Using a Icom ID-51a Plus 2 in terminal mode with the new beta version of Pi-Star 4.0 RC3 and a Raspberry Pi for D-Star.
With version 4.0 of Pi-Star (as of Jan 25, 2019 in beta RC3) it is possible to use pi-star and an Icom ID-51a Plus 2 in DV terminal mode as a D-Star Repeater with Pi-Star as the controller. (This also will work with an Icom 4100). You will need the following:
- Icom ID-51a Plus 2
- Icom OPC-2350LU Smart Phone Data Cable kit
- Raspberry Pi (that supports pi-star 4.0)
- SD-Card for Raspberry Pi with Pi-Star loaded
The Icom OPC-2350LU cable kit is used to hook the ID-51a to the Raspberry Pi via the USB port. (My ID-51A Plus 2 came with the cable kit) With ver 4.0 (currently in beta RC3 as of Jan 25, 2019) of Pi-Star you can configure Pi-Star in D-Star repeater mode. It is important to select Controller Software Under the Control Software section as DStarRepeater – then reboot, then under General Configuration select the Radio/Modem Type as Icom Radio in Terminal Mode (DStarRepeater Only) and finish configuring pi-star, my config looks like:
In order for pi-star to “see” the Icom ID-51 in terminal mode via USB you will need to put it in DV mode; from the main menu 4/4 select DV Gateway then select Terminal Mode you should see your call sign with the word Terminal below:
At this point, via a web browser into the pi-star dashboard (http://pi-star.local. providing you have set up pi-star on Raspberry Pi) you can link and unlink D-Star reflectors and repeaters – using the ID-51A as your mic and speaker.
Pi-Star works as it would with a ZUMSpot or similar hardware – only using the ID-51A as the “hardware” here is the Admin screen:
Details on the required USB cable kit from Icom:
Handy link to some additional details on DV Gateway function from Icom in this PDF.
David Cappello (KG5EIU) 
March 16, 2019 at 10:48 am
Going to give this a try with a Pi Zero and my ID-51a Plus 2, thanks for the straight-forward write-up!
It would be great if it integrates with this ‘mobile friendly’ dashboard:
http://www.k9npx.com/2018/03/pi-star-mobile-dashboard.html?m=1
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November 23, 2020 at 5:14 pm
Oh also must be 4.x 3.x does not support terminal mode.
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June 9, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Got a PI-Zero flashed it with Pi-star RC 4 and did an update is let me pick ICOM TERMINAL mode but so far I’ve not been able to limk to a reflector or use it with my 51.. Will continue working later today (When I get back to house)… May need help
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November 23, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Is there a trick to getting Icom in terminal to show up in the modem list? I have 2 people with pi-star nodes that this isnt in the list. Only the RP2C controller is listed for Icom.
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November 23, 2020 at 4:38 pm
What version of Pi-Star are you running ?
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November 23, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Yes when you go to configure the PI-Star the radio must be in terminal mode and MUST be Connected to the pi-Star.. Found that out .. the hard way and confirmed somewhere
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March 4, 2021 at 6:34 pm
I have tried hooking up my ID 51 in terminal mode to my pi-star 3B. On the admin page the ircddb gateway does not turn green. Dstar repeater is green any any idea what I did wrong.
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March 4, 2021 at 7:14 pm
Which ID51 specifically do you have ? My understanding is the “Plus2” is the only model that supports terminal mode with Pi-Star.
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March 5, 2021 at 5:28 am
Only the +2 model of the 51A supports Terminal and as i said before before you select the ICOM in Terminal/Assess point mode you must have the radio plugged in and turned on in terminal mode.
There are other possible errors like your call sign… At one time My 51 did not work. farkled my call sign. fixed, it worked.
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