Februay 03, 2008 (.812)
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, 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 DAREN News can also be found on the wc8ec.com website.
Well, it looks like the Groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, so I guess we will have six more weeks of winter. If he hadn't seen his shadow, we would still have six more weeks of winter. So either way we still have six more weeks of winter. In any case while the weather is still wet and cold, it would be a good time to start thinking about Field Day. Field Day is a little less than five months away, but that time will sneak up on us. Do you remember what went wrong at last year's Field Day? What did you need that you didn't have? What broke, have you got it fixed? Are you going operate at the same location? If not, have you looked over the new location to see what you may need to do? These are just a few questions that you can ask yourself so you'll be ready for Field Day this year. Field Day is always the fourth weekend in June, which makes it June 28th and 29th.
After I posted the DAREN News last week, I got a phone call from Bob Tuckerman, W3RUA, to let me know that his call wasn't posted on the net check-ins for January 26. I checked my back-up log, and his call was right there. Now that I have the problem with my main NCS computer fixed, I shouldn't be missing any more check-ins. When the main NCS computer goes down, I have to check the back-up log by hand, and it's easy to miss a call if I'm not careful. I kept checking my main logging computer this weekend to make sure it was working, and it looked like everything was doing fine.
I talked to Randy Thomas, K8KHW, a couple of times over the weekend and he gave me some information. He said that he saw Dick Wilt, K8TPH's Winlink 2000 (WL2K) Telpac NODE K8TPH-10 on the air for a short time last week, but it's no longer there again. Randy said that he had to change the TNC on his Winlink 2000 Telpac NODE K8KHW-10 station. I had talked to him this past week about it acting funny. Then yesterday I started to send some information to the Internet, and all I got was a "Link Made". Randy said the TNC, which is a Kantronics KAM, would no longer talk to the computer. He had to change it out, and says it's okay now. I want to thank Randy for keeping his WL2K in operation. I use it a lot, and I know there are several others who also use it. If anyone wants to help Randy keep his stations operational, you can leave him a message at the NPRTOH PBBS. I know that it costs a lot to keep replacing radios, TNCs, and computers. The NPRTOH PBBS can be accessed through the Ritchie County NODE of RITCWV.
There were 66 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Gladys Gorrell, KC8GIZ, who's been participating in the net since March 15, 1997, has completed 550 check-ins. Francis Fox, K8ATB, who has been participating in the net since January 27, 2007, has completed 50 check-ins. Both of these operators will be receiving their certificate. Pam Riffle, KC8NLD, needs only one more check-in to make 350. And, the Barbour County Area Radio Club, WV8BC, needs only one more check-in to make 100.