January 28, 2007 (.759)
Kenneth Harris WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, P.O. BOX 3328, PARKERSBURG, WV 26103 http://www.wc8ec.com
DAREN News, are articles and information about the Digital Amateur Radio "Emergency" Network of WV, which operates on 145.69 Mhz. Anyone having any information about DAREN, or Amateur Radio in general, and would like to share it with others, may send it to WA8LLM @ PKBGWV on 145.69 MHz A State Wide DAREN NET is operated every Saturday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. DAREN Net Announcements, showing the MAIN NCS, ALTERNATE NCS, NODEs accessible to both, and the previous week's check-ins, are posted by Thursday on most of the Main county DAREN PBBS'.
Well, the Federal Communications Commission finally posted their Report and Order on the Federal Register about eliminating Morse Code testing. That means 30 days from the posting, elimination of Morse Code testing will be in effect. The elimination of the code takes effect February 23rd. Those wanting to upgrade to General and/or Amateur Extra will no longer have to take a code test, just a written exam. Those who have already taken and passed their General and/or Extra written exams can be upgraded by doing some additional paper work, and paying the appropriate fees. Check with your local VE Team to find out when and where the paperwork can be done.
I have no other news this week, maybe it's because everyone is froze up.
There were 69 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Gene Roy, N8ER, who's been participating in the net since May 1, 1993, has completed 700 check- ins. Jim Perry, KB8LSR, who's been participating in the net, on and off, since May 15, 1995, has completed 50 check-ins. Both of these stations will be receiving their certificates. Bill Bayless, KB8HEK, needs only one more check in to make 250. There was one new check-in to the net this week, and that was Francis Fox, K8ATB, from Sophia, WV. I want to welcome Francis to the DAREN system and hope that he participates as often as he can. At least I know that someone reads the DAREN News. Last week I misspelled Bud McDowell, W8OO's name, and he let me know. It's about time to get a new keyboard. I notice it's making more and more mistakes the longer I keep it, and the older I get. I also found out who the "CALL-12" callsign, who checked into the net last week, was and his participation records has been updated. I'm starting to print up the DAREN Check-in Certificates for those who have completed the required amount in the last couple of months. I'm not as far behind as I usually am, so I hope to have them out in the next couple of days.