DAREN of WV News July 9, 2017(.D05)
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.
Not much going on right now. My Nephew Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, is going to be coming to my house on Tuesday. We are going to start getting computers ready for the PSK31 stations for next year's Field Day. That is one of items on the "To Do" list. One of the other items on the "To Do" list was to modify all of my 50 foot number 10 gauge extension cords with quad boxes on one end. That is one item I have completed. I now have eleven 50 foot cords and one 100 foot cord with quad boxes. It makes it a lot easier to provide power to all of the Field Day stations. Another item I need to work on is the Wireless Network of all of the logging computers next year. We have tried it before, but I didn't know enough about networking, so learning that is on my "To Do" list.
Before I do too many things on my "To Do" list, I need to get all of the Racing Clocks checked out and repair any problems. The Parkersburg Half Marathon will be held on August 19th. The Amateur Radio operators in the area will be helping with the race by providing the safety communications and operating the racing clocks at each of the Mile Markers. The clocks are used so the runners can see their time as they go by. I won't be able to make it to the WV ARRL State Convention again this year since it is also held on August 19th.
There were only 31 check-ins to the net this week. Joe Peterson, N8DSN, who has been participating in the net since March 26, 1994, has completed 1150 check-ins. My wife Dot, KC8HAI, who has been participating in the net since May 3, 1997, has completed 1050 check-ins. My son Kevin, KC8OXY, who has been participating in the net since July 1, 2000, has completed 950 check-ins. And, Gregory Day, N8GD, who has been playing with Packet Radio since it first started in the 1980's, but has only been participating in the State Wide DAREN Net since November 14, 2015, has completed 50 check-ins. All of these operators will be receiving their certificates. I received some E-Mails from Greg Day, telling me about the days he used to operate regular Buy, Sale, and Trade BBS' on Packet Radio before the Internet got so popular. He's trying to get the Amateurs in his area more involved and active with Packet Radio and emergency communications.