April 22, 2007 (.771)
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 last Health Department Packet Radio and Two Meter Voice stations have been installed. The Health Department maintenance men and I installed the last stations on Wednesday the 18th. The last stations were installed at the Ritchie County and Pleasants County Health Department offices. The ALIAS of the Ritchie County Health Department office NODE is RITCHD and that of the PBBS is HRVLHD. The ALIAS of the Pleasants County office NODE is the PBBS is STMYHD. The next project is to get at least one Health Department employee licensed up, at each office, so they can operate the radios. There are at least six employees at the Parkersburg office that are studying to take their test now. One of those studying for his test is Jim Rose. Jim is the Threat Preparedness Coordinator for the MidOhio Valley Region. Jim said he heard that every County Health Department office in West Virginia is supposed to have Amateur Radio equipment installed to provide back-up communications. He doesn't think they will have Packet Radio, just a Two Meter Voice station.
While I was posting the DAREN News this past week, I found the Fayette County NODE/PBBS of FAYEWV/FAYMSG off the air. I haven't talked to Jim Stephenson, KE8YB, lately, so I don't know if he knows what may have happened to his station. This is the time of the year we may start losing hilltop/mountaintop stations due to lightening. It's possible that may have been what happened to the Fayette County NODE, since there was some storms that went through the state last weekend. By losing of the Fayette County NO reason the participation was down on this past weekend's State Wide DAREN Net.
I talked to Ray Gorrell, WV8RG, the other day. Ray said something about a lot of Amateur Radio Equipment which has been purchased, and in is the hands of the Tyler County Office of Emergency Services. From what I understand, the radio equipment is supposed to be installed at the Office of Emergency Services and all of the Fire Departments. Ray also said that he has assembled and programmed a new DAREN station for Tyler County, which has been off the air for several months. He has given the station to someone to get it installed. I need to find out more information about both projects.
Don't forget about the Athens County, Ohio, Hamfest this coming Sunday the 29th. The Hamfest will be held in Athens, Ohio, about 35 miles West of Parkersburg. Also the Jackson County, WV, Hamfest will be held on Sunday, May 6th in Ripley, WV.
That's all I have for this week.
There were only 60 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. The nice weather may have keep some of the operators outside, and away from the net this week. Judy Peterson, N8UFQ, needs only one more check-in to make 750.