DAREN of WV News May 4, 2014 (.B39)
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 made it to the Jackson County Hamfest today, and picked up some things that I couldn't pass up. There were eight MFJ TNCs. I don't know what kind of shape they are in, but I will find out when I start testing them.
After I left the Hamfest, I stopped by the Jackson County Emergency Services/- E-911 Center. I met with Dave Bradley, N8DWB, who had some equipment they wanted to get rid of. A few years ago they took their old Microwave system out of service and went back to telephone lines. The Microwave equipment operated in the frequency range of 950 and 960 MHz. After looking over the books that came with the equipment, we decided the equipment may be able to be put in the 900 to 928 MHz Amateur Band. There are six sets of four can duplexers that came with the systems. If nothing else it will be fun to play with.
On May 17th the Amateurs in the Wood County area will be helping with the 10K Chic-Fil-A Road Run in Parkersburg. The race officials want radio operators at each of the Mile Markers, Water Stops, and the Start and Finish Lines.
On May 18th another DAREN NODE/PBBS may be back on the air. The Tyler County Amateur Radio Organization has asked me to help them install a new antenna for their voice repeater, and help them get their DAREN station back in operation. Their club is having a picnic in celebration of their 20 years as a club. We thought it would be a good thing to both of the stations on the air before the picnic.
There were 52 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, who has been participating in the net since October 14, 1995, has completed 200 check-ins, and will be receiving his certificate. There were two new participates in the net this week, and they were Brittany Cutlip, K8BNC, and Christian Abacan, KD8YDA, both from Belington, WV. I want to welcome both of these operators to the DAREN system, and hope they can participate as often as possible.