DAREN of WV News February 16, 2020(E41)
(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 Statewide 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.
It's been another slow week. I haven't heard from anyone, and I can't think of much to write about. I know it's a few months away, but I've been thinking about Field Day. Sammy Mercer, N8SVX, and I have been putting together some laptop computers that will be used for logging the contacts and operating some of the digital modes. We've operated PSK31 for the past few years, but we've been thinking about some of the other digital modes. We usually have a Packet station set up on VHF to transmit a Field Day message to the ARRL SM (Section Manager), and SEC (Section Emergency Coordinator), but we're thinking about trying HF Packet this year too. Some of our operators would like to try CW using computers, so we may even try that. Even though it's not like operating real CW, it would be a way to get more people familiar with that mode. They may even want to learn it the real way, and then we'll have some more CW operators. The WCEC (Wood County Emergency Communications) group doesn't go for all the points. We like to use Field Day for training and learn how to set up antennas and emergency stations. Last year we tried to use Wind Turbines, but we didn't have much luck. The turbine wasn't up high enough and didn't get much wind. Our biggest success is the use of solar power. With all of the solar panels set up, we were able to get as high as 20 Amps of current during the sunlight hours. With a big enough bank of batteries, we were able to operate the PSK31 and the CW stations the whole time. WCEC has already been asked to provide the safety communications for the Challenge at Mountwood Mountain Bike Race on April 5th. We have other dates on the calendar for road races but haven't been ask to help yet. The closer the dates come, I'm sure we will be asked to help. Well, that's about it for now. If you or your group has any plans for Field Day, or any activities, you might pass them on.
There were only 30 check-ins to the Statewide DAREN Net this week.