A new toy for D-STAR aficionados has hit the shelves and is generating a lot of buzz. The DV-AP, produced by INet Labs who brought you the DV Dongle, is similar to the homebrew D-STAR Hotspot. The device is used for simplex operations, but it does connect to the gateway. The DV-AP plugs into your Windows or OS X computer via USB and uses the computer’s internet connection to communicate with the D-STAR gateway. The DV-AP broadcasts a very low-power signal. It’s similar to the functionality of a simplex Echolink link node. The device’s 10-milliwatt signal on the 2-meter band is intended to reach only a few hundred feet, but it allows you to use your D-STAR HT away from the computer around your house or around your neighborhood at low power.
You can learn more at the under-construction website for the DV-AP at http://dvapdongle.com/, and there’s already a Yahoo Group for the product that can be viewed by clicking here.
It looks like a rather robust toy with many configuration options. Mac users will be glad to hear that this device works on OS X, and Linux users will also be delighted to know that the required drivers are already included into the kernel.
The DV-AP is currently being sold at Ham Radio Outlet for $249.95. You can find it on their website by searching for “DV-AP”. However, HRO shows it as “out of stock.”
Do you have a DV-AP in your hands? What do you think of it so far? Let us know by posting in the comments!
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