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

DAREN of WV News June 16, 2013(.A93)
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.

Well, Field Day is about here, are you ready?  I'm going to be busy all this week getting my stuff ready.  It's funny how much equipment you need to put together to have fun for just one weekend.  Field Day let's me know how much equipment both radio and camping is needed in the case of a real emergency.  At least once a year everything you would need in a real disaster is brought together and tested out.  Field Day lets you practice setting up for disaster communications.  During a real disaster you may not have as much time as you do for Field Day.  During Field Day you get to practice setting up the equipment and trying new types of antennas.  During a real emergency you can use some of the little tricks that you have learned and practiced on Field Day.  If something unusual comes up, you can think back about Field Day and come up with some kind of solution.  This year our communications group, Wood County Emergency Communications, will be using a new trailer.  It's not a new trailer, but it's new to us.  We were able to purchase the trailer in January with the help of some donations.  It's a 1995, 22 foot Terry camping trailer.  Matt Wright, KD8GWP, has been remodeling the inside to make it useable as a communications trailer.  He removed some of the kitchen and living room facilities, and has installed shelves that will be used for radio operating facilities.  There is enough room to have four operating positions.  The communications equipment that will be installed will be coming from other communication vehicles that have become unusable, or just worn out.  Take advantage of this coming weekend, and learn as much as you can.

Since this coming weekend is Field Day, it is also the time when you can show others about Packet Radio and other modes of communications.  The State Wide DAREN Net will be in operation the whole weekend.  This will give you plenty of time to get checked into the net, and show how Packet Radio works.  We will have a Packet Radio set up as a terminal station, at our Field Day site, using the callsign of WC8EC.  We will try to keep an eye on the computer screen in case you want to show how Packet Radio works.  Access to the station can be made via the Ritchie County NODE of RITCWV or the Wood County NODE of WOODWV. Have a good time this coming weekend.

There were only 42 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week.  Melvin Shiflett, KD8OWG, who's been participating in the net since May 7, 2011, has completed 100 check-ins, and will be receiving his certificte.  Doug Cutlip, KC8AJH, needs only one more check-in to make 100.  Kimberly Shiflett, KD8OHG, needs only one more check-in to make 100.  And, Tom White, W3JTW, needs only one more check-in to make 650.