August 10, 2008 (.839)
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 got a message from Shane Harper, KD8BMX, about the Auto Rally in Randolph County. He said the rally went good, with some of the same problems as last year with the repeaters going down. He said that he would write up something about the rally when he gets both hands where he can type again. He had a little mishap on Sunday. He said that he wrecked his Motorcycle, dislocated his shoulder, chipped the shoulder bone, and broke an ankle in two places. I hate to hear that he had the accident. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for Shane.
I've been thinking about participating in the Emergency Communications Station Set-Up Competition that will be held at the West Virginia ARRL State convention. The convention will be held August 23rd and 24th at Jackson's Mill. The competition will be held on Saturday at 8:00 am. This will be a good time to look at the setups and get ideas for your own emergency response equipment. I hope to get some ideas for myself.
The DAREN News will be late getting out next week. Our communications group will be operating the BINGO Games at the Parkersburg Homecoming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 15th, 16th, and 17th. We will also be providing the communications for the Parkersburg Half Marathon, and the Homecoming parade on Saturday. The homecoming runs from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, from 12:00 Noon to 11:00 pm Saturday, and from 12:00 Noon to 11:00 pm on Sunday. The Half Marathon starts at 8:00 am, and the Parade starts at 11:00 am on Saturday. I'll have a little time, if I'm awake, to work on the News Sunday morning before I have to be back at the homecoming.
There were 63 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Tom Jones, N8NMA, who's been participating in the net since June 19, 1996, has completed 100 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate. Jim Perry, KB8LSR, needs only one check-in to make 100. I have all of the certificates printed up for those operators who have been waiting for them. If I make a trip to town tomorrow, I'll put them in the mail. If I don't get them mailed out on Monday, I know they will be in the mail on Tuesday since I have to go to town. If you have been waiting for a certificate and don't have it by the time the next DAREN News comes out, let me know. I want to make sure that everyone gets the certificate they deserve.
That's all I have for this week. Send me some information so that I don't have to think of something to write about. Any information you send is welcomed, and will go out to anyone who reads the DAREN News on their local PBBS, or connects to the WCEC Website: www.wc8ec.com. The DAREN News is posted there along with a weekly ARES Bulletin.