DAREN of WV News February 26, 2012(.A25)
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 heard on the West Virginia FONE Net the other night about another Winlink 2000 Internet system that is on the DAREN system. Jerry Sturm, KC8SIG, said that he now has a Winlink 2000 interface in operation at his house. He said that you can access the system through the Tucker County DAREN NODE of TUCKWV. The call sign on Jerry's system is: KC8SIG-10. I connected into the system and sent myself an E-Mail. It came right through. The Winlink 2000 systems are just for sending and receiving E-Mail. It CAN NOT be used for uploading and downloading pictures and such. It is a very handy tool to have if you have lost, or have no Internet. The Winlink 2000 systems are great for emergencies. There are now two Winlink 2000 systems in operation on the DAREN system. The other Winlink 2000 system is operated by Randy Thomas, K8KHW. The call sign on Randy's system is K8KHW-10, and it can be accessed through the Ritchie County NODE of RITCWV. To send an E-Mail is easy. Once you get connected to the Winlink 2000 system, you send the command: SP SMTP:email address, press <enter>. An example would be: SP SMTP:wa8llm@yahoo.com <enter> You then type in the subject of the E-Mail, then press <enter>, then type or send your message. When you are finished with your message, press <enter> and then type a /EX. You should get a message back saying that you message has been sent. Everyone should play with the Winlink 2000 systems so they can be familiar with them, and will be able to use them in an emergency.
I finally got the Wood County APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) station installed at one of the towers here at the house. I don't know if it is working since I haven't played with the APRS Network in a long time. I will try to see if it is working in a few days.
I got a flier from the Jackson County Amateur Radio Club about their upcoming Hamfest. Their Hamfest will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2012. It will be located at the Ripley Middle School. For additional information you can contact Roy Moore, KB8ZSG, (304) 927-4412, or at afa2ax@yahoo.com
There were 53 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Judy Peterson, N8UFQ, needs only one more check-in to make 1000. I went to town this past week, but I didn't get the ink for the printer like I had planned. I need to get the ink so that I can print out the certificates for those who have been waiting for them.