Daren News 1995 Jul-Dec
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. July 2, 1995 (.155)
by Ken Harris WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 (HOME) or 485-3828 (EOC)
WOOD COUNTY RACES, 1810 STAUNTON AVE., PARKERSBURG, WV 26101
D.A.R.E.N. News, are articles and information about the Digital Amateur Radio
"Emergency" Network of WV, which operates on 145.69 Mhz. Anyone having
information about the network, they would like to share with others, may send
it to WA8LLM @ DAREN, or put it on PKBGWV on 145.05, .09, or .69 Mhz.
Outside the DAREN system, it may be sent to WA8LLM @ WA8OMR.WV.USA.NA.
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV is posted on at least 13 High Memory DAREN PBBS', and
on the regular BBS system @ ALLWV. A State Wide DAREN NET is held every
Saturday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. DAREN NET Announcements, showing the Net
Control Station, and the previous week's check-ins, are posted by Thursday on
most of the MAIN county PBBS'. When you have traffic to get delivered, think
about using the DAREN PBBS, located in Glenville, WV., accessible via GILMWV.
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV TYLEWV/MIDBWV GILMWV/GLENWV
A Packet station has been installed at the National Weather Service in
Charleston. The station is what we call "Rip and Read". Since there are no
Amateurs at the weather station as of yet, messages sent to the Weather
Service must be sent so they can be printed out without the help of an
operator at the receiving end. At the present time the station is set up as
a mailbox when you connect to it. To leave a message for the Weather Service
there are a few guides that need to followed, some of them will differ from
other DAREN PBBSs: When leaving a message for the Weather Service use "S WX"
(notice the "S"). For the "subject" use something like: "PARKERSBURG WX
7/1/95 1800", use local time not GMT or Zulu time. All the Weather Service
wants is the basic information as may be found in the "WEATHER SPOTTERS
MANUAL", no long winded stories. There is no special format that should be
used, just as long as the information is there. In your message give the
following information: Your Name and Telephone Number, The location of the
weather report, the time, and the report. Weather reports can be given 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. Since the Packet TNC is not a Kantronics unit,
messages posted with an "ST" will still be posted as a "Personal" message and
can only be read and killed by the sender and the addressee. Since the
addressee has no way to kill the message, you must go back and "Kill" your
own messages some time later. I know this may be an inconvenience, but if
the old messages are not deleted from the mailbox, it will soon be full, and
no other messages can be left. Don't let that little problem keep you from
sending messages to the Weather Service, something may be worked out as time
goes on. The station is not set up to post weather reports from the Weather
Service at this time, it can only take reports from the weather spotters.
MAYBE, in the future if things work out we might be able to get reports from
Weather Service, but for now just send your reports to them. "DO NOT" try to
Auto-Forward your messages to the Weather Service, there is no path set up
for it, and your reports need to get there as soon as possible to be of any
use to the Weather Service. The ALIAS for the Weather Service station is
"NWSCRW", and has direct paths from "KANAWV", "PUTNWV", "JACKWV", and
"WYOMWV". If you live in West Virginia counties that are not covered by the
National Weather Service in Charleston, such as Hancock, Brook, Ohio, Wetzel,
Marshall, Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Tucker, send your messages to
"NWSCRW" anyway. Messages from outside of the Charleston Weather Service
area coverage will be sent to the proper Weather Service via their network.
Since the Charleston Weather Service also covers the Ohio counties of Perry,
Washington, Morgan, Athens, Vinton, Meigs, Jackson, Gallia, and Lawrence, and
the Kentucky counties of Greeup, Boyd, Carter, Elliot, Lawrence, Johnson and
Martin, reports from them would be appreciated. Now is the time to let the
Weather Service see what Amateur Radio and Packet can do for them.
There were 66 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Several of the
regulars were at the state convention. KJ4QQ and KB8DXI have both checked
into the State Wide Net 100 times.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. July 9, 1995 (.156)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV TYLEWV/MIDBWV WYOMWV/PINEWV
There are a couple of corrections to last week's DAREN News. First, to send
a message to the National Weather Service in Charleston, "NWSCRW", use "S
ALL". Second, stations leaving messages for the Weather Service DO NOT have
to go back and kill the messages at a later date. Tom, KF8WX, is acting as
the SYSOP for the Weather Service station and will kill the old messages.
Now you have no reason not to send your weather reports to the Weather
Service.
Dave, KA8ZXP, told me the Gilmer County NODE, GILMWV, is back in operation.
Mother Nature had fun again. He had to replace the radio (with a lower power
one) and the TNC. The station does not have a PBBS.
The Wyoming County NODE/PBBS, WYOMWV/PINEWV, seems to be out of service. I
haven't heard from anyone in that area, so I don't know what may have
happened to it.
********************** DAREN SYSTEM UPGRADE PART 1 of ? *********************
At the State Convention on July 1st, a special meeting was held to talk about
an upgrade to the DAREN System. What was talked about was the adding of a
few special BBS type stations in different areas of the state. These special
stations would have the ability to transfer Auto-Forwarded messages to the
other special BBSs. The special BBSs would transfer messages over a
different frequency or backbone. I know how hard it is keep the regular
PBBSs in operation and get funding for new ones, and this will be a bigger
job. Upgrading the DAREN System in this way will take a lot more dedication
and some serious SYSOPs. This will be more than a "one man show". If you
are interested in working on a project of this kind let me know. Projects
such as acquiring funds, equipment, and tower site locations will be a big
part of project. In the next few weeks I will be tell you what was talked
about in the meeting at the State Convention.
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There were 69 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. There was one
new check-in and that was KB8QLG. One station, KG8JA, needs only one more
check-in to make 50 check-ins.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. July 16, 1995 (.157)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV TYLEWV/MIDBWV
I want to thank all of those operators that sent me messages congratulating
me on getting the WV Amateur Of The Year award, but if it wasn't for the
DAREN SYSOPs and Packet Operators, the DAREN System wouldn't be what it is
today.
I have received messages from Mike, KG8JA and Larry, KB8ANG stating the
Cabell County NODE/PBBS, CABEWV/HUNTWV took another direct lighting hit and
was completely destroyed. There is no word as to when, or if, it will ever
be replaced. In the mean time if you have messages going into the Huntington
area you might want to leave them on the PBBS DAREN, or a PBBS somewhere near
the Cabell County area.
Messages from Mark, KJ4QQ and Lynn, AI8I says the Wyoming County NODE/PBBS,
WYOMWV/PINEWV is back in operation. The station was been out of service for
about two weeks. Mark is hoping to hear from Tim, KC8IT and find out what
may have happened to it.
Due to political problems, the Tyler County NODE/PBBS, TYLEWV/MIDBWV, may be
awhile getting back on the air.
********************** DAREN SYSTEM UPGRADE PART 2 of ? *********************
So far the only comments that I have received about upgrading the DAREN
System is that it would be nice to have such an upgrade. Here's a brief
description on how the upgraded system might work. The state would be
divided into 5 or 6 sections. Each section would have a special BBS program
to communicate with the other special BBS'. Each of the special BBS' would
be responsible, and have direct contact with each of the regular DAREN PBBS'
in their section. The regular DAREN PBBS' would Auto-Forward their traffic
to the special BBS in their section. The Special BBS' would route the
traffic on a UHF backbone frequency to where it needs to go. A lot of help
will be needed to upgrade the system. Remember, that DAREN's primary intent
was to establish at least one center message point in each county, or area,
and enable the users to connect to those message points via the shortest
route and be able to pick an alternate route if the most direct one is
unusable. (to be continued)
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There were only 66 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One
station, KG8JA, has checked into the net 50 times. Three stations, N8PFZ,
N8VOW, and KB8ANG have 49 check-ins each.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. July 23, 1995 (.158)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
Bob, KB8TBF put the Tyler County NODE/PBBS, TYLEWV/MIDBWV back in operation
Saturday July 22nd with a some rearranging of radios. They are now using the
radio that was at the Emergency Operations Center to get it back on the air.
I was asked a question the other day by Lynn, AI8I, that I haven't found the
answer to. Lynn wants to know what N.O.S. on the Hazardous Material Guide
Book stands for. I've seen it so many times that I've just become blind to
it. If anyone knows what it is, let me know so I can pass it on to Lynn.
In case you have wondered what has happened to the MARS traffic that used to
be transferred on the DAREN system, some of it is being passed over the MARS
Packet Network. Phil, K8MHR has been keeping me posted on the growth of the
MARS system. At the present time there are NODE/PBBSs located in or near St.
Albans, Parkersburg, New Martinsville, Upshur County, and new ones to be
installed in Webster County and Ohio County.
********************** DAREN SYSTEM UPGRADE PART 3 of 3 *********************
Here are a few items that were suggested at the July 1st meeting:
1. Use a BBS program that some BBS SYSOPs are familiar with.
2. Use a BBS program that has mutiports.
3. Use a BBS program that can re-route if the primary path in inoperative.
4. Have a way to reset the BBS computer remotely, in case it gets hung up.
5. Place the special BBS stations and computers at the mountain or hilltop.
6. Use commercial radios (GE, Motorola, etc), not Amateur. These can be
picked up at Hamfests for very little money.
7. Funding for each special BBS station could be combined from each county
that is in each cluster.
These are a just a few of the things that were talked about. There are some
problems that you need to be aware of, but the biggest thing that is needed
is dedicated SYSOPs, high tower locations, easy access, and funding. If
there are enough operators that would like to take on a project of this size,
you've got to speak up. It won't be easy, but if you would like to see DAREN
upgraded, you have to work at it. Let me know what you think, I'm not a BBS
expert, but I'll do my share. (end, till further notice)
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There were 69 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Three stations,
KB8ANG, N8VOW, and N8PFZ made their 50th check-in this week. One station,
N8TWS needs only one more net to make her 100th check-in. There were two new
check-ins to the DAREN Net and they are KB8TIX and KB8TIW. Thanks for
checking in guys.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. July 30, 1995 (.159)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
Another county Emergency Services director has just received his license.
Terry Brown the Emergency Services director of Jackson County took his test
on June 29th while attending an "Introduction to Emergency Manager" work shop
held at North Bend State Park in Ritchie County. At the work shop there were
several other Emergency Services directors that took their tests and may have
all ready got their licenses. Terry's call is KC8AOF. I think the director
of Calhoun County, George Settles, passed his test the same day as Terry, but
I haven't heard from him yet.
There hasn't been much news this week. I haven't heard or seen much on the
network. It may just be too hot for anyone to sit inside and play on the
computer. If anyone has anything they are doing on Packet they might pass it
on. If there are any special event stations that are going to be operating,
at Fairs, Homecomings, or other Festivals you might pass that along also.
I'll try to get in contact with someone in Lewis County and see what may have
happened to LEWIWV/WESTWV, it's been awhile since I've seen it. If anyone
needs a hard copy of the DAREN News Special which is loaded with a lot of
operating hints, and/or a copy of the DAREN News since July 1992 that is on
disk, you can leave me a message on PKBGWV. Let me know what size disk and
memory you want it on. Remember that if you have any weather reports
pertaining to severe weather connect to "NWSCRW" from either KANAWV, PUTNWV,
or WYOMWV and leave the National Weather Service a message, use "S ALL". The
Weather Service will take reports from the whole state of West Virginia and
pass it on to the proper Weather Service in for that area. The Charleston
Weather Service also covers parts of Ohio and Kentucky.
There were only 62 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One
station, N8TWS, has checked into the net 100 times and KA8ZOO, has checked
into the net 50 times. There were no new stations to the net this week.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. August 6, 1995 (.160)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV WEBSWV/WBSPWV USPHWV/BUCKWV
In case you haven't seen how a TNC can get it's brains scrambled, I'll show
you one. Phil, K8MHR picked up this DAREN Net Announcement that was posted
on the Putnam County PBBS, HURCWV. !!! Note the date and time.
MSG# ST SIZE TO FROM DATE TIME SUBJECT
43 TH 1439 NET WA8LLM 50/55/20 67:33:13 STATE WIDE DAREN NET JUL 29
When last week's DAREN News was posted on HURCWV, it also had a strange DATE
& TIME. I guess that in the process of trying to reset the date and time,
the TNC really got scrambled and had to be given a Hard Reset. HURCWV was
only off the air for a short period of time. The DATE & TIME aren't the only
things that can get scrambled, I once had a TNC that threw in a 4 digit MSG
number, when the MSG numbers were still only 2 or 3 digits long. Don't be
surprised with anything in electronics and computers.
I've noticed that for the last couple of weeks that I haven't been able to
connect to the Upshur and Webster County NODEs and PBBSs. I got a message
from Phil, K8MHR saying the Upshur County station was taken off the air for a
little while to use the antenna for the Upshur County MARS NODE. A new
antenna will be installed to get UPSHWV/BUCKWV back on the air. Phil told me
it's a two hour drive for Dick, N8KGK to get over to the Webster County
NODE/PBBS, to see what might be wrong with it.
There were 75 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. No one made
their 50th or 100th check in, but there were five new stations that checked
in for the first time. The stations were: KC8ABP, N8MTT, KB8VRS, KB8YDF, and
N8PKP. I want to welcome the newcomers to the net, and hope to see them
again. Thanks to all for checking in.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. August 13, 1995 (.161)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV WEBSWV/WBSPWV USPHWV/BUCKWV
I've noticed the last couple of weeks that some messages are getting stuck in
the PBBS "DAREN". There are two reasons for this, 1. The DAREN system
doesn't have an automatic port to the outside world or other network systems,
and 2. Some messages are being auto-forwarded without a complete address.
The DAREN system was originally designed to manually connect from NODE to
NODE to get to a PBBS or Mailbox at a distant location, city, or county in
West Virginia. But with the advent of the Auto-Forwarding with the
Kantronics KPC-3, messages can be placed on one PBBS and be transferred to
another one. The Auto-forwarding only works within the DAREN system and only
if there is a complete address. The PBBS "DAREN" only has forwarding paths
to the PBBSs that are in the "DAREN of WV" system. Any messages that leave
the DAREN system must be manually picked up and placed on another system.
Messages that stay within the DAREN system, that are being Auto-Forwarded
must have an address that is recognized by "DAREN". For instance, if you
want to Auto-Forward a message to me, you need to use the address of "ST
WA8LLM @ PKBGWV", leaving off the "WV" at the end of "PKBGWV" will cause the
message to go to "DAREN" and be stuck there. To keep messages from being
stuck somewhere, SYSOPs and users of the system should keep a close eye on
their Mailboxes and PBBSs for messages that may have stopped flowing through
the system. If you find one that seems to have got lost, download it, clean
it up and send it on it's way. You should always get in the habit of
checking the PBBS "DAREN" once in a while just to see what messages might be
there. We try to keep the latest California RACES Bulletins, and other
information, such as Hamfests and VE testing there.
There were only 63 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Three
stations K8MHR, K8CHW, and N8DSN only need one more check-in each to make
their 50th check-in. Thanks to all for checking in.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. August 20, 1995 (.162)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
I want to apologize for a couple of items that happened, or should I say
didn't happen over the weekend. First, I didn't get the DAREN News posted on
any of the regular PBBSs on Saturday night or early Sunday morning, as a
matter of fact, I didn't even have it written until now, which is about 6:30
Monday morning. The second item is the loss of the State Wide DAREN Net
Saturday night. This past weekend was the Parkersburg Homecoming and Half
Marathon. For the past two weeks we've been getting ready for them. Our
communications group coordinates the communications for the Half Marathon
and parade lineup, which takes at least 60 workers. Not only do we provide
the Safety Communications for the race, we also try to announce the names of
the runners, and where they are from, as they approach the finish line, all
1300 plus. At the homecoming, we operate the BINGO games which is our
biggest fund raiser, and it operates all three days of the homecoming. Alan,
N8POB and I thought that since we were going to be at the homecoming and Half
Marathon over the weekend, 25 out of the 24 hours of each day, that we would
let his wife, Connie, N8TWS operate as Net Control. As Murphy's Law NEVER
fails, Alan had his computer set up for the net, but it caused the TNC to
lock up, and Connie wasn't able to get a hold of us at the BINGO games. One
of the operators made contact with Connie to let her know the net was
working, but the problem couldn't be corrected over the telephone. I didn't
even get on Packet when I got home at 2 AM Sunday morning, and it wasn't
until I woke up a 5 AM ready to go back to the homecoming, that I saw I had
several messages asking what had happened to the net. I got home at 2 AM
again this morning after tearing down and putting away all of the BINGO
equipment and just now got up to get this News written. Now that things have
slowed down a bit, I'll try to do a little better. Don't let the loss of
this past net cause you not to check in next week, please. I want to thank
all of the DAREN operators that sent me messages in reference to the net.
I have another message from Phil, K8MHR to remind everyone sending messages
to the National Weather Service in Charleston to be sure and time stamp your
messages. The Weather Service needs to know the time in which something has
happened, or is happening. Messages can be sent direct to the National
Weather Service by connecting to "NWSCRW" from KANAWV, WYOMWV, or PUTNWV. I
understand that a couple of the employees of the NWS may be studying to get
the Amateur License, and maybe some day "NWSCRW" may be interactive.
I notice there is a BEACON from N8XBE that is transmitting every 5 minutes,
but I'm unable to connect to the station to ask him or her to turn it off.
If anyone knows who it is, they might get a hold of them for me, thanks.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. August 27, 1995 (.163)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
The Pendleton County ARC will operate a special events station, WD8PBG, to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of the "Flood of 85". Hams who took part in
the emergency will operate from 1400Z to 2000Z, September 9th on 14,238 and
7,238 phone. For a certificate, send QSL & a 9x12 SASE to PCARC, P.O. Box
740 Franklin, WV 26807.
It was the "Flood of 85" that inspired the creating of the DAREN System.
Almost all communications in the affected area were wiped out during the
flood. The Net Control Station for the State Wide DAREN Net will also be
located in Penleton County on Saturday September 9th. The only path to the
NCS that day will be through "PENDWV". Since there are only four NODE
Channels on that NODE, some operators may get a "Link Busy at xxxxxx" message
and may want, or need, to Digipeat through PENDWV. I don't encourage
digipeating, but some times it's the only way to get through. Just because
you may have to digipeat through one NODE, doesn't mean you have to digipeat
through all stations in your path. If you do plan to digipeat through,
PENDWV during the September 9th net, connect from NODE to NODE the rest of
the path.
I just received a message today from Pat, N8MIN telling me the Lewis County
NODE/PBBS, LEWIWV/WESTWV has been hit by lightening. He brought up a
question that should be answered here. Stations that are purchased by the
County Emergency Services, with or without 50 percent funding from the state
OES, are property of the county. Repairs to such equipment should be paid
for by the county repair program which may or may not get 50 percent funding
back from the state OES. You might want to check with your County Emergency
Services Director.
There were 70 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station,
N8DSN, has checked into the net 50 times and will soon be receiving a
certificate. There were four, first time check-ins. They were: KC8AUV,
KE4JPU, KB8YAQ, and WA8JWZ. I want to welcome the first timers to the net
and hope they come back again. If any operators change their call, due to
an upgrade in license, let me know so that I can put your times of checking
in all together. Thanks to everyone for checking in.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. September 3, 1995 (.164)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
Mary Ann, N8ODZ sent me some information about a Rapid Assessment program
video that was going to broadcast via satellite from the EENET National
Emergency Training Center at Emmitsburg, MD. I was unable to get the
information out soon enough to have anyone with a satellite dish watch and
record it. The training center at Emmitsburg broadcasts this type of
training program from time to time, and some of them should be of great
interest to Emergency Services, Amateur Radio, and Communications in general.
Any time you find this kind of information, either get it to me, or post it
as "TRNING" on the PBBS "DAREN".
I got a message from an anonymous sender that I really don't understand. The
message said "They flat out said they WOULD NOT ever put up another daren
node here". I think the message was talking about Cabell County. The
message also has a sentence in it that says "If I dedicate it to DAREN I
actually give the rights and control of ownership to the County (so I'm
told)". I'm not sure what this message is all about, but it sounds to me
like there may be some misunderstanding. Equipment that is placed on the
DAREN system is still the property of the purchaser. If the equipment is
purchased by an individual, it stays the property of the individual, if it is
purchased by a club or other organization, it is still their property. The
only equipment that is owned by "the county", or "the state", is property
they have purchased, or has been donated to them. If a piece of individual
or club owned equipment is damaged due to lightening, theft, or fire, it is
the responsibility of the owner to get it repaired. This is just one of the
reasons that equipment used on the DAREN system "SHOULD" be owned by "the
county" or "the state". If a main NODE/PBBS is installed by an individual or
club and that piece of equipment is destroyed, or stolen, and the individual
or club can't replace it, then there is a "hole" left in the system. The
NODEs and PBBSs on the DAREN system should be reliable and be there when they
are needed. If an individual or club can get their county Emergency Services
to agree to help maintain the station, they should do so. The best thing
that individuals and clubs can do is to work with their county Emergency
Services, and have them to purchase and maintain the stations.
Olie, WD8V, wants to thank all of those who supported him in the election of
the ARRL Section Manager. Olie has been re-elected for another two years as
Section Manager, WV.
A lot of the regular DAREN operators must be taking advantage of this, last
holiday of the summer, and went out of town. There were only 59 check-ins to
this week's State Wide DAREN net. One station, KB8NSA only needs one more
check-in to make her 100th. Two stations, K8MHR and K8CHW have checked-in 50
times each and will soon be getting their certificates. There was one new
station that checked in for the first time, and that was KB8TQJ.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. September 10, 1995 (.165)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
A Special Event Station will be in operation during the Buckwheat Festival
in Kingwood West Virginia. The Festival starts September 28. The State Wide
DAREN Net Control station will located at the Buckwheat Festival on September
30th.
I want to thank Bob, W3RUA and the Pendleton County Amateur Radio Club for
inviting me over to the commemorating the "Flood or 85" activities. Even
after ten years you can still see some of the scars of the flood that took
the lives of 16 people and did millions and millions of dollars worth of
damage. I think they said the Special Event Stations works over 150 stations
in 30 states and 4 counties. Amateur Radio operators that helped handle the
hundreds of messages in and out of the flood area were recognized and given a
special certificate. I heard a couple of comments like "why would anyone
want to commemorate such a disastrous flood". After spending the day there
it was obvious why. I should have taken notes while there but I didn't, but
here are just a couple of reasons and there are many, many more. During the
"Flood of 85" there were only 4 licensed Amateur Radio operators in Pendleton
County, today there are over 60. Individuals that were in elected positions,
that saw how important Amateurs Radio is, like "the then" Mayor of Franklin,
is now an active Amateur. There were several radio operators, some that are
very active and some not as active ask about the DAREN system. A station was
set up and demonstrated. I met several operators that are in the position to
help DAREN grow, both in West Virginia and surrounding states. I could go on
and on, but I have to get this DAREN News out. But, if there is ever another
disaster like the "Flood of 85", Pendleton County will be much better
prepared.
SYSOPs should connect to your stations remotely and give them a "RESET" once
in awhile. For some reason the stations that are on the air 24 hour-a-day, 7
day-a-week seem to build up some garbage in their memory and should be reset.
Bob, W3RUA was the Net Control Station of this weeks State Wide DAREN Net.
He reported 65 Check-ins. There was one operator, KB8NSA that has checked
into the net 100 times and will be getting her certificate. One operator,
N8UFQ needs only one more net to make her 150th check-in. Three operators,
KB8OOK, KB8UER, and N8VXL only need one more check-in each for their 50th
check-in certificates. I want to welcome four operators that were first time
check-ins to the net, KE4VTU, KB8RPI, N8PTK, and KC8ATW.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. September 17, 1995 (.166)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
JACKWV/RPLYWV CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
I talked to Mike, KG8NV the other day and he says we may see a hilltop
Fayette County NODE/DIGI/PBBS back on the air some time in the future. The
Sheriff's Department has recovered a station that had been operated on
another frequency, but had been stolen. The station is being held for
evidence at the present time. Once the station has been released back to the
club, it will be re-installed at a different location and hopefully on the
DAREN system.
I've had a couple operators tell me they've seen some buy, sale, and trade
items on a couple of the DAREN PBBSs. If you see these kind of messages,
would you talk to the people that put them on there and explain to them that
this isn't a buy/sale/trade network. Even if it's just one or two items,
other operators may think it's ok, and start posting the same thing. If we
don't watch out it might get out of hand and our system will be useless to
us when we need it for emergencies. I know it's hard to keep the system
clear, especially along the borders of adjacent states, but we've got to do
our best to keep it a message handling and emergency network.
While I was in Pendleton County last week, I talked to the Russ, KC8AOC the
Emergency Services Director. He told me that he was lucky enough to pass his
Technician test along with six other Emergency Services directors that took
the test at the same time. The other directors calls are all in the same
callsign range, between KC8AOB and KC8AOH, with the exception of one. If
anyone knows who the other county Emergency Services directors are, they
might let me know. The Jackson County Director is KC8AOF.
I just got the word yesterday the Jackson County NODE/PBBS, JACKWV/RPLYWV is
off the air. I will try to get down there in the next couple of days to see
what has happened to it. In the mean time, I have changed the path of the
Auto-Forwarding so message will still make it through the system.
There were 64 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station
N8UFQ has checked into the net 150 times, and her sister, KB8UER has checked
in 50 times. These stations will soon be receiving their net check-in
certificates. I want to welcome two first time check-ins to the net, they
are: N8RCG and WD8MYM.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. September 24,1995 (.166)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
JACKWV/RPLYWV CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
I talked to Mike, KG8NV the other day and he says we may see a hilltop
Fayette County NODE/DIGI/PBBS back on the air some time in the future. The
Sheriff's Department has recovered a station that had been operated on
another frequency, but had been stolen. The station is being held for
evidence at the present time. Once the station has been released back to the
club, it will be re-installed at a different location and hopefully on the
DAREN system.
I've had a couple operators tell me they've seen some buy, sale, and trade
items on a couple of the DAREN PBBSs. If you see these kind of messages,
would you talk to the people that put them on there and explain to them that
this isn't a buy/sale/trade network. Even if it's just one or two items,
other operators may think it's ok, and start posting the same thing. If we
don't watch out it might get out of hand and our system will be useless to
us when we need it for emergencies. I know it's hard to keep the system
clear, especially along the borders of adjacent states, but we've got to do
our best to keep it a message handling and emergency network.
While I was in Pendleton County last week, I talked to the Russ, KC8AOC the
Emergency Services Director. He told me that he was lucky enough to pass his
Technician test along with six other Emergency Services directors that took
the test at the same time. The other directors calls are all in the same
callsign range, between KC8AOB and KC8AOH, with the exception of one. If
anyone knows who the other county Emergency Services directors are, they
might let me know. The Jackson County Director is KC8AOF.
I just got the word yesterday the Jackson County NODE/PBBS, JACKWV/RPLYWV is
off the air. I will try to get down there in the next couple of days to see
what has happened to it. In the mean time, I have changed the path of the
Auto-Forwarding so message will still make it through the system.
There were 64 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station
N8UFQ has checked into the net 150 times, and her sister, KB8UER has checked
in 50 times. These stations will soon be receiving their net check-in
certificates. I want to welcome two first time check-ins to the net, they
are: N8RCG and WD8MYM.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. October 1, 1995 (.168)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
Not much news again this week. If anyone has something to pass on to those
who read the DAREN News should let me know so we can keep the DAREN News
alive.
Washington County, Ohio is starting to establish a RACES group and in the
process a permanent Washington County NODE/PBBS will be installed. The
NODE/PBBS, WASHOH/MRTAOH has been in operation before, but only on a
temporary basis. The station should be installed and in operation before a
joint Wood County, WV, Washington County, OH disaster drill that will be held
on October 14th.
Rich, KA8UEU, and Larry, KB8CVP, have reported 50 check-ins to this week's
State Wide DAREN Net. The Net Control Station was located at the 54th Annual
Buckwheat festival in Kingwood, Preston County. Connecting to the NCS may
have been a little harder than usual this week since there are only four NODE
channels in the NODE, "PRESWV". I also noticed a few stations were trying to
connect to "NET" from "WOODWV", remember, the NCS won't always be in Wood
County, be sure to read the Net Announcement that is posted by Thursday every
week. I saw a couple stations trying to go through "LEWIWV", which has been
out of service, due to a lightening hit, about three months now. One of the
purposes of the DAREN News is to keep everyone informed on the condition of
the DAREN system. Also there are paths between NODEs that may not be shown
on a DAREN Path Map, if you have one, there are just too many to mark them
all. The weekly net is a good time to "TEST" the paths through the system,
but the best time to "FIND" what paths there are, is when the system isn't as
busy. Lynn, AI8I, in Pocahontas County, says he would like to be NCS again,
and he too is a tuff one to get to, but that's the real world. Most of the
time even during real emergencies the system won't be as busy as it is during
the weekly nets. Those stations that had a success check-in to this week's
net can receive a Special Event Station certificate by sending a QSL and SASE
to: Richard Wolfe, KA8UEU. A list of stations that were successful getting
checked into the net will be posted on the DAREN Net Announcement this
Thursday. Don't get frustrated trying to check-in to a net. A little bit of
practice and some patience will help you get checked in. There were four
first time check-ins to this week's net, they are: WB8YAQ, KB8CXG, KB8CVR,
and WM8E. Thanks for looking at the DAREN system and getting checked in.
If anyone has a Special Event Station coming up, and would like to operate as
the Net Control Station for the State Wide DAREN net that week, send me a
message letting me know what date, and the NODEs that you can be connected
from. If you need the set-up arrangement for the NCS, I'll send you a copy
of the procedure.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. October 8, 1995 (.169)
NOTE!!! * * * Out of service NODE/PBBS' * * * NOTE!!!
CABEWV/HUNTWV LEWIWV/WESTWV
I'll be taking the above "Out of service NODE/PBBS" header out of the "News"
for awhile since everyone should know by now which stations are not on the
air, and may not be back in operation for some time. I will put it back in
the "News" if any other station becomes inoperative for an extended period of
time.
The Washington County, Ohio NODE/PBBS, WASHOH/MRTAOH should be in operation
before next Saturday. The station will be an important link for a two county
disaster exercise that will be taking place October 14th. Wood County, WV
and Washington County, OH will be participating in a joint exercise that is
being sponsored by the air transportation service , U S Air, and the four
area hospitals . The air transportation service needs to have a disaster
exercise every three years, and this time they want to involve the local
Hospitals, which have to have a drill every year. Both organizations want to
see how they can work with each other and with Fire Departments, Rescue
Squads, and other Emergency Services in the two counties. One of the main
items all of the agencies will be watching and testing is the communications
between themselves and all other emergency agencies involved. The two
hospitals in Washington County have heard a lot about the DAREN system from
the two Wood County hospitals and want to see how it works in this drill.
The ARES/Data system "FINDER" should get good work out next weekend, with
Packet stations set up in four hospitals, two Red Cross headquarters, two
Emergency Operations Centers, and at the disaster scene.
There were 72 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station,
N8VXL has checked into the net 50 times and will be receiving a certificate.
There was one new check-in to the net, KB8VMC. I'd already shut the net down
and was doing the paper work when I heard him trying to get connected. I
accidently disconnected him the first time, but he tried again and made it.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. October 15, 1995 (.170)
I talked to Bill, KB8LTP, in Fairview, on the telephone last Sunday night and
he would like to get a DAREN NODE for Marion County. I suggested he talk to
the Emergency Services director of the county to see if the county would help
get one purchased. If your county Emergency Services is in an EMA county,
it's possible for them to get Federal Funding for the project. An EMA county
is one which is registered with the Federal Government, through the State
Office of Emergency Services. For the last three or four years the WV State
Office of Emergency Services has placed DAREN equipment on the top of the
list of communications items they will reimburse 50 percent. They feel that
DAREN is an important link for back-up and overload communications in the
state.
The Washington County, Ohio NODE, WASHOH/MRTAOH was installed on Wednesday,
in time for the two county disaster exercise yesterday. It got quite a
workout since it is only equipped with four NODE Channels and there were four
stations connected through it for the exercise. All four stations were
located within one air mile of the NODE. Two of the stations were located at
the hospitals in Marietta, Ohio, one at the disaster exercise scene, and one
at the Wood County Airport. All four stations plus four other stations in
the Parkersburg area, one at each of the Parkersburg hospitals, one at the
Red Cross headquarters, and one at the Wood County EOC, were connected to the
ARES/Data system "FINDER" which was being used to forewarn the hospital
emergency rooms of the incoming plane crash victims, and help simulated
family members locate their loved ones that were on the simulated planes that
crashed.
There were 75 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. There were two
first time check-ins to the net, N8SVX, and KB8TQL. N8SVX helped on the
disaster exercise Saturday. I want to welcome both of them to the system. I
need to apologize to the first few stations that checked into the net last
night. I forgot to change one of my parameters on the net control station
and some of them got disconnected before they got their connect message. I
still got their callsigns, and most of them tried again and were successful
getting checked in.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. October 22, 1995 (.171)
Brad, WB8MZI said he made a trip to the BRAXWV tower site to do some testing.
There was as much power coming back from the antenna as he had going out.
Looks like has some antenna work to do. He asked me to remind everyone to
check their remote systems, whether they are remote receivers, repeaters or
packet stations. Since winter and snow brrrrrr is coming, some of the tower
sites will have limited access. You might want to check your tower guy wires
and nearby trees that could fall into them, check the antenna standing waves,
the water in your batteries, clean any corroded terminals, and seal any holes
so our small fuzzy friends can't get into the nice warm equipment to make a
home, and bathroom. For safety reasons, especially in the winter time, don't
go to your tower sites alone, always take someone along with you. He also
ask how the Hi Speed backbone for the DAREN system was coming along. So far
I haven't heard from anyone that would be interested in taking on a project
of upgrading DAREN with a Hi Speed UHF backbone system.
Richard, N8KGK said the Upshur County NODE was off the air for a few days
while he installed a new antenna at 80 feet as opposed to the one at 35 feet.
He says it now has a full scale reading from WOODWV/PKBGWV. I'm able to
connect to it direct from my house. Thanks for improving the system Rich.
Be sure that you have your messages addressed properly when you put them on
any of the PBBSs that have auto-forwarding. Remember, anytime you have an @
sign in the address, the message is going to head toward the Central Message
System "DAREN". "DAREN" will try to forward any messages to any of the PBBSs
that is in it's forwarding database. If it doesn't have a forwarding path in
it's database, the message will just sit there. There is NO way out of the
DAREN system to the outside world except manually, and it can't forward
messages that are addressed to something like: QTC @ NTSWV. Anyone that
checks "DAREN" regularly might want to pick up any messages that are being
held at "DAREN" and place them where they need to be, if possible.
Marshall, N8RKV would like to know if anyone knows anything about a Hewlett
Packard 110 Laptop computer. He would like to use it as a dumb terminal on
packet, if he can't use it for anything else. You can leave a message for
him on "RPLYWV".
It's a sure thing cold weather is coming, there were 92 check-ins to this
week's State Wide DAREN Net. Maybe by the time winter is over we will go
over 100 check-ins. I want to welcome three new check-ins to the net. The
first timers are KB8YAX, KB8ZIU, and N8XZN. One station had their "MYCALL"
set for "NOCALL", if he or she wants to leave me a private message I'll see
they get credit for the check-in. Any users of the DAREN system, new or old,
that would like to have information about the system can leave me a message
at "PKBGWV", and I'll mail it to you.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. October 29, 1995 (.172)
All SYSOPs, don't forget to change the time in your TNCs. One thing I always
do after I get the time set is give the TNC a "RESET". It does two things,
it's how I disconnect without forcing a disconnect, and it also clears out
any garbage that may be stored in it's memory.
For those in the Southern and Eastern part of the state, I haven't abandoned
you. To help me keep better track of the system, Lynn AI8I, is monitoring
those areas. He posts the DAREN News, Net announcements and Net Check-in
lists on the PBBSs in his area. If you have any information or questions you
can still send them to me @ PKBGWV. It's a big help having someone like Lynn
help with the system.
For those of you who are interested in ATV, GPS/APRS, and balloon lanuchs,
John, N4OKL has sent me some information. The liftoff was scheduled for last
Saturday, but postponed till today, but high winds has postponed it now until
next Saturday, November 4th at 9:00 am from the Cabel County Airport. Here
is the information sent to me from John: ATV TRANSMIT: 439.250 = Cable TV
channel 60, 3 watt transmitter, GPS/APRS = 145.790, BEACONS: 28.322 cw,
144.007 cw. 50 mw, HF Balloon net = 7.230, VHF Balloon net = 146.64, 146.76,
147.27, 145.41 plus others that link in. I myself am interested in the
launch because of the GPS/APRS, which is a Packet Radio Location system.
There were 83 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station,
N8PEJ has checked into the net 50 times and will soon be receiving a
certificate. WD8JCO, needs only one more check-in to make his 100th, and
N8XXA needs only one more to make 50. There was one new check-in to the net
and that was N8TWV. One station, KF8TK, wasn't able to make it into the net
until other activities slowed down over in the Eastern Panhandle. He left me
a message saying it takes a little longer to get into the net from that area.
For those who don't know it, there are a couple full service BBSs operating
on 145.69 Mhz that DAREN must compete with. One of them is in Pennsylvania
and the other one is in the Gaithersburg, Maryland area. With these two full
services BBSs and probably more, just outside the state, it's a little harder
getting into the net and using it for emergency type traffic. We are lucky
to have as much of the state as we do that is fairly clear of interference.
Maybe sometime in the future the FCC will grant an frequency that will be
reserved for Emergency, Priority, and Time Valued traffic. In the mean time,
to keep interference to a minimum, we ASK the Packet operators on 145.69 Mhz
not to use the DAREN Nodes to connect to NON-DAREN type stations.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. November 5, 1995 (.173)
The other day I found a message on the regular BBS system that had been
posted there a couple days earlier. The message had been addressed properly,
but for some reason it just wasn't going anywhere. I was reluctant to kill
it and deliver it manually on DAREN. I let it sit another 24 hours and
finally decided to pick it up and deliver it manually a little closer myself
on DAREN. The reason I was reluctant to do it was because when DAREN first
got started I was told that the regular BBS system would deliver any message
in state within 20 minutes or so. I didn't want to interfere with the
message's normal routing so I let it set. But after another 24 hours I
decided it needed to go somewhere. Someone entrusted Packet Radio to deliver
the message, and it wasn't getting delivered, and that's what gives Packet
Radio a bad name, when it comes to delivering messages. I admit there can be
flutes in any system, DAREN is no different, but messages entrusted to Packet
Radio shouldn't have to suffer. DAREN was not intended to be an automatic
message handling system, but instead a system with as many NODEs as needed to
"MANUALLY" deliver messages to where they need to go.
Mark, KJ4QQ told me there's a DAREN NODE/PBBS on Dismal Peak in Giles County
near Pearisburg, Virginia. The elevation of the Dismal Peak is 4150 feet.
The NODE/PBBS is sponsored by the Giles Amateur Radio Association. Mark
programed the TNC and Mike, KD4QDM and DALE, KD4BNQ installed it on the
mountain. Mark has been trying for some time to introduce DAREN into
Virginia, and hopes this will stir up some interest over toward the Roanoke
area. The NODE is GILEVA and the PBBS is PBRGVA.
Don't forget that when you post messages, on the DAREN PBBSs, that have a
time limit, and then should be deleted, you should have a note on them saying
they can be deleted after a certain date. But also remember to post them as
an "ST", even though they may be a bulletin and not really traffic. If they
are posted as a bulletin "SB" and you put a note on them saying they can be
killed after a certain date, no one but you and the SYSOP can kill them. If
you post them as "ST" then anyone can delete them after that date, and they
won't have to wait for you or the SYSOP to come back and delete them. This
helps keep the DAREN PBBSs cleaned out and up to date.
Did you know that as of October 31, the weekly State Wide DAREN Net has been
in operation for three years, and there have been 412 different stations that
have checked in at least once. It's interesting to set back and watch the
net, when you're not the NCS. You get to see some of the routes that other
operator take to get to their destination. Some try to connect to NODEs that
have been inoperative for some time. You can tell which operators don't read
the DAREN News or the net announcements, because they try to connect to "NET"
from "WOODWV", Hi Hi. Ken, KA3SKW in Oakland, Maryland, was the NCS this
week. As of the posting of the this news I hadn't received a list of this
week's check-ins, so I'll give the report next week.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. November 12, 1995 (.174)
Lynn, AI8I told me he was unable to connect to JEFFES, this week, to post the
net announcement. It looks like it may be down or just doesn't have a path to
the rest of the DAREN system. I may have to call Bob, WB8OIF to see if
there's a problem over there, if he doesn't see it in the DAREN News first.
When I uploaded the net announcement Wednesday night, I noticed that CKBGES
was also down, or didn't have a path to anywhere. I checked it Friday evening
and I was still not able to connect to it. If it's still down by Monday, I'll
call the Emergency Services Director of Harrison County to see what the
problem might be there.
Brad, WB8MZI says he still hasn't had a chance to change the antenna on the
Braxton County NODE/PBBS, BRAXWV/GASSWV. Like everyone else, he has a lot of
other things to do and fighting duplexer problems on his 146.61 repeater
doesn't help.
Jake, KB8QIR says he will be taking over the duties of SYSOP for the
Monongalia County NODE/PBBS, MONOWV/MGTNWV. He is planning a way that DAREN
can have a High Level Procol, UHF backbone system. He plans to create a
backbone system that the 145.69 Mhz part of DAREN can connect into for high
speed transfer of messages, but still keep the 145.69 Mhz part of DAREN as it
was intended when the system first started out, and that was a MANUAL system.
Ken, KA3SKW who was the NCS for last week's State Wide DAREN net said he had a
little bit of printer problems and may have lost a few calls. On the net
announcement this week I ask if anyone had got checked in, last week, but
wasn't on the list to let me know. The following stations also got checked
into last week's net: W3RUA, N8ER, K8QEW, WB8MZI, KB8OPH, KC8ABP, N3AAS,
N3BHY, and N3TGL. That's one thing about electronic equipment, you never know
when it's going to let you down. Last week there one new station that checked
in, and that was KB8WHW. There were 88 check-ins to this week's State Wide
DAREN net. One station, WD8JCO has checked into the net 100 times. One
station N8XXA has checked in to the net 50 times. These two stations will
soon be receiving their DAREN certificates. One station, W8FZP needs only one
more check-in to make 50. There were two new check-ins to the net and they
are: KC8AJH and KD4QDM. I want to welcome them to the DAREN system.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. November 19, 1995 (.175)
For those of you who were interested in the balloon launch that was carrying
the Packet Radio locating system, APRS, a couple of weeks ago, here's a
little of what I know about it. The launch went off a couple of hours late
and did reach an altitude of over 100 thousand feet. The APRS didn't work as
well as excepted because the packet transmitter drifted off frequency. I
think I heard some of the operators say the temperature outside the radio
package was minus 70 degrees and inside the package was minus 10 degrees, I'd
probably drift a little bit to. The CW beacons weren't working so there was
no way to locate it after it was on the ground. Several little problems made
up for the loss of a very expensive package. But less than a two weeks after
the launch, a farmer found the balloon and package hanging in a tree on his
farm, about a mile and a half from where it was thought to have came down. I
think plans are being made to try another launch next spring.
I had a surprising telephone call Tuesday from Mike Washington of the
National Weather Service in Charleston. It seems that 12 meteorologist from
the NWS Charleston has taken and passed their Amateur Radio License. The
NWS has also purchased a computer, printer and TNC to be installed at the
weather service. The new equipment will be replacing some, and adding to,
the existing Packet station at the Charleston Weather Service. When all is
complete the meteorologists will be able to post weather forecasts on the
mailbox at the Weather Service and send out BEACONs when pending severe
weather is approaching. On December 12th Seth, KB8KMI will have a meeting
with many of the meteorologists, explaining to them the procedures of Amateur
Radio. I understand they also have an HF Radio at the Weather Service, but
needs an HF antenna installed. Mike Washington is very interested in
establishing of a Skywarn weather system throughout the West Virginia and
parts of Kentucky and Ohio, which they are responsible for. Seth is planning
to hold a meeting in the next few weeks in Charleston to coordinate the
ARES/RACES/Skywarn people into establishing a state wide Skywarn System.
Don, WB8ZTV who is the SYSOP for the Marshall County NODE/PBBS, MARSWV/MDSVWV
says the club has authorized him to purchase a new TNC. The new TNC will be
a KPC-3 version 6.0 firmware and 128K of RAM. It will be replacing a KPC-2
that only had 32K of RAM memory and 4 NODE Channels. When installed the new
TNC will have 16K of PBBS and 24 NODE Channels. This should make it a lot
easier to connect through the NODE. The Marshall County NODE was one of the
first five NODEs in the DAREN system.
For some of you who saw a few of the State Wide Net announcements this week
that didn't look quite right, they weren't. There was a glitch in the
program and some of the announcements left off about half of the callsigns.
Lynn AI8I, and I are still experimenting with a script file and haven't quite
got it right. Everyone that checked into the November 11th net are on record
even though some of the net announcements didn't show it. There were 82
check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station, W8FZP has
checked into the net 50 times and will be getting a certificate. I hope
everyone has a "filling" Thanksgiving Day. 73
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. November 25, 1995 (.176)
I know I'm getting on the soap box for this, but here it goes. Has anyone
ever heard of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)? I received a message the other
day that I don't think Einstein would have understood. It had something to
do with "Improving" the DAREN system. I've only been into Packet for about
five years, and I don't clam to be an expert, and from what I've seen in the
past five years probably 95 percent of the Amateurs that are on Packet are
doing good to just understand how Packet works. Most of the Packet operators
that I've talked to and have received messages from, are satisfied with DAREN
the way it is. DAREN was not intended to be a system that you put a message
in at one location and it would just automatically appear somewhere else.
DAREN was intended to be a system of NODEs that you use to connect your way
through the state and leave a message on a Mailbox in, or close to the county
it's intended for. Some things like the Auto-Forwarding just happened to
come along. Most of the "Improving" systems that I've been told about
require additional equipment such as computers, UHF radios, antennas, and
sophisticated software that the occasional Packet user has no idea how it
works, me included. Since DAREN started in 1992, it's been a job writing
letters to, and meeting with county Emergency Services Directors, asking them
to help provide the radio equipment for a DAREN NODE/PBBS in their county.
There are several counties that still haven't helped, even though the State
Office of Emergency Services is willing to help with Federal Funding. Now
that DAREN is up and running, everyone wants to "Improve" it by adding a lot
of additional equipment. Where will "this" equipment come from? I've had
Amateurs say they are willing to use an extra computer they have to help
improve the system. But how about the UHF radios, antennas, and the tower
sites needed to tie them all together. I've seen Amateurs put Digipeaters,
NODEs, and Mailboxes on the air, but then take them off after a few weeks,
just because there wasn't enough traffic for them. DAREN equipment needs to
belong to Clubs, Groups, Organizations, and/or County Emergency Services, not
individuals who want to put the equipment in use to get a pat on the back,
and then get upset if it's not used 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. I
could go on, but I've got a net to get ready for.
I received a message from Sean, WD4RPV who is the Packet coordinator for The
Mid Atlantic Repeater Council (T-MARC). Sean and four other operators have
started an emergency network in Virginia called Virginia Digital Emergency
Network (VDEN) that is dedicated to ARES/RACES and SKYWARN. At the present
time it's operating on 145.73 Mhz, but he's thinking about moving it to
145.69 Mhz. His idea will help DAREN by having only ARES/RACES, SKYWARN, and
Emergency type traffic on 145.69 Mhz in Virginia, which will help reduce the
chance of interference from the East. On the other hand, DAREN will help
Virginia by reducing the chance interference from the West. Also by being on
145.69 Mhz, counties in West Virginia that are in NWS-Sterling, Virginia
forecast area will be able to report weather direct to that Weather Service.
There were 92 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. KB8OPH needs
only one more check-in to make 100, and KB8TBF needs only one check-in to
make 50. There was one new station to the net and that was AA8UM.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. December 3, 1995 (.177)
I had a couple of reminders this week about messages during the holidays.
Since this is the holiday season and there will be a lot of messages passed,
all SYSOPs should check their PBBS' or Mailboxes on a regular basis. All
operators that are sending messages should remember to use the "ST" followed
by a "Callsign", "QTC", "Zip Code", or "ALL" to post a message. DO NOT post
messages using "S" or "SP". If you do use an "S" or "SP" it MUST be followed
by a "Correct Callsign". If you use an "S" or "SP" followed by the wrong
callsign, the person it is intended for WILL NOT see it. If you use "S" or
"SP" followed by "QTC", "Zip CODE", or "ALL", NO ONE will see it, unless the
SYSOP happens to check the PBBS and changes it to "ST". Anyone that likes to
handle traffic, should check the PBBS' or Mailboxes in their area and try to
deliver any messages they find there. One thing that I've learned in the
past few years is to check the telephone number on the messages, if they have
one. I've had a lot of messages where the telephone number was wrong. The
first thing I do when I pick up a message, is pick up the telephone book. I
never call the number that is on the message unless I verify the number in
the telephone book, or it's not in the book. In the last year I've had at
least five messages where the telephone number was wrong. It might not have
been VERY wrong, for example: 679-3479 when it should have been 679-3470, but
it would not have reached the person it was intended for.
A list of operators that said they would be responsible for checking the
DAREN PBBS' in their area for messages, can be found on "DAREN" and reading
message "Number 7719". Some NTS message handlers won't leave messages on
Packet Mailboxes, BBS' or PBBS' unless they are sure the messages will be
handled properly. If you are interested in being responsible for the
handling of messages found on any of the DAREN PBBS' let me know which ones
you check regularly, so I can put you on the list.
Don, WB8ZTV has the Marshall County NODE/PBBS, MARSWV/MDSVWV upgraded. It
was upgraded on Tuesday, November 28th to a KPC-3 with version 6.0 firmware
and 128K of RAM. The PBBS now has 16K of memory with Auto-Forwarding. The
NODE now has 24 NODE Channels.
While attending a meeting in Weirton, Tom Burns from the State office of
Emergency Services said there was no more Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) funding available for the DAREN system. Those counties that didn't
apply for the funding, when it was available, are just out of luck now. Any
upgrades to the system will have to be up to clubs, groups, or County
Emergency Services without Federal help. The DAREN system will not change
the way or purpose for which it is intended. The DAREN system will still be
an emergency system providing back-up and overload communications for all
State, County, and City Governments along with regular message handling.
Judy, N8UFQ reported 91 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One
station, KB8TBF made his 50 check-in, and will soon be getting a certificate.
One station, N8LDM needs only one more check-in to make 100.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. December 10, 1995 (.178)
Wednesday morning I thought the Kanawha County NODE/PBBS, KANAWV/CHASWV was
out of service. There's usually a good path between KANAWV and JACKWV &
RITCWV, but they seem to have been gone. I didn't know it at the time, but
the Charleston area had 7 to 8 inches of snow dumped on them. We didn't get
as much as one snow flake in Parkersburg. The signals must not have been
able to find the tower site. The site was still in service, there was good
paths getting to it from PUTNWV and WYOMWV. Everything seems to be ok now.
Does anyone know what has happened to the station at the National Weather
Service, NWSCRW, at Charleston. I've had a couple operators asking me about
it. Since they have the new equipment, they may have taken the old one off
so they can get the new one in operation.
In the last year or so I've had a few operators make suggestions about
changing the State Wide DAREN Net to make it easier to get connected in.
When the net was first started October 31, 1992, it was only one hour long,
but as the check-ins increased we started it a half hour sooner and let it
run a half hour longer. Some suggestions I've heard is to increase the time
again, another is to divide the state into two sections, each half having a
time period to check in, and another is to have two separate Net Control
Stations. The first two ideas would still let the operators find their way
to the NCS, no matter where it is at in the state. The only problem with
dividing the state into is, which half gets the first part of the net, and
which half get the second half of the net? Some operators may want to get
checked in so they could go to bed, and they may be stuck with the second
half. Some operators may not get home in time to get checked in during their
time period, which might be the first half. The third idea, operators would
only be staying familiar with their section of the state and not getting
familiar with the rest of the state. The idea of the having the net is to
allow all operators the opportunity to find the best way through the system.
I have nothing against starting the net at 7:00 pm and letting it run till
10:00 pm. There's times when I'm NCS and I'm working on the DAREN News, that
I leave the station set up till 10:00 pm anyway. And I know a few operators
have caught me with the station set up as early as 5 or 10 minutes after 7.
I don't know what happened, but the Net Control Station for this week's State
Wide DAREN Net didn't come up on frequency, and since I'm unable to hit the
JACKWV NODE very well, JACKWV and RITCWV had to be swapped. There was quite
a bit of back-tracking and several station were confused about the NTEXT when
they connected to one NODE and got the other one's NODE TEXT. A lot of
stations "RETRIED OUT" before getting the acknowledgment that they had got
checked in. I think I got everyone who was trying to connect in, if not let
me know when you look at the net announcement next Thursday. There were two
stations, KB8OPH and N8LDM that have checked in 100 times. One station,
WB8CNN needs only one more check in to make 100. There was one new check-in
to the net and that was N8XEE. I want to thank Alan, N8POB and John, N4OKL
for monitoring for the additional calls and helping me smooth out the net,
even though it started out as a MAJOR Cluster.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. December 17, 1995 (.179)
I've received a few suggestions this week about the State Wide DAREN Net.
It's a known fact that since the Net first started in October of 1992, is has
grown quite a bit. The net has never made it to 100 check-ins, but maybe
soon. Starting on January 6th, 1996 the net will begin at 7:00 pm and run
till 10:00 pm. I don't know of any other Packet nets, so this one has been a
learning experience for me. I do know from watching this net for the last
three years that it takes patients and discipline. Unlike a voice Net
Control Operator who can hear several stations calling at one time, pick out
bits and pieces of different calls, ask everyone to stop calling for a few
minutes while he sorts out the calls he hears, and asks for repeats of
partial calls, a Packet Controller can only pick out one call at a time. It
can't pick out bits and pieces of calls, and it can't tell the other Packet
controllers to stop transmit while it answers another call. If two stations
start transmitting at the same time, they destroy each others transmission
and the controller hears neither station. A brief understanding of "the
gentleman effect" of Packet Radio is in order. A Packet Controller will not
transmit "if" it hears another signal. It will wait a randomized amount of
time after the frequency is clear, before it transmits. Most NODEs are set
up to "RETRY OUT" after they have tried 10 times to connect to the distant
station. In most cases the distant station will answer by the first two or
three calls "if" the transmissions are not destroyed by other stations. The
patients part of Packet is understanding a little bit about how Packet works
and allowing for the extra time it takes to get to the distant station. It
also means "DO NOT FORCE A DISCONNECT" just because it takes a little longer
to get through. Forcing a disconnect is doing a "CTRL C follow by a D".
When you force a disconnect your station may be disconnected from the first
NODE you went through, but how about the other NODEs that are still trying to
complete your initial call. They are still waiting to either make the
connection, or "RETRY OUT". In either case you may have left several other
stations hanging, and they are adding more interference to the frequency.
The discipline part of Packet is the studying of the best routes to the NCS
or distant station, meaning finding a route with the least amount of reliable
NODEs to go through. It also means that you don't have to be the first
station to get checked in. I have noticed that more than 75 percent of the
stations that check into the net are within the first hour. In the next hour
the calls come in about one every three to six minutes. From time to time
the NCS will be someone other than me. Most of the time I'm here to watch
what happens. Another suggestion was made about an alternate Net Control
Station. Starting next week, an Alternate NCS will be listed on the Net
Announcement. If after a reasonable amount of time, you feel the NCS is not
in operation, try to connect to the Alternate NCS. To help see if it's the
NCS or the Alternate NCS, monitor the frequency and read the Control Stations
"CONNECT TEXT". It's also been said that checking into the net should be
"fun, not hard". Don't get frustrated, try to understand and learn.
There were 78 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station,
WB8CNN has completed his 100th check-in to the net, and will soon get his
certificate.
=============================================================================
D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. December 24, 1995 (.180)
I talked to Rob, WM8S, the other day. He says the Packet Station at the
National Weather Service in Charleston is having some problems, and thinks
the TNC is bad. The TNC keeps losing it's parameters, and has to be reset
all the time. The weather service has everything that is needed to put a new
station on the air, but it won't be a "Rip-and-Read". The new TNC, which is
Kantronics KPC-3 won't allow a printer to run the same way as the old TNC.
He doesn't think that will much of a problem since 12 of the forecasters that
work there now have their license, and it wouldn't be too hard to retrieve
any weather reports from the mailbox.
George, K8QEW has posted a list of all the ARRL ARES (DEC) District Emergency
Coordinators and (EC) Emergency Coordinators for West Virginia on the Central
Message System, DAREN. Those needing or wanting a copy of the DEC/EC list
can connect to DAREN and read message number 7902. There are a few counties
without an EC, and a few counties that have an inactive EC. If you know of
anyone who is a member of the ARRL and would like to be the EC of any of the
counties with an inactive EC or no EC, contact George at WEIRWV. George says
he will keep the DEC/EC list updated as things change.
On last week's Net Announcement I started listing an Alternate Net Control
Station, in the advent the Primary NCS is unable to contacted. Even though
the Alternate NCS, on December 23rd had the same NODEs to connect from, this
won't always happen. By having several NODEs to be connected from, it
shouldn't be much of a problem when I'm the NCS, but one can never tell. If
anyone wants to be the NCS or an Alternate NCS for the State Wide DAREN Net,
just let me know when you would like a hand at it and what the best NODE or
NODES to be connected from.
There were 82 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Two stations
N8YZX and N8RSM need only one more check-in each to make their 50th. There
were also two stations that checked in for the first time, and they were
N8YNM and N8YNL.
I and all the members of Wood County RACES want to Wish everyone a very Merry
Christmas.
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D.A.R.E.N. NEWS of WV. December 31, 1995 (.181)
I had an interesting message the other day. It seems that a message was put
on a regular BBS, posted to someone that uses that BBS for his home mailbox.
The message had no forwarding instructions such as Telephone Number, or
Address. Neither were needed since it would probably be picked up in just a
short period of time by the addressee. Instead, the message was picked up by
somebody, an address and telephone number inserted on it, and placed on an HF
Voice Net. I'm not sure what to say, since I'm always preaching about making
sure messages don't hang around on Mailboxes, PBBSs, and BBSs. All I can say
is that I know of several people that leave messages like that, knowing they
will be picked up by the addressee very shortly. If I find a message going
to another Amateur, that I know has Packet capability, I'll get a hold of
them and let them know where there's a message waiting for them. There are
some Amateurs, like myself, that are very seldom on HF. If someone was to
pick up a message coming to me on my "HOME BBS", WA8OMR, and place it on an
HF Voice Net, it may be a week before I would get it, and I check the BBS,
WA8OMR at least twice a day. I even leave messages that are going to non-
Amateurs on the Mailbox, PBBS, or BBS where I find them until I can get them
delivered, then I'll go back and delete the message. The reason I do it that
way is to let other operators try to deliver the message too. There's been
times that I've tried several times a day to deliver a message with no luck.
I might have just missed the person it's going to. Someone else, on the
other hand, may see the same message, pick up the telephone, make one phone
call and deliver the message. By killing a message as soon as you pick it
up, may cause a delay in the message getting delivered, of course this is
only my way of looking at it.
I got a message from Tom, KF8WX, the SYSOP of the Packet Station at the
National Weather Service. He thinks the problem with the TNC at the NWS may
be a weak battery, causing it to lose it's memory when the power is lost.
From time to time the power supply cord gets moved and some times gets
disconnected, and the back-up battery goes dead, and some times the radio is
on another frequency. Mike Washington, of the NWS is still planning to get
together with the Amateurs in the Charleston area maybe sometime in January.
Lynn, AI8I, and Bob, W3RUA have both noticed some problems in the Eastern
part of the State in the last few days. Lynn hasn't been able to connect to
the Eastern Panhandle via BERKWV, and Bob had a hard time connecting to
PENDWV. With winter here problems can occur quickly. Commercial power could
go off due to trees falling across power lines, or ice may do damage to
antennas. Band conditions can also change drastically. In any case if you
notice problems with any of the DAREN NODEs try to contact the SYSOP of the
station, or leave me a message and I'll try to get a hold of them.
There were 80 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. One station,
N8RSM made his 50th check-in and will be receiving a certificate. One
station, KA8UEU only needs one more check-in to make 100. And there was one
station, KB8UUE that checked in for the first time.
!!! Have a Happy New Year !!!
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