DAREN of WV News January 3, 2021(E87)
(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.
I hope everyone had a Happy and safe New Year.
Over the past week I received several E-Mails. Dave Bradley N8DWB, said he is hoping to get back into Packet Radio, and was wondering if the Jackson County NODE/PBBS of JACKWV/RPLYWV was still in operation. I informed him it was down, but I have plans to get it back up as soon as possible. Dave said that he has started playing with Automatic Packet Report System (APRS) using Bluetooth connected between an H/T and a tablet. Hank Kenealy, K1DOS, wants to let everyone know that his DAREN packet NODE/PBBS of HAMPWV/RMNYWV is back in operation. The station is on a 30-foot tower on Mill Creek Mountain. Hank is also working with an Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) HSMM (High Speed MultiMedia) system. On the same tower as his DAREN NODE/PBBS he has installed a 2.4 GHz and a 5.8 GHz node. They are tied into a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system. Hank is also connecting his HSMM system into the DAREN system, which can be tunneled to other HSMM systems. Maybe within a few weeks we will be able to connect the Eastern part of the state to the Western part of the state, like it used to be. Gene Roy, N8ER, wanted to let me know that he has programed another Kantronics TNC for the Randolph County NODE/PBBS of RANDWV/ELKNWV. He is planning that on Monday, to take it to MO Kettle, AD8T, in Elkins so he can get it to Zane Hammack, WV8ZH, Zane, who will take it to the mountain. With any luck Randolph County NODE/PBBS will be back in operation soon. In the meantime Gene says there are paths between PENDWV, TUCKWV, WEBSWV, and RITCWV, but maybe not in that order. You may need to work your way around. Gene said there is a path between PENDWV and the Hampshire County NODE/PBBS of HAMPWV/RMNYWV that Hank, K1DOS, just got placed back in service. I want to thank everyone for the help of trying to keep the DAREN system in operation.
Several Amateurs in Wood County are doing a lot of testing and work trying to get coverage of the Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) 2.4 GHz HSMM (High Speed MultiMedia) throughout the whole county. Working with Microwave signals in West Virginia is a challenge.
There were only 29 check-ins to the Statewide DAREN Net this week. Even with the loss of the Randolph County NODE of RANDWV, a few DAREN operators found a path to the net this week. Randy Thomas, K8KHW, who has been participating in the net since February 13, 1999, has completed 800 check-ins, and will be receiving his certificate as soon as I can get back into printing certificates for those who have been waiting for them. Mark Sweitzer, KD8MIV, needs only one more check-in to make 400.