DAREN of WV News February 22, 2009 (.867)
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.
I've been in E-Mail contact with Kantronics about a TNC issue. A year or so back I noticed the Raleigh County NODE/PBBS of RALEWV/BOLTWV had a problem with the "STAY" command. The "STAY" command allows a station that connects to a NODE and then connects from that NODE to another NODE or PBBS stay connected after disconnecting with the distant station. The "STAY" command at the RALEWV NODE doesn't work. The RALEWV NODE has a version 9.0 firmware in the TNC. Last Friday while I was doing some connect tests from the Parkersburg Health Department station, I noticed that when I connected to the Wood County NODE of WOODWV, that it has the same problem with the "STAY" command. I never gave it much thought over the last few months, I just figured that I had forgotten to add an "S", for stay, when I would connect through it. After I realized that WOODWV had the same problem, I went looking through the manual to see if there was a command to turn the "STAY" command on and off, but couldn't find anything. So I fired off an E-Mail to Kantronics. They got back with me and said the "STAY" command is automatically turned on and can't be turned off. After they told me that, I checked out the other TNCs that were purchased at the time, CALHHD, RITCHD, ROANHD, and WIRTHD. They all have the same problem. We had just purchased a new Kantronics TNC with version 9.1 firmware, and guess what? The "STAY" command in it doesn't work either. The technician at Kantronics said that it will take a little while, but he's going to set up some NODEs on his test bench to see if he has the same problem, and will get back with me. I'll keep everyone posted.
Randy Thomas, K8KHW, sent me a couple messages about his TELPAC NODE problems and solutions. He says the TELPAC NODE will now be on his TNOS System, NPRTOH (Newport, OH). To connect to the TELPAC NODE, just connect to NPRTOH station and type the command "TELPAC". By combining the systems allows him to get rid of one computer and one radio for a short period of time. When he puts the other station back on line, it will be a "back-up" for the original one. He also told me that due to an interference problem, his Echolink NODE in Marietta has been moved, and is now on 146.500 MHz simplex with a PL tone of 103.5 Hz. The IRLP Node in Newport, OH is on 444.125+ PL tone of 103.5 Hz. That station also has a Echolink Node feature as well. There's another feature that he figures might be interesting and that's the Weather Server. You can connect to the Weather Server by simply typing "WX" and get live weather reports straight from the Weather Service. Also for those who can't connect to the DAREN system by RF on 145.69 MHz, you can connect to his system by the Internet. Connect to: k8khw.ohiopacket.org and you can operate just like you are on the DAREN system. You can check into nets or read DAREN News, etc. I haven't tried it yet, but I'll let you know it works. I hope I got all of the information correct that Randy sent me.
There were 62 check-ins this week's State Wide DAREN Net. John Peterson, K8ZPR, needs only one more check-in to make 750. And, Ron Wilson, K8RWW, needs only one more check-in to make 200. I see Jim Stephenson, KE8YB was able to get a Packet station set up after he moved. I'm glad to see Jim back on Packet.