VA3ODG started as an ICom DSTAR repeater stack in 2007, under the guidance of the Ottawa Amateur Radio Digital Group (OARDG). At that time, the repeater system included 4 modules: The A module was a complete DSTAR repeater on 23cm, the B module was a DSTAR repeater on 70cm, the C module was a DSTAR repeater on 2m and the D module (originally included with A module) was a 23cm data module similar to a modern Access Point, except it was on an amateur radio frequency. These 4 modules shared a common controller and power supply. Each module had its outboard filters, feedline and antenna. The controller connected to a computer, referred to as a gateway computer, which managed the 4 modules and interfaced them to the internet, so that they could connect to other DSTAR repeater systems throughout the world.

DSTAR technology was the pioneer of digital amateur radio repeaters and was reasonably successful, considering the very high price of the radio equipment and the repeater equipment.

The original VA3ODG ICom Repeater System was a part of the DSTAR USTrust network, managed out of the southern USA. The management of the USTrust network discouraged experimentation with hardware and software and so the repeaters on the original network split into 2 main groups: the original USTrust network and the non-USTrust group (Freestar, amongst others), that used modified repeater gateways and software. The two networks used different methods of call-routing and database management. At the time of separation, there were over 1000 DSTAR repeater systems in use. The VA3ODG Repeater System is a non-USTrust system. The VA3ODG System is located in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

A significant difference between the 2 networks was that the USTrust network required registration of all users, into a central database, while the non-USTrust group did not require registration. Users were permitted to operate on either network, but if a user wanted to link repeaters or manage call routing on the USTrust network, registration was required on that network. Note that registration was only required on one repeater system and was then propagated through the entire network. Registration, while a relatively straightforward process, represents another never-ending task for the repeater sysops. Users wishing to register, were and are encouraged, to register on their nearest USTrust system. A non-USTrust sysop CANNOT register a USTrust user.

At the time that the COVID-19 pandemic spread, we were in the middle of upgrading the VA3ODG system from DSTAR-only to a multimode repeater system, using pi-star software and raspberry pi computers. We had successfully modified the B (UHF) module to multimode DSTAR/DMR. The default mode of the B module at this time is DSTAR with the capability of going to DMR, if the input signal is DMR. The remainder of the VA3ODG modules are temporarily off-site. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we do not have access to the repeater site.

Please note that because some of the VA3ODG equipment is off the air, does not mean that the associated frequencies are no longer required. These frequencies have been approved by both the St.Lawrence Repeater Council and ISEC and have been assigned to the licence holder of VA3ODG. They are not available for use by others within range of VA3ODG.

Although we started with DSTAR thirteen years ago, there are now numerous digital modes with various attributes. Some of these modes like C4FM emerged within amateur radio, while others such as DMR, P25, NXDN and others, evolved from the commercial world. VA3ODG, along with several other repeaters and hotspots in the Ottawa area, is connected via internet to a special reflector (or hub) which performs translation between the various modes. This allows a DSTAR repeater and its users, to communicate with a DMR or C4FM repeater and its users. Amazing! The digital repeater technology has advanced in leaps and bounds in a relatively short time. This multimode reflector is known as an XLX reflector, while single mode reflectors start with XRF. In our case, VA3ODG is connected to XLX196.

During the time that VA3ODG B has been operational as a multimode repeater, we learned that multimode repeaters connected to multimode reflectors, can be quite confusing. As a result, we decided that in the future, we would not make each module of VA3ODG 'multimode'. Furthermore, we do not want to orphan the users that own DSTAR equipment, specially the Icom ID-1 radios and the early DSTAR VHF radios. Consequently, we decided to keep module A (23cm) and module C (2m) as DSTAR and set module B to full-time DMR. We trust that this arrangement satisfies most users.