DAREN of WV News January 1, 2017 (.C78)
WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, 319 COMMUNICATIONS DR, WAVERLY, WV 26184
www.wc8ec.com or 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 www.wc8ec.com and www.wc8ec.org websites.
I want to wish everyone a Safe and Happy New Year. With the New Year here, lets try to get more Amateurs involved with Packet Radio, and Amateur Radio in general. I know the Internet, and Cell Phones are a couple of things that has caused Amateurs to lose interest in the hobby, but think what is going to happen when those two things are not available. I know that Amateur Radio technology may be old, and some think it's out of date, but it can work when all other forms of communications fail. But, the only way we can make it sure that our communications work, when needed, is to check out our radio equipment, practice setting up different kinds of networks, checking into nets, and practice passing messages. I know that normal Packet Radio equipment can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be.
Last week I talked about my Nephew Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, and I working with Soundcard Packet Radio. Since then we have learned a lot more about Soundcard programs. It only takes a little bit of time to set up the Transceiver/- Computer system. After I set up one of my TYT U/V8000E Hand Held radios on Packet, I switched the radio cables over to one of my Wouxun KG U/VD1P Hand Held radios and made it work. There was no change in hardware, I just unpluged from one radio, and plugged it into the other. By the way, you can buy the TYT UV/8000E Hand Held radio for around $75. I didn't have Baofeng Hand Held available, but it should also work since the Speaker/Mic for the TYT and the Wouxun will also work in the Baofeng. Some one told me you can buy the Baofeng Hand Held radio for around $35. I can remember when it cost $250 to $300 to get set up on Packet Radio. Think about passing the word about getting more Amateurs on Packet Radio. Winter is here and we can't do much outside. It would be easy to set at the table and put together a Packet station. To keep from repeating what I said last week about Soundcard Packet, read that DAREN News.
There were only 27 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Lisa Hendershot, KB8UER, needs only one more check-in to make 1250. The net may have been down this week because of the holiday, and a lot of people being out of town. Remember to Digipeat through the Ritchie County NODE of "RITCWV" until I can get it fixed.
That's it for this week. Keep working on your Packet stations and checking into the State Wide DAREN Net. Thanks for supporting the DAREN of WV network.