DAREN of WV News January 2, 2011(.964]
Kenneth Harris WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
P.O. BOX 3328, PARKERSBURG, WV 26103
http://www.wc8ec.org
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.org website.
I hope everyone had a Safe and Happy New Year. Now that the holidays are over, it's time to start planning for the New Year. I need to check out all of the DAREN NODE/PBBS stations that are listed on the DAREN Path Map and see which ones are still in operation. Some of them may have a different SYSOP callsign, or may not be in operation. I know there are some stations that I can no longer connect to. I don't know if it is just band conditions, or if they are off the air. If they are off the air I need to contact the system operator to see why it may be gone. Some of the system operators of some of the stations don't check into the State Wide DAREN Net, so they may not know their NODE/PBBS is not in operation. Also now is the time to start planning for Field Day and other radio activities. I need to contact Randy Thomas, K8KHW, and get information about his Winlink 2000 system. I've seen it identify from time to time, but I haven't had any luck working through them. I need to check out the Chat Room "DAREN", which is located at same location as the RITCWV/HRVLWV NODE/PBBS. I haven't used it for quite some time, if it's still working. You may have other activities that you need to work on. Well, I've rambled on long enough. If you have something you would like for other Packet Radio operators or Amateur Radio operators in general, to know about, let me know. Our group is starting to work on the Hamfest for this year. The date has already been set, the building has been reserved, and some of the door prizes have already been acquired. The Hamfest will be held on October 8, 2011, at the same location as last year. The Hamfest last year was held at the 4-H Camp Ground on Butcher Bend Road, Mineral Wells, Wood County. Keep checking the group's website: www.wc8ec.org Information about the Hamfest will be updated as more sponsors, door prizes, and main prizes become available.
There were 65 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Three of which were: HAPPY, NEW, and YEAR. There was one new check-in to the next this week and that was Brent Rice, KD8DLX, from Parkersburg. Brent was helping with a shift at the New Year Safety Free Coffee Safety Break, when he checked in. At the safety breaks we always had a Packet Station set up so that we could demonstrate Packet to any of the Amateurs who would happen to stop by. Brent was learning how to use the station when he checked in. Now he's going to download the soundcard version of Packet, and put it on his computer. In the next few weeks we may see him start checking into the net on a regular basis.