August 3, 2008 (.838)
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.
I hope Shane Harper, KD8BMX, got enough Amateur Radio operators to help him with the communications for the Auto Rally in Randolph County this weekend. One of these days maybe I'll be able to go up and help. I would like to see how the auto rally works, but our fire department was holding their ice cream social and I had a couple of 24 by 40 foot canopies they needed put up. Maybe we can get Shane to give us a rundown on how the auto rally is held and that might get him the help he needs next year.
For the past few weeks I've been unable to connect to, and post the DAREN News and Net Announcement on, the Bluefield PBBS of BLFDWV. I have a feeling that it's off the air, and maybe because of the storms that we had a few weeks ago. If anyone knows who the System Operator is for the station, they might get in contact with them and let them know the station may be down.
I got a message from Tim Davis, KC8TYK, last Saturday telling me the Barbour County NODE/PBBS of BARBWV/PHILWV took a lightening hit and is off the air. He hopes to have it fixed soon. I noticed it was down last week when I tried to post the DAREN News and Net Announcement. I just found out the Packet station is located near Frank Hughes, WD8DEP's house. When Tim went over to talk to Frank, he was told of the severe lightening, so they decided to go look at the tower, when they found that several things had been damaged.
There were only 55 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Ray Bodie, N8TWV, who's been participating in the net since October 28, 1995, has completed 400 check-ins. And, Charles King, KB8YIT, who's been participating in the net since February 19, 2000, has completed 350 check-ins. Both of these operators will be receiving their certificates. Tom Jones, N8NMA, needs only one more check-in to make 100. I'm a little behind and hope to get started printing up the certificates today. I can hand deliver a few of them at the Wood County Emergency Communications picnic/business meeting on Tuesday. If you're in the area Tuesday evening, feel free to come to the picnic/meeting and get something to eat. Just give us a call on the radio (147.255+ 131.8 tone), and we'll give you directions.