D-STAR is a digital voice system of communication between licenced Radio Amateurs (Hams) like myself. There are several methods used for this with either direct radio frequency (RF) communication or via computers and the internet. Another method is a combination of both. At one time Radio Amateurs frowned at using computers to decypher digital signals, but as more digital systems became available it became an inevitability. Later with the progress of the internet the actual internet was used to communicate.
I started with D-Star using an Icom ID-51E hand held radio and I am able to communicate with other users of this type of radio. I can also send signals to a Repeater for D-Star signals which allows much greater distances. These Repeaters are then connected to the internet in what are called Gateways so you can talk to anybody in the world via a hand held radio.
Gateways are not restricted to Repeaters and indeed any Radio Amateur station can obtain a Gateway using a special licence known as an Notice of Variation (NOV). I have my own Gateway named MB6IOW as opposed to my callsign of G4MHJ. This MB6IOW callsign is named IOW (Isle of Wight) due to being born in sight of The Isle of Wight Hill in Hampshire as well as the Island itself being one of my favourite places to stay and visit.
My Gateway is simply a small Raspberry Pi computer connected to the internet with a radio antenna tuned to a frequency of 434.475 MHz. Calling MB6IOW at my Erith location will link to what is called a Reflector named REF001 to give world wide coverage. If any local radio Amateur manages to connect to my Gateway perhaps they could let me know should I not notice from a logbook entry.