diff --git a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.c b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.c
index aba9e46..2c95bf6 100644
--- a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.c
+++ b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.c
@@ -442,6 +442,16 @@ void dstar_FECencode(const BOOL * in, BOOL * out, unsigned int inLen, unsigned i
     }
 }
 
+
+void dstar_createTestHeader( DSTAR_HEADER header )
+{
+    strcpy(header->departure_rptr, "AAAAAAAA");
+    strcpy(header->destination_rptr, "BBBBBBBB");
+    strcpy(header->companion_call, "KG5FBT  ");
+    strcpy(header->own_call1, "KG5FBT  ");
+    strcpy(header->own_call2, "WOOT");
+}
+
 DSTAR_MACHINE dstar_createMachine(void)
 {
     DSTAR_MACHINE machine = safe_malloc(sizeof(dstar_machine));
@@ -469,6 +479,9 @@ DSTAR_MACHINE dstar_createMachine(void)
     machine->data_sync_pm = bitPM_create( DATA_SYNC_BITS, 24);
     machine->end_pm = bitPM_create(END_PATTERN_BITS, END_PATTERN_LENGTH_BITS);
 
+
+    dstar_createTestHeader(&(machine->outgoing_header));
+
     return machine;
 }
 
diff --git a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.h b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.h
index 376cf94..a9d0398 100644
--- a/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.h
+++ b/DSP_API/ThumbDV/dstar.h
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ typedef struct _dstar_header
     unsigned char flag1;
     unsigned char flag2;
     unsigned char flag3;
-    unsigned char destination_rptr[9];
-    unsigned char departure_rptr[9];
-    unsigned char companion_call[9];
-    unsigned char own_call1[9];
-    unsigned char own_call2[5];
+    char destination_rptr[9];
+    char departure_rptr[9];
+    char companion_call[9];
+    char own_call1[9];
+    char own_call2[5];
     uint16  p_fcs;
 } dstar_header, * DSTAR_HEADER;