May 20, 2007 (.775)
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 145.9 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, or to my E-Mail: wa8llm@yahoo.com. A State Wide DAREN NET is operated every Saturday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and lately, before and after those hours. The DAREN Net Announcement, 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'.
The News is a little late getting out this week due to making a trip to the Dayton Hamfest. The Hamfest was good and the weather was great. I picked up a few things that I couldn't come home without. I just went up to replenish my supply of parts, but as usual I found some radios and TNCs to use for Packet. I did get to see several Amateurs from West Virginia, some of which are also DAREN operators. Some of them had already checked into the State Wide DAREN Net before they left for Dayton, and some of them checked in after they got back. If you have any information that you would like to pass on, let me know and I'll put it in the News.
Field Day is only a month away and I need to find out if we can use NODES and Digipeaters to make Field Day contacts. If we can, I'm thinking about using the Chat Room of "DAREN" so that some of your contacts can be by Packet. Also, don't forget to generate and pass messages to our Section Manager, and Section Emergency Coordinator about your Field Day activity. It's good for an extra 110 points, 100 points for the first message, and 10 points for every additional message after that. If you're unable to pass the messages on a voice net, don't forget thatng the Winlink 2000 Telpac NODEs, the messages can be put on the internet using Amateur Radio through the K8KHW-10 and K8TPH-10 stations.
The DAREN News is now being posted on the Wood County Emergency Communications website site of www.wc8ec.com. Bill Davidson, N8JXO, is keeping our website updated with new information as he gets it. The website was idle for awhile, but it's starting to get a little activity on it now. As soon as I get the District 3 ARES Bulletins uploaded to Bill, he will post them on the website. Even though the District 3 ARES Bulletins are created in District 3, they can be used by any District in the state, and anywhere else that may want to use them. Feel free to check out the website and use any of the information that you may find helpful.
There were 60 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net again this week. It's hard to believe that I've been participating in the State Wide DAREN Net for over 14 years. I finished my 750th time on the net this past weekend. I want to thank everyone who's been participating in the Net since it started October 31, 1992, and hope we can continue for another 14 years. I'm hoping that in the near future we can install some additional DAREN stations in West Virginia. Terry Mills, KC8TUE, and his wife Denise, KC8TUF, are trying to acquire a grant that may provide enough money to install several new DAREN NODEs in the state. I'd like to get a DAREN NODE/DIGI/PBBS installed in every county. If you live in a county that doesn't have a dedicated DAREN NODE/DIGI/PBBS, and you can help locate a place to install one, I would like to hear from you. If you know of a location that we might be able to install a station, get me some information as to who owns the tower site, and I'll help you get permission. If we do get a grant to install new stations, they will be put in on a first come, first serve basis. Rich Wolfe, KA8UEU, needs only one more check-in to make 500.