The Tall Tower Repeater Group (KX4I, W4MD, KG4MPU, KG4QBE, W5TW) is a group of hams that have an extreme interest in D-Star.  This interest accelerated around the 2006 Dayton Hamfest and by June 2006, the first D-Star system was on the air in Tuscaloosa, Alabama under the call of W4KCQ (Tuscaloosa Amateur Radio Club).  Dave, KX4I, expressed interest in putting a D-Star system on the Tall Tower located about 23 miles North of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Icom indicated the D-Star equipment was not designed to function under conditions that would exist from being mounted on a tower at 1900 feet.  That provided our incentive to try the impossible and a complete D-Star system was purchased by the group at the Huntsville Hamfest in August 2006 (from Mark at HRO Atlanta). The W4TTR repeater call arrived August 31, 2006 and Ports C and B went on the air at 1900 feet.  Port C has separate DB 224 antennas mounted above and below the repeater box.  The repeater drives a power amp with about 50 watts out.  The receiver has a pre-amp as well.  Port B is duplexed into a Hustler antenna.  Coverage is exceptional on both ports and port A is to be installed soon.  The Gateway machine is loaded, tested, and installed at 1900 feet awaiting the Internet connection.

D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) is a digital voice and data protocol specification developed for use in amateur radio. D-Star compatible radios are available on VHF and UHF amateur radio bands. In addition to the over-the-air protocol, D-Star also provides specifications for network connectivity, enabling D-Star radios to be connected to the Internet or other networks. D-STAR is the result of research by the Japan Amateur Radio League to investigate digital technologies for amateur radio.