D.A.R.E.N. News 2013

DAREN of WV News April 7, 2013(.A83)
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 don't know if the band was just bad, or something happened to the beam or station that Gene Roy, N8ER, has been working on.  The path was good right after he installed it, but last week the path between the Tucker County NODE of TUCKER and the Pendleton County NODE of PENDWV seemed to have went down hill. I had a hard time getting the DAREN News and Net Announcement posted in the Central and Eastern part of the state this week.  I do want to thank Gene for trying to keep a path in available until someone can get the Mineral County NODE/PBBS of MINEWV/KEYSWV back in operation.  With the warm weather coming, maybe someone will be able to see if they can get it back on the air.

After being outside the last couple of days, in the warm air, I started to thinking about Field Day.  Field Day is only a couple of months away, but it will be here sooner then you think.  Is there anything that you thought of over the winter that you would like to try this year at Field Day?  I have a couple things that I will be working on this year.  With all of the digital modes of communications, a few members of our group have been putting together computer- to-radio soundcard interface units so that we can do more digital.  The interface cards can also be used on Packet Radio, which may get some more operators into using the DAREN system.  Getting more operators interested in Packet may also help us to get some of the NODEs back on the air that have disappeared in the last few years.  If we don't get some more NODEs in operation, or back in operation, the DAREN system may just fade away all together.

Next Saturday I'll be holding a General Class Amateur Radio class for those who have been wanting to upgrade, but just haven't taken the time to study.  It will be a one day class with VE testing afterwards.  Then on Sunday there will be a bike race called Challenge at Mountwood which will be held at Mountwood Park, in Wood County.  Amateur Radio operators will be providing the safety communications for the event.  So next weekend will be busy for me.

As you can see, I'm trying to find something to write about to keep the DAREN News going too.  If you have any activities that you, or your group, is involved with let me know, maybe someone else might want to get involved.

There were 44 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week.  Charlie Dotson, WB8NSL, who's been participating in the net since January 15, 1994, has completed 200 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate.  Well, I looks like I didn't get the certificates printed for those who have been waiting for them, like I had hoped.  I guess I'll try again this week.  I'm sure I'll get them printed up and mailed out shortly.