Icom is to hold the very first worldwide D-STAR contest from 25th July 2009 to 31st July 2009. www.icom.co.jp/world/d-contest10 winners will be selected from all of the participating stations (excluding any disqualified stations) in a draw, and they will receive an IC-80AD or IC-E80D
Good luck to the entrants, but excuse me while I roll around the floor laughing. Whatever next a DXCC award for Echo Link? Worked all repeaters? I love the concept of D-Star; it is cutting edge stuff and the idea that at some time in the future I might be able to maintain contact with home by using D-Star repeaters on route while I drive from one end of the country to the other is appealing, however a contest is just not a suitable thing to have on an Internet linked repeater system. Personally I think the technology behind D-Star might be better utilised as a personal communications system outside of amateur radio and open to all, but the mobile phone companies might get a bit nasty if we tried to push that idea.
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