DAREN of WV News July 27, 2014 (.B51)
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 received a message from Gene Roy, N8ER, who said that he was going to change the alias of the Tucker County DAREN NODE/PBBS from TUCKER/PRSNER to TUCKES/PRSNES.
With the storms that we had last night and today, I'm not for sure how many DAREN Nodes may be off the air. When I post the Net Announcements and DAREN News around the state this week, I'll find out how many are still in operation.
Do you know of anyone who has a Mobile, a Base, or a Hand Held radio that has VOX (Voice Operated Transmit) built into it? If so they can get onto Packet Radio with nothing more then a computer, their VOX operated radio, and the audio cables that go between the radio and the computer. There is no need to buy a TNC. Since the VOX is looking for some kind of noise, voice, or tone, to cause it to transmit, soundcard Packet would be the way to go. There are soundcard programs on the Internet that are free. All you need to do is download the program into the computer, run the program, plug the audio cords between the two devices, and you should be ready to go on Packet. It all sounds easy, and it is, once you have mastered the soundcard program. Of course by using soundcard programs you don't get to use the Packet station as a NODE or PBBS (Mailbox), but there are plenty of dedicated DAREN Nodes that has a PBBS, so that's not something that every one has to have. If they can just get a terminal station in operation, they are ready to go. Pass the word, maybe we can get more Amateurs on Packet Radio, and the DAREN system.
Don't forget the WV ARRL State Convention coming up on August 23rd. I'm planning on being there this year. For the past few years the convention was held on the same weekend at the Parkersburg Homecoming, and our Communications group provides the safety communication for the Parkersburg Half Marathon, and operates the BINGO games as a Fund Raiser, at the Homecoming, so I couldn't make it before.
There were 45 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net again this week. Frank Hughes, WD8DEP, who's been participating in the net since November 20, 2004, has completed 450 check-ins. Jerry Sturm, KC8SIG, who's been participating in the net since May 9, 2009, has completed 250 check-ins. Kimberly Shiflett, KD8OHG, who's been participating in the net since May 7, 2011, has completed 150 check-ins. And, Terry Mills, KC8TUE, who's been participating in the net since October 19, 2002, has completed 550 check-ins. All of these operators will be receiving their certificates. Jeffrey Hensley, WD4VA, needs only one more check-in to make 150.