Wood County
Emergency Communications

Serving Wood County West Virginia and surrounding areas

DAREN News

November 04, 2007                  (.799)

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'.

It's a week later this year then it has been for the past several years, but, it's back to standard time again, and winter is on its way.  If you're like me, I wait until my electronic clocks set themselves until I'm sure what time it is.  If you don't have a self setting clock, then you need to set yours back one hour.  And while you're at it, it's time to reset the time in your Packet Radio TNCs (Terminal NODE Controller/s).  When you change the time in your Packet stations, it's also a good time to give them a "RESET", which may help them operate better.  Not only is it a good time to reset the TNC, it's also a good time to do other things as well.  When was the last time you changed the battery in your Smoke and/or CO² Detectors?  Now would be a good time to change them if you can't remember.  Here's how to change the time in your TNCs, if you've forgot that too.  If you're at the TNC, with a computer plugged in, just type the command "DA", , followed by the two number year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.  Example: the command for the date of November 4, 2007, at 2:00 am would be; DA 071104020000, and then press .  If you're connecting to a remote station over the air, you must give your pass code.  After you get the (prompt:) command, then do the "DA" command. After you finish setting the time, do a "RESET" command.  Doing the "RESET" command may clear out some minor problems that have been building up for the last six months or so.  I notice there are several Hilltop/Mountaintop DAREN NODEs that still have the "MYN" and "MYA" the same.  While you're into your remote station, and if you haven't done so already, now would be the time to change the "MYA" to "DAREN".  The "MYN" is the first four letters of the county name, followed by the state abbreviation, and the "MYA" should be "DAREN".

While we were at the convention at Camp Dawson October 20, 21, 22, we heard stories about the different communication groups that went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina went through.  There were several groups that showed up to provide the communications, but a lot of them had problems.  Even though each group was able to use their own equipment, there were times they couldn't work together with other groups.  There were mismatches with power connectors, antennas, transmission lines, and operating procedures. While at the convention, Jim Rose, who is the Threat Preparedness Coordinator for the Mid Ohio Valley Health Department, made contact several organizations about having an exercise that would allow different groups see if they could work together before they are really needed.  On December 8th, there will be an exercise here in Wood County inviting any and all agencies and groups to bring their communications equipment and vehicles.  This will allow all groups to work together to identify and solve problems with their communications an operating with other groups.  It is more of a "What If" scenario.  So far several different agencies have said they will come.  More information will follow.
 
There were 56 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net.  Peggy Hartley, KB8SEJ, who's been participating in the net since January 14, 1995, has completed 300 check-ins and will be receiving her certificate.  Joe Peterson, N8DSN, needs only one more check-in to make 650.