Digital questions from a ‘green’ ham

[VE7AZM]

Hello. I’ve recently returned to ham radio after a long absence.
I purchased an icom id-4100a mobile for my truck.
I’ve registered for the D-STAR repeater network.
I’ve made a couple contacts on local nets.
I’m enjoying the learning process and being involved again.

I have some questions about sending out my mobile GPS position via D-STAR.
If I set my radio to broadcast my position automatically every 5 (1?,2?) minutes on a local d-star repeater: does my transmission bother others, and is this considered bad practice? If it’s a sub audible tone, do other users even hear it? I don’t want to chance walking over other users conversations.

Alternatively, can I use my id-4100a to send my GPS position via APRS on 144.390MHz? Is it possible to interface this digital radio with a device such as the Mobilinkd TNC-3 so it can send/receive APRS? Perhaps I’ve purchased the wrong radio and I’m asking it to do the impossible.

[VA7TD]

Welcome to the site!

I haven't actually spent any time exploring my D-STAR radio, other than the initial programming when I first bought it (used).

I did a quick skim through the manual, and it states "Use GPS automatic transmission in only the simplex mode. GPS automatic transmission through a repeater may interfere with other communications."

I've never tried APRS (with any radio). Hopefully the 4100A will do what you want!

Greg