DAREN of WV News August 23, 2015(.C07)
WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, P.O. BOX 3328, PARKERSBURG, WV 26103
http://www.wc8ec.com
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 wc8ec.com website.
I meet a couple of DAREN operators at the WV ARRL State Convention yesterday. I did get to talk to Butch Sayers, N8RCG, during the ARES Forum. Butch said that he knew the Mineral County NODE/PBBS of MINEWV/KEYSWV is down, and he is planning to work on the station in a few days after the convention.
Also during the ARES Forum, at the convention, I talked about trying to get a grant through the Coast Guard for several DAREN Packet Nodes. Three people said they would be interested in getting a station for their county, if I'm successful. I need to do several steps before I can apply for the grant. I would like to apply for the grant to get the equipment to put together 20 or 25 DAREN stations. With that many stations, it would build the DAREN system back up to where it was a few years ago. The DAREN stations would consist of an Antenna, Transmission Line, Transceiver, TNC, and Power Supply. Those wanting to receive one of the stations would be required to locate a tower site with good coverage, install the antenna, coax, and rest of the station. I'll try to keep everyone posted on how things are going.
The Wood County Emergency Communications group will be holding a One Day Technician Class Amateur Radio class this coming Saturday. The class will be held at the Mid Ohio Valley Health Department, 211 6th Street, Parkersburg. The class will start at about 9:00 am with W5YI VE Testing at the end of the class. Any one wanting to upgrade their license is welcome to come to the Health Department any time during the day to take an examination.
There were 31 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. My daughter Cathy Wotring, KC8DJJ, who has been participating in the net since April 7, 1996, has completed 1000 check-ins, and will be receiving her certificate. Brad Carabine, KC8TYU, needs one more check-ins to make 600. Robert Sellars, KB2FEL, needs one more check-in to make 400.