DAREN of WV News April 11, 2021(F01)
(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 just got back from helping with the communications for Challenge at Mountwood Mountain Bike Race. Even though it rained yesterday, the bike trails weren't too muddy. There were 14 Amateurs Radio operators stationed around the race course at locations the race officials figured might be dangerous, and may need communications. There were no major incidents, so it was a very good day. One of the Amateurs brought his own mountain bike and ended up helping by being a sweep vehicle on the course since the regular sweep bike had a break down. The rain held off until after the race was over and everyone left the park.
On Wednesday I was able to check out the tower site in Williamstown that we haven't had anything at for a few years. I had to install a new combination lock on the fence gate and rearrange the power to the radio cabinet. After I got all of that completed, I used an antenna analyzer and checked out all of the antennas to see how they looked. I didn't remember having four antennas, I thought there were only three. There are two 145/147 MHz antennas and a couple UHF 440 Beam antennas. All of the antennas tested 1.3:1 or better. Now that I have access to, and power back in the cabinet, I'm planning to re-install the DAREN packet station, and a Remote Receiver for the Wood County Emergency Communications 147.255 MHz voice repeater. While I was at the site, I did install an Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network (AREDN) HSMM (High Speed MultiMedia) 2.4 GHz node. The node has access to the rest of the AREDN system in the county, but could be a little better. In a couple weeks I plan on putting a 2.4 GHz Beam on the station. While at the site installing the beam I hope to install the Washington County DAREN NODE/PBBS of WASHOH/MRTAOH.
Four members of the Wood County Emergency Communications VE Team are getting ready to go to Grantsville this coming Saturday to do a One Day Technician Class Amateur Radio class. There are 13 people who are wanting to get their Amateur Radio License. I wish them good luck.
There were 36 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Terry Mills, KC8TUE, who has been participating in the net since October 19, 2002, has completed 900 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate. Alan Currence, N8POB, needs only one more check-in to make 150.