“Route 66 On The Air” Adopts D-STAR Digital Radio Operations
BELLEVUE, WA (September 10, 2008) – During the running of the 2008 Route 66 On The Air, event leaders will be
adding the D-STAR digital communications mode to the existing HF/VHF/UHF analog modes. From September 13 – 21, over
a dozen ham radio clubs located along the famous highway are taking part as official participants. The Citrus Belt
Amateur Radio Club out of San Bernardino, CA is the sponsoring club that is hosting this, the 9th annual running
of the event.
The event is not a race. According to the event’s
official Website “The purpose of this
event is an opportunity to offer amateur radio operators a fun way to "Relive the Ride" and their own memories of
Route 66, and to celebrate the highway's 82nd anniversary.”
Find a list of special events radio stations. Not all stations will be
utilizing D-STAR.
To contact these stations, the special event 1x1 callsign is to be entered into the URCALL Field
(With the exception of Chicago which will be a zone call /NS9RC B) with the RTP2 set for gateway use.
For a modest fee, a special D-STAR certificate is available for hams who “work” (complete a successful two-way
conversation with) at least one of the official special event D-STAR club stations or a participating D-STAR
mobile station signing "mobile 66". Please visit the official Website for details.
“D-STAR is quickly gaining in popularity throughout the US and other countries as THE standard for digital
communications”, says ham operator Robert Davis, AD5NR. “Whether for emergency communications or enjoyment,
digital radio offers many benefits over analog, like the ability to transmit data and to enjoy static-free
operation. Digital is the future of amateur radio, and D-STAR is the most stable, growing mode of digital
communications.”
About Route 66: The fabled ribbon of highway that “winds from Chicago to L.A.”, as sung by Nat King Cole,
was established in 1926 and served as the first major improved highway to cross the nation’s heartland and
southwest regions. Route 66 holds a special place in mid 20th century Americana, featured
in many songs and stories. The highway was decommissioned in 1986 in favor of the newer US interstate system,
which did not follow the same route. Some portions of the original Route 66 still exist.
Icom America's parent company, Icom Inc., was founded in Osaka Japan. Icom is a publicly held Japanese
corporation; its stock is traded on the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchange. Icom began as an engineering and
manufacturing company, making advanced, compact solid-state radio equipment for use by amateur radio enthusiasts.
Icom has since grown to become an industry leader using the D-STAR standard, with a product line that includes
other state-of-the-art digital communications equipment for land and marine use as well as avionics. Icom
America's headquarters are in Bellevue, Washington.
Print-ready images of D-STAR transceivers may be downloaded directly
from the Icom website.
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