This is a great idea, I am in favorite of it and will participate. However,
this is North America, not the EU and we have several other bands that should
be considered. Most obviously missing is the 222 band, and to be fair 902.
I have been active on 222 (220) since the early 1980s and would love to either
see 222 included, or as an alternative consolidate 222 into the ongoing
Tuesday 222 activity night. One of the Tuesday activity nights could double
up with 222 FT8. After all there are quite a few SSB/CW only stations on any
given 222 night, so having FT8 only stations would be a plus for those of us
that work all modes.
Once it is determined when 222 FT8 night will be, I'd like to invite those in
the following states to participate:
OK, AR, NM, CO, WY, SD, ND, & MN
Dave - K3SK
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Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2026 9:23 AM
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Subject: [VHFcontesting] Fwd: [VHFlorida] VHFlorida - Digest #231
Rick
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Subject: [VHFlorida] VHFlorida - Digest #231
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Topics in this digest:
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1. North American FT8 activity nights (4)
messages:
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1a.
North American FT8 activity nights
From: Mike
WB2FKO<mailto:mph@sportscliche.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 20:15:11 PST
There is an effort underway to organize extended FT8 activity periods on VHF+
in North America. This has been patterned after a similar project in the EU.
These are 5 hour operating events on Wednesday nights, with sequential weeks
for 144, 432, and 1296 MHz. This looks very similar to the Spring and Fall
sprints. I imagine this will be somewhat controversial; I am in no way
involved, just posting the link without comment:
https://ft8activity-na.net/
On a related note, I have made an archival page of all the CSVHFS Spring Sprint
winners, dating as far back as I could find them:
https://www.sportscliche.com/wb2fko/sprints/sprints.html
Mike WB2FKO EL89
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1b.
Re: North American FT8 activity nights
From: J. Gordon Beattie, Jr.
W2TTT<mailto:w2ttt1@gmail.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2026 21:25:06 PST
Mike,
Apart from the initial concern over leaving out 222 and 902 MHz, I think this
is a good idea.
1.
The first three weeks of the month will never conflict with Christmas or
Thanksgiving. Brilliant!
2.
144/432/1296 MHz are the most easily accessed VHF-UHF bands above 50 MHz. You
set up an ICOM IC-9700 or similar multiband radio for FT8 and put up functional
antennas and you're off to the races!
3.
Operating on other, adjacent bands could be up to stations to work out during
the event if they are both so equipped and interested.
I am going to study their proposal and see what else comes to mind.
73,
Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
201.314.6964<tel:+12013146964>
W2TTT@ATT.NET<mailto:W2TTT@ATT.NET>
Gordon.BeattieJr@VIAVISolutions.us
Get On The Air!
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1c.
Re: North American FT8 activity nights
From: Buddy
Morgan<mailto:beamar@aol.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2026 04:56:41 PST
I go to Church, on Wednesday nights and don't get home until 8pm. or a little
after. So, I would not be able to fully participate. A few comments:
If this promotes activity, I am all for it. Actually, a better idea would be an
activity like this for SSB/CW. That is where activity is really lacking. As one
person, on the IC 905 list said, it leaves out some bands. Well, if there is
interest, I'm sure the activity could be extended to 222, 902 and the microwave
bands. As to it being controversial, I'm sure the digital nay sayers will have
comments. Other than that, I do not see where too many people would have
problems with it.
Buddy WB4OMG
On Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:15:12 PM EST, Mike WB2FKO
<mph@sportscliche.com> wrote:
There is an effort underway to organize extended FT8 activity periods on VHF+
in North America. This has been patterned after a similar project in the EU.
These are 5 hour operating events on Wednesday nights, with sequential weeks
for 144, 432, and 1296 MHz. This looks very similar to the Spring and Fall
sprints. I imagine this will be somewhat controversial; I am in no way
involved, just posting the link without comment:
https://ft8activity-na.net/
On a related note, I have made an archival page of all the CSVHFS Spring Sprint
winners, dating as far back as I could find them:
https://www.sportscliche.com/wb2fko/sprints/sprints.html
Mike WB2FKO EL89
View/Reply Online<https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/message/831> | Reply To Group &
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1d.
Re: North American FT8 activity nights
From: J. Gordon Beattie, Jr.
W2TTT<mailto:w2ttt1@gmail.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:17:51 PST
Buddy,
Interesting idea of having it be SSB/CW. Perhaps they could alternate months or
some other sharing arrangement?
I was the one who posted to the IC-905 list. I addressed the comments to Mike
KD5KC in El Paso who made the original proposal. Here is what I said.
Mike,
Apart from the initial concern over leaving out 222 and 902 MHz, I think this
is a good idea.
1.
The first three weeks of the month will never conflict with Christmas or
Thanksgiving. Brilliant!
2.
144/432/1296 MHz are the most easily accessed VHF-UHF bands above 50 MHz. You
set up an ICOM IC-9700 or similar multiband radio for FT8 and put up functional
antennas and you're off to the races!
3.
Operating on other, adjacent bands could be up to stations to work out during
the event if they are both so equipped and interested.
I am going to study your proposal more thoroughly and see what else comes to
mind.
BTW: I have an ICOM IC-9700, an IC-905 and even an IC-705 in addition to a pile
of transverters through 3400 MHz, so I'm interested.
There is a general protocol for band activity nights in the northeast that tags
144 on Monday, 222 on Tuesday and 432 on Wednesday. I think the guys in north
Texas do something similar. Another common operating event up in western New
York and southern Ontario is "MAD" or Microwave Activity Days which are the
first Saturday of the month. Maybe we could couple your proposal to the MAD
Saturday events and perhaps look at a night or another Saturday to cover 222,
902 (I know you're excluded due to location), 2304, 3400 and 5760 MHz?
Thoughts?
73,
Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
201.314.6964<tel:+12013146964>
W2TTT@ATT.NET<mailto:W2TTT@ATT.NET>
Gordon.BeattieJr@VIAVISolutions.us
Get On The Air!
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