me know your impression of it.  In particular, do you believe it is a viable method to use to hold on-line and telephone conferences within our Great Lakes Division? Was the form of the conference useful to you? Do you believe it would be useful to other members of the Division?

Please send your comments to k8je@arrl.org.

I apologize for the short timing I gave in notifying you of the Webinar. I became aware of it only several hours before I forwarded notice of it to you.

I want to thanks Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR for allowing us to piggyback on his Webinar. I believe we will have another opportunity or two to join him in future Webinars before we need to make the decision about buying into this same system for our Division.

+++ You asked +++

A few members asked what is going on that such a fuss is being made over D-Star when it is obviously a product of ICOM and is not open to other equipment makers. They are concerned we should not promote communication systems when the sales only benefit a monopoly.

The answer to this question is fairly simple. D-Star is not a monopoly. It is open for all manufacturers to use.

This digital form of communication was developed through a grant from the Japanese government. The developers were the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) and ICOM. Once developed, ICOM chose to manufacture gear using this technology. ICOM and JARL have offered the system to other manufacturers; however, none of the others have chosen to use D-Star . . . to this date.

Because of its capabilities, development of D-Star systems has been pursued with vigor by ARES(r) in some Sections of the country. There are hot-spots of great interest in other Sections. D-Star supports voice, digital and other modes.

The fact that ICOM is the only manufacturer that is selling D-Star gear is not necessarily surprising. One marketing strategy of corporations in response to a new, breakthrough product is to wait to enter the market until they are sure the market will support a second manufacturer. Until this has been demonstrated, they wait rather than invest money in products and advertising. I believe we are in the waiting period at this time.

The fact that ICOM currently is the only manufacturer of D-Star equipment is not because ICOM has a monopoly. The D-Star technology is readily available to others to use in making equipment -- when they want to use it.