DAREN of WV News December 24, 2017(.D29)
(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.
With the weather starting to get colder, it's time to be working on projects to be used on Field Day. It would be fun to operate just digital modes to see how many contacts can be made. Our group is planning to have two PSK-31 digital stations in operation this coming Field Day. Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, and I already have the computers ready to go, and we're working on the Soundcard Interface boards. We have a couple HF Transceivers that we're planning to use. One of the problems that we run into each year is getting the Digital station up and running. We usually spend more time getting the station put together than we get to operate it. We're planning on having two stations ready to go this year. There were a few operators that saw how PSK-31 worked and was very interested in operating it next year. A few years ago the Field Day Rules said that you couldn't use Packet NODEs or Digipeaters to make contacts so we never used Packet for Field Day. When the rules comes out next year, I want to look them over very close and see what they say. Since I've been repairing some old 2 Meter Beam Antennas, I'm thinking about setting up a Packet Station and using it as a bonus station. Since you are allowed to have one station that operates above 50 MHz and not add to the Field Day Classification, it might be nice to have one set up. Since most of the Kantronics TNCs will allow you to send out a BEACON every minute, that might be the way to operate Packet. I don't think it would be wise to operate on the 145.69 MHz frequency, so one of the other regular Packet frequencies would be better. I've been monitoring some of the other Packet frequencies, and there doesn't seem to be very many of them with any Packet activity. I think I'll work up some plans on how our group may operate Packet, and pass the word around. With any luck maybe we can get some more Amateurs interested in getting back on Packet Radio, and maybe the DAREN system. If you have any ideas that might be good, let me know. If you use a Beam Antenna, it will have to be turned from time-to-time to listen for other stations. This is just an idea that we may try.
Not much else this week, and it's going to be too cold to be going to any of the remote sites to get them in operation.
There were 39 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Mike Whitco, KC8OAN, who's been participating in the net since February 3, 2001, has completed 550 check-ins, and will be receiving his certificate. Lisa Hendershot, KB8UER, needs one more check-in to make 1200. I want to welcome Michael Canfield, WV0EMS, from Montrose, WV, back to the net. Michael has been missing from the net since February 1, 2014. Michael changed his call in 2014, it used to be KD8MYQ. I hope Michael will become active again.
I want to wish everyone a Safe and Very Merry Christmas, and I hope you get everything you wish for.