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Author Topic: Digipeater vs regular repeater for Packet  (Read 1313 times)

K2CMH

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Digipeater vs regular repeater for Packet
« on: December 18, 2018, 05:32:21 AM »

Something I was wondering about regarding repeaters for packet is that of using a ‘regular’ repeater vs a digipeater for packet.
Perhaps some of the people that were around during the packet era could comment.
In one sense, it would seem like setting up and using a regular repeater would be simpler since you would not need to have any special packet equipment at the site.
What are the advantages of a digipeater over using a regular repeater?

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NA4IT

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RE: Digipeater vs regular repeater for Packet
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2018, 06:20:26 AM »

Packet digipeaters respond to specific calls and command sets. Repeaters don't. However, you can do short sound card digital communications on voice repeaters. You need to use high speed modes, keep the audio within the pass band of the repeater, and send some spaces to allow the repeater to "come up" before sending the actual text.

It can be useful for "mixed mode nets" where on station calls NCS with digital traffic for another in net station. The NCS can acknowledge and direct the traffic to be sent.

Example:
K4XXX to NCS
"K4XXX has one MT63 1K Long for W4XXX."

NCS to K4XXX:
"Acknowledged. W4XXX are you ready to copy digital traffic?"

W4XXX to NCS
"Ready to copy."

NCS to K4XXX
"K4XXX Send one MT63 1K Long to W4XXX."

(The digital traffic proceeds.)

K4XXX to NCS after digital traffic
"Digital Traffic complete."

W4XXX to NCS
"Digital from K4XXX copied."
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ND5Y

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RE: Digipeater vs regular repeater for Packet
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2018, 09:52:52 AM »

A digipeater can operate simplex so you can make one from cheaper radios and not need an expensive duplexer or separate tx/rx antennas and feedlines.
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Tom

AA4PB

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RE: Digipeater vs regular repeater for Packet
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2018, 03:47:00 PM »

Actually, it is best to use a network node rather than a digipeater. With a digipeater the error-check and any retransmission to correct errors occurs from end-user to end-user, through the digipeater. With a network node (which uses the same hardware, but different firmware, as a digipeater) there is a connection between each station and the network node. If an error occurs, the retransmission only occurs over the link that caused it rather than end-to-end over the whole network.
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Bob  AA4PB
Garrisonville, VA
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