Why wait?
Invite stations in those states now to the long standing 222
activity nights on Tuesdays.
The 222 FT8 you are proposing as an addition to 144/432/1296 may or may
not happen but the Tuesday 222 activity nights are there now and running.
There is nothing prohibiting digi only stations from participating during
the Tuesday activity nights. Down in this part of the world, it is almost
100% digi when there is activity. Activity is activity regardless of mode.
If you can't get the stations on during the 222 Tuesday activity nights, I
doubt adding a 222 FT8 period running concurrently with the Tuesday
activity periods or as a standalone activity is going to improve those
chances.
My 3.5 cents adjusted for inflation.
73,
Scott AA5AM
On Sun, Feb 1, 2026 at 11:30 AM David R Buckwalter via VHFcontesting <
vhfcontesting@contesting.com> wrote:
> 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
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+k3sk=
> buckwalter.co@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Rick R
> Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2026 9:23 AM
> To: packrats reflector <packrats@mailman.qth.net>; NEWS Reflector <
> newsvhf@mailman.qth.net>; vhf contesting <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Fwd: [VHFlorida] VHFlorida - Digest #231
>
>
> Rick
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: VHFlorida Digest <digestnoreply@groups.io>
> Date: February 1, 2026 at 9:09:26 AM EST
> To: "Richard (Rick) Rosen" <rick1ds@hotmail.com>
> Subject: [VHFlorida] VHFlorida - Digest #231
>
>
> [Groups.io]<https://groups.io/>
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> Topics in this digest:
> .
> 1. North American FT8 activity nights (4)
> messages:
> .
> 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
>
> View/Reply Online<https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/message/829> | Reply To
> Group & Sender<mailto:VHFlorida@groups.io,
> mph@sportscliche.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
> | Mute Topic<https://groups.io/mt/117572777/764429> | Top ^ | New Topic<
> https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/post>
> 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!
>
>
>
> View/Reply Online<https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/message/830> | Reply To
> Group & Sender<mailto:VHFlorida@groups.io,
> w2ttt1@gmail.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
> | Mute Topic<https://groups.io/mt/117572777/764429> | Top ^ | New Topic<
> https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/post>
> 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 & Sender<mailto:VHFlorida@groups.io,
> beamar@aol.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
> | Mute Topic<https://groups.io/mt/117572777/764429> | Top ^ | New Topic<
> https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/post>
> 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!
>
>
> View/Reply Online<https://groups.io/g/VHFlorida/message/832> | Reply To
> Group & Sender<mailto:VHFlorida@groups.io,
> w2ttt1@gmail.com?subject=Re:%20North%20American%20FT8%20activity%20nights>
> | Mute Topic<https://groups.io/mt/117572777/764429> | Top ^ | New Topic<
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