This is sort of a follow up to this thread.

Just bought a pair of ID-51a Plus radios (will be ordering one more, soon) and started programming them.  I'm planning on use D-Star digital voice mode simplex for family comms since the location gets passed with the voice traffic.

Since the ARRL doesn't break out digital voice, I thought I'd check with the Texas VHF-FM Society band plans and see what I could find.

Looking at the 70cm band plan I found this;

440.000 - 440.500Digital Wide Band Output (50 or 100 KHz wide)
440.525 - 440.725Digital Narrow Band Output
440.750 - 440.975Cross Band Repeat - Fixed
441.000Narrow Band Packet
441.025 - 441.075Simplex NBFM Voice
441.100 - 441.175Simplex NB Digital
441.200 - 441.275Control Channels (Ph. II) (12.5 KHz spacing)
441.300 - 441.375Backyard Repeater Output (see Note 2)
441.400 - 441.475Control Channels (Ph. I) (12.5 KHz spacing)
441.500 - 441.975Low Pwr NBFM Repeater Output (100 W., 100 ft.)
442.000 - 444.975NBFM Repeater Output
445.000NASA Select NBFM Audio
445.000 - 445.500Digital Wide Band Input (50 or 100 KHz wide)
445.525 - 445.725Digital Narrow Band Input
445.750 - 445.975Cross Band Repeat - Mobile
446.000National Simplex NBFM Voice
446.025 - 446.075Simplex NBFM Voice
446.100 - 446.175Simplex NB Digital
446.200 - 446.275One-Way Links (Ph. II) (split site repeaters)
446.300 - 446.375Backyard Repeater Input (see Note 2)
446.400 - 446.475One-Way Links (Ph. I) (split site repeaters)
446.500 - 446.975Low Pwr NBFM Repeater Input
447.000 - 449.975NBFM Repeater Input
Note 1: All NBFM operations are 25 KHz spacing unless otherwise noted.
Note 2: Backyard repeaters are limited range, shared, non-protected channels and require CTCSS or equivalent on input and output.

My first questions are does that include voice?  It doesn't say voice.  And am I good to use 12.5KHz channel spacing there?

What's with the NASA channel?  Anyone know?

D-star is thought of as voice.

It's common in many areas to rebroadcast NASA audio (was way more common during the Apollo/Shuttle days than now.)
You have to get permission from NASA first but it was a relatively common thing to get.

There's a specific exemption cut out for retransmitting space communications in part 97 for it. 97.113

I don't know enough about your area specific frequency allocations but.........    
Look at purchasing the optional silicon case for the radios. Unlike many other "radio jackets", this one fits like a glove and is very functional. It will protect the radio from damage if dropped. It does not interfere with the display, microphone or any knobs. It's worth the money to protect the expensive ID-51 radios.

Here is the link.


Also, you can download a file from Dstarinfo.com that contains information on all D-star and FM repeaters. Copy it on the memory card in each radio. This will allow you to find repeaters in any area in the country, based on current GPS position. This is probably the best feature in these radios. PM me for more info. There is information about the procedure on Youtube as well.

Hope this info helps. I have two of the ID-51a radios. 73!

Thanks, @Gyprat.

I do have some questions, so you'll get a PM in the next day or two.