July 22, 2007 (.784)
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'.
Last week I talked about the DAREN PBBSs ad if they should be used to post time/dated messages such as the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) RADIOGRAMs and MARS (Military Affiliated Radio System) MARSGRAMs. I posted a message on most of the DAREN mailboxes asking for DAREN operators to let me know if they monitor the DAREN PBBS in their area, and are willing to pick up and deliver any such messages if they are posted there. I've receive a few messages and telephone calls from DAREN operators stating they monitor, and will handle any messages that are posted on, addressed to someone in their area, and that are a local telephone call, if there's a telephone number. Here is a list of DAREN operators, and the DAREN PBBS they check, on a regular basis: Bud McDowell, W8OO, KEYSWV; Bob Ott, WB8OIF, MRTNWV and MRTNES; Gene Roy, N8ER, PRSNWV; Bob Tuckerman, W3RUA, FKLNWV; John Western, KC8ODI, will handle most of the traffic going into Grant and Hardy Counties, but I'm not sure where that traffic will be posted. John's Winlink E-Mail address is KC8ODI@winlink.org. And of course, I check the PKBGWV mailbox on a regular basis. will add additional operators and their PBBS as I hear from them. If you're not on the list, but are willing to help, let me know.
I got an interesting message from Ted Jacobson, W8KVK, about the Ohio ARRL Section Traffic Manager (STM) working on an OHIO digital service inventory. Ted suggested to im that he include the WV DAREN system for liaison and mutual aid, and re-establishing a DAREN connection with Ohio. John Tipka, W8UL, the Ohio STM liked the idea, and said that he would contact Ray Gorrell, WV8RG, who is the West Virginia STM, about interfacing the WV DAREN system with Ohio. Here is another reason that we want to make sure the WV DAREN PBBSs are checked on a regular basis, and that messages left on them will be handled in the proper manner and as quick as possible.
At an LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) meeting, I meet the Roane County OES (Office of Emergency Services) Director. We discussed the DAREN system and got permission to install a DAREN NODE/PBBS on their county tower. I'll get a station assembled and make another trip to get it installed. Maybe in a few weeks you hear the NODE/PBBS of ROANWV/SPNCWV on the air.
There were 67 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Rich Wolfe, KA8UEU, who's been participating in the net since October 2, 1993, has completed 500 check-ins. And Ray Bodie, N8TWV, who's been participating in the net since October 28, 1995, has completed 350 check-ins. Both of these operators will be receiving their certificates. Dave Wright, N8NWV, who used to have the callsign of KC8ZZX, needs only one more check-in to make 100 check- ins. Daniel Ritchie, KC8ZLK, needs only one more check-in to make 50.