October 21, 2007 (.797)
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's DAREN News had a lot to be desired. I don't know
how many mistakes I kept finding as I was uploading it on different
PBBSs. I would correct the problems that I found, and as I was
uploading it again, I would find another mistake; it's a good thing I
don't make a living writing this news.
On Wednesday this week I found time that I could go to Roane and Jackson
Counties and do some antenna work. Terry Mills, KC8TUE, and I
started in Roane County by installing a new antenna and Packet
NODE/PBBS. The ALIASs for the NODE and PBBS are ROANWV and SPNCWV
(Spencer). The station has direct connect paths to several NODEs
such as: JACKWV, KANAWV, NICHWV, RALEWV, RITCWV, WIRTWV, and WOODWV.
After we got the Roane County station installed we went to the Jackson
County NODE/PBBS of JACKWV/RPLYWV to replace the antenna. When the
Jackson County station was first installed several years ago I was able
to connect to it direct from my house. But, as time went by the
station started going downhill. Now, for the past few weeks I
could hardly connect to it from WOODWV. I would have to connect to
it from the Ritchie County NODE of RITCWV. I could see some problems
with the antenna without taking it down. The antenna was a RINGO
Ranger 2B, but the dog leg half way up the antenna was bent out of shape
from being hit by other antennas as they were being installed.
There was only one out three radials left on it. After it was on
the ground Terry found that one of the screws on the ring was missing.
It was the screw that connects the ring to the vertical element.
It was already planned to replace the antenna with a Diamond CP22E, and
transmission line, so that's what we did. Now that both items have been
replaced, I'm again able to connect to the station from my house.
I also have a direct connection the Roane County NODE/PBBS from my
house. With these two stations in great working order, that should
allow the Southern part of the state good access again to the rest of
the DAREN system. The installation of the Roane County station
allows the Mid Ohio Health Department Packet station, in Spencer, a
better path to the rest of the DAREN system. I was hoping that
with the new Roane County NODE in operation that we would be able to
connect to the Mid Ohio Health Department Packet station, in
Grantsville, Calhoun County, but that didn't happen.
I received an E-Mail from Shane Harper, KD8BMX, about the Packet Class
which will be taught in Elkins on Sunday, October 28th. Shane says
the class will be held in the board room at the Davis Memorial Hospital.
It's the same location that Volunteer Amateur Radio Exams are held.
The class will start at 9:00 am.
I received a Charleston Hamfest announcement in the mail on Thursday.
The Hamfest will be held March 15, 2008, at Coonskin Armory in
Charleston. Any questions call Jim Damron, N8TMW, at (304)
965-5349 or E-Mail n8tmw@arrl.net.
There were 59 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Brad
Carabine, KC8TYU, who's been participating in the net since October 19,
2002, has completed 200 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate.
Delmas Hartley, AB8EA, needs only one more check-in to make 300.
One station checked into the net Saturday night at about 10:34 pm, with
the Callsign of "NOCALL". If you don't see your Callsign on this
week's Net Anent, and think it may be yours, let me know so that I can
update your check records.