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

DAREN of WV News May 12, 2013(.A88)
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.

Terry Mills, KC8TUE, wanted me to remind everyone the Parkersburg/Wood County Hamfest will be held this year on Saturday, October 12th.  The location will be the same as last year.  It will be held at the Wood County 4-H Camp Grounds, in Mineral Wells, WV.  Speaking of Hamfests, the Mon County Amateur Radio Club/Morgantown Elite Radio Club, will be holding their 1st Annual Hamfest on Saturday, June 15th.  The Hamfest will be held at the St Mary's Church Picnic Pavilion in Star City (Morgantown).  For more information check out the website: www.moncarc.org   For registration call (304) 319-0412.

After I wrote about the making of Printed Circuit Boards last week I had a couple people ask where to get the drill bits to drill the boards, and how to drill them.  The first question I can't answer, since I managed to get my drill bits at the Dayton Hamfest a few years ago.  The way I drill my boards is with a Dermal Rotary Drill.  I made an adaptor to hold my Dermal onto a cheap drill press, like to one you can mount a regular hand drill on.  There are a couple of things you need to be careful of.  One is the drill stand may have some wobble in it.  If you aren't careful you will break you drill bit if you are using the Carbide bits.  I took the wobble out of mine by using a spring to hold it in one position.  The other thing to remember is, don't drill any farther through the printed circuit board then you have to, otherwise there's a good chance you will break your drill bit.  If you don't break your drill bits, they will last a long time drilling the fiberglass boards.  I'm sure I will have to start looking for more bits, even though I still have several of them, but it's best to have plenty on hand.

Our communications group is getting ready to provide the safety communications for another road race this coming Saturday.  If your club or group wants to get into the public's eye, it's a good way to do it.  So far this year we have provided safety communications for four road races, one each month, a Mountain Bike Race, and we are getting ready for the Parkersburg Half Marathon in August.  There are a lot of activities that Amateur Radio operators can participate in to keep the public informed about Amateur Radio.  If your club or group is going to be providing any kind of Amateur Radio communications, let me know so that I can put it in the DAREN News.

There were 50 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week.  Francis Fox, K8ATB, who's been participating in the net since January 27, 2007, has completed 200 check-ins.  Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, needs one more check-in to make 150.  There was one new check-in to the net this week, and that was Anthony Casella, N8ZAR, from Buckhannon.  I want to welcome Anthony to the DAREN system and hope he keeps participating in the State Wide DAREN Net, and uses the system.