DAREN of WV News December 7, 2014 (.B70)
                   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 went to an LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) Meeting this week and listened to a talk from the US Coast Guard.  They talked about grants that are available.  The grants they gave examples of, weren't only for projects that involved water.  Since the DAREN system has a lot of equipment that is old and some of it is dying, I thought it would be a good idea to try and get a grant that would either replace old stations, or install new stations in some of the counties where they are needed.  When I asked them if the grants were only for Public Safety and Industry, they said that non-profit organizations could also apply.  Since Wood County Emergency Communications (WCEC) is an IRS Tax Exempt 501c3 non-profit organization, I thought it would be good idea to apply for a grant to purchase 20, 25, 30, or even more DAREN stations to add to the system. The grant cycle may start in March, if everything goes right.  There is some paper work that needs to be completed before the grant is applied for.  So, before we can apply for a grant, we need to know if there is enough interest in the state to install new stations, or replace the ones that are dying.  If you, or your group, has any interest in upgrading the DAREN system, I would like to know about it.  The DAREN stations need to have a hilltop or mountaintop location where it can be installed.  The best locations would be at county or state tower sites where access can be made if something goes wrong with the station, but any other good location would be fine.  If we apply for a grant, it will be for all of the equipment that would be needed to install a station. Equipment that will be needed is a Transceiver, TNC, Power Supply, Antenna, and Coax.  How the antenna would be attached to the tower would be up to the local groups who get the equipment.  Let me know if you, or your group, would be interested, and who the contact person will be.  WCEC will take care of all the paper work, get the equipment, and have it programmed, ready to be installed.

There were only 35 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net again this week. Ashley Shiflett, KD8QOQ, who has been participating in the net since August 13, 2011, has completed 150 check-ins and will be receiving her certificate. Kendale Peterson, KD8QAK, needs only one more check-in to make 200.

That's all I have for this week, but pass the word about trying to enough other Amateurs to install a main county Node in their area.  If there is enough interest, we will apply for a grant to cover all of the equipment that will be needed.