DAREN of WV News January 18, 2009 (.862)
Kenneth Harris 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.
The Two Meter Band must have been down a little last night during the State Wide DAREN Net. I noticed that several stations were having trouble getting connected into the net and retired out. I also had one telephone call about not being able to get connected. When I went to test the net I also had a problem getting connected in when I tried by going through just two NODEs. I did a reset on both station thinking that may take of the problem, but it didn't help. I notice that from time-to-time the band does seem a little strange. The Two Meter Band isn't as bad as the HF Bands, but it does have its problems once in awhile.
I got the DAREN Net Check-in Certificates printed up and mailed out this week. I was only a couple of months behind. If you have been expecting a certificate and didn't get it, let me know. I try not to get too far behind, but it does a happen a lot.
I've been converting all of the DAREN News from DOS over to Word for the last week, and I have a long way to go. It's been interesting reading some of the News and what has happened since the DAREN system started. The DAREN News started July 19, 1992, and there has been 861 issues. When I'm finished getting the News converted over, I'll find a way to make them available for everyone to read.
Don't forget to mark the Charleston Hamfest on your calendar. The Hamfest will be held on Saturday, March 21, at the Coonskin Armory. Talk-in frequency will be 145.35 MHz. For additional information contact: Jim Damron, N8TMW, 4607 Baxer Drive, Charleston, WV, 25302. Phone: (304) 965-5349. E-Mail: n8tmw@arrl.net
There were only 60 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Gladys Gorrell, KC8GIZ, who's been participating in the net since March 15, 1997, has completed 600 check-ins. And, Randy Thomas, K8KHW, who's been participating in the net since February 13, 1999, has completed 350 check-ins. Both of these operators will be receiving their certificates. I'd like to find out who "NOCALL" is, so that I can get his/her check-in records updated. "NOCALL" checked into the net again this week at about 10:07 pm last night. I think I'll try to connect back to that station next week and see if I can find out who it is. I would hope that whoever it is was reading the DAREN News and get a message to me. If you don't see your call sign on this coming week's State Wide DAREN Net Announcement, and think it may have been you, let me know so that I can update your check-in records. I would think that someone would look at the Net Announcement and leave me a message.