DAREN of WV News July 17, 2011(.992)
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.
Tom White, W3JTW, sent me some more information about Echolink. He says that all you need is access to the Internet, a Microphone and speakers attached to your computer, and a Valid Amateur Radio License. Tom said he registered with Echolink about 10 years ago, and made many contacts all over the world. He said that for a long time all he had was Dial-up Internet that he didn't have High Speed Internet, and he was still able to use Echolink. Tom said that if you have all of the facilities listed above, to Google "ECHOLINK". It will take you to their home website. There you can find all the information you need to participate in the program. Once you register with Echolink, you will require a Pass Word, which you name and use. Once registered you're ready to go. The main qualification is that you MUST be a bonafide registered Amateur Radio operator with a VALID Amateur Radio Licence. Tom said that he hasn't used Echolink for a couple years, but when he checked his Call, it was still there and ready to use when he was ready. He said to give Echolink a try, that you'll like it. I want to thank Tom for all the information about Echolink. I hope to try it sometime in the near future.
I also got an E-Mail from Mike Tyler, WA8YWO, about the Nicholas County NODE/PBBS of NICHWV/RWODWV. Mike said he got the station back on the air a few weeks ago, but got busy, and forgot to tell me. He said original Midland transceiver had a bad transit/receive relay in it. He has replaced it with a new radio. The new transceiver is a 45 watt Motorola Maxtrac. I told him I would try to post this weeks DAREN News and State Wide Net Announcement on it.
There were only 48 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN. Ron Wilson, K8RWW, who's been participating in the net since March 27, 2004, has completed 300 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate. William Hole, AC8FD, needs only one more check-in to make 50. With all of the other activities I have going on right now, I'm getting a little bit behind on the certificates. After the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition is over this week, I'll have a little bit of time to get to work on them.