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#Post#: 5816--------------------------------------------------
TGIF DMR Amateur Radio Net – Friday, February 20, 2026[
DIR By: VE3RD
Date: February 21, 2026, 6:49 am
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TGIF DMR Amateur Radio Net – Friday, February 20, 2026
Talk Group 31665
Net Control: KW0Z Steve, from Jefferson County, Kansas
Co-host/Tag-team: K4WZV Robert
Start Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Opening Remarks
CQ, CQ, CQ—this is KW0Z, Steve, calling CQ and welcoming
everyone to another fantastic edition of the TGIF DMR Amateur
Radio Net, right here on Talk Group 31665! Good evening to all
our friends across the United States, Canada, Europe, the
Caribbean, and wherever your signal reaches tonight. Whether
you're kicking back after a long week with a cold one, tweaking
that latest hotspot script, or just joining us for the
camaraderie, we're thrilled you're here.
My name is Steve, Kilo Whiskey Zero Zulu—KW0Z—coming to you live
from the heart of the Midwest in Jefferson County, Kansas.
Tonight, I'm honored to serve as your Net Control Station, and
I'm tag-teaming once again with the one and only Robert, Kilo
Four Whiskey Zulu Victor, K4WZV, our tireless chief engineer and
the guy who keeps the TGIF backbone humming 24/7/365.
We gather every Friday night at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on TG 31665 to
celebrate what we love most: amateur radio in all its
forms—building, experimenting, troubleshooting, ragchewing,
emergency preparedness, contesting, and most importantly, the
unbreakable bonds of friendship that span modes, bands, and
borders. This is a directed net, so please stand by for your
call from Net Control. Emergency traffic takes priority—triple
break (break break break) gets immediate attention. When
checking in, give your call slowly and phonetically: for
example, my call is Kilo Whiskey Zero Zulu.
Tonight's agenda includes announcements, events and contests,
solar/band conditions, a huge round of check-ins (we're
expecting a big crowd!), the TGIF Hamfest & Swap Meet,
troubleshooting Q&A, a heartfelt remembrance of a true TGIF
legend who's now a silent key, and plenty of open discussion on
what makes us hams tick. So settle in, key up when called, and
let's make this another memorable Friday. Thank God It's
Friday—let's get started!
Announcements
[*]KD9ITO Kerry announced the Northern Illinois Bottle Cap
Balloon Brigade (NIBBB) weekly net: Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Central
on TG 64222. Website: NIBBB.org. All welcome to discuss
pico/fecal balloon projects and launches.
[*]VE3RD Phil reminded everyone of the new net scheduler on
tgif.network (under profile → Net Scheduler) and the
Nextion screen hotspot update (use "Get Copy" for EA7KDO update;
date appears after fetch/flash). New version as of Feb 19, 2026.
[*]Events & contests: DXLook.com composite views, ARRL Year of
the Club, America 250 Partnership, ARRL Sweepstakes Icom
DreamStation winner (Orlando Hamcation), Flying Pigs QRP Walk
for the Bacon (Feb 19–20), ARRL International DX CW (Feb 21–22).
[*]Solar/Band conditions: M2.4 flare, G2 storm,
variable/unsettled ahead.
Check-Ins
Massive turnout approaching 100 check-ins. Short-time and
regular rounds by digit groups (0-3, 4-6, 7-9, all-call), plus
late check-ins. Notable mentions: WB3GTM, W2SHR, N0XLR, KC3NRS,
K4WZV, KF5WFA, KB5TZK, KC8USA, W9UHF, N9XR, KB9LIQ, N2MRH, NP4M,
K6KWV, N9RUT, W1GSK (caboose). Silent keys remembered: KF6S
James Valley, EA7KDO Mitch.
TGIF Hamfest & Swap Meet
[*]K4WZV Robert: Selling 2× EF Johnson 5100 ES P25 handhelds
(likely with batteries/chargers). Email via QRZ for details.
[*]Open for buys/sells/trades and stories (e.g., Orlando
Hamcation experiences).
Troubleshooting Discussion
[*]KE2KL Angel: Radioddity GD-88 bricked post-vacation.
Codeplugs load but contacts vanish ("No Contact" error on
key-up); works on GD-77 but not GD-88. Tried DFU, wipes,
multiple software versions.
[*]Suggestions from K4WZV Robert: Check Pi-Star calibration
graph for RF detection; possible firmware corruption or internal
battery issue. Contact Radioddity support. Deferred to Q&A;
KE2KL to test calibration.
[*]KC8USA Fred: Asked about Pi-Star dashboard indications;
clarified hotspot keys but no traffic.
Main Topic
KW0Z Steve prompted discussion: What makes you an amateur radio
operator? Builder, troubleshooter, elmer, emergency planner,
leader? Outlier in ~0.25% of US population (~3 million
worldwide). Light responses; transitioned to remembrance.
Remembrance – Silent Key
KW0Z Steve honored KB5RIR James Dusik ("Texas Trucking Tornado,
running in reverse"), SK Feb 17, 2026. Trucker, Harley rider,
mechanic/inventor. Epic mobile setup with cross-mode bridges,
APRS beaconing, Pi-Star scripts. Generous sharer of knowledge.
One minute of silence observed. Harley Softail sound effect
noted.
[*]KC8USA Fred commented on the unusual noise heard (Harley into
sunset).
Questions & Answers
[*]KB5TZK: SharkRF OpenSpot 3 login loop (stuck at Wi-Fi entry).
[indent][*]K4WZV Robert: Try simple SSID/password (no special
chars), ensure broadcast SSID.[/indent]
[*]WC7V Terry: Nextion update clarification (repo tag/date now
fixed via VE3RD Phil's script update; last CURT function
improved).
[*]KE2KL Angel follow-up pending (calibration test).
[*]VE3RD Phil: Confirmed script update; date now shows.
Expanded Closing Remarks
Stations, what an incredible night—nearly 100 check-ins,
excellent troubleshooting exchanges, heartfelt memories shared,
and the classic TGIF spirit that keeps us coming back every
Friday. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every single
station who joined us tonight. You are the soul of this net—your
voices, your knowledge, your willingness to help one another
turn TG 31665 into a true global family.
A special 73 and tip of the cap to the backbone of TGIF:
[*]EA7KDO Mitch Savage (SK) – founder who started it all with
one Raspberry Pi
[*]KG5RKI Ty Weaver – coding hero
[*]G7LRR Andy Nielsen – dashboard master (nets scheduler, last
heard, maps)
[*]N3MEL Glenn Allison – forum founder
[*]Forum team: AD2CH Mark, KE5CDK Doug, WB3IHY Joe
[*]KF6S James Valley (SK) – Nextion/Pi-Star collaborator
[*]VE3JAR Vic – documentation wizard
[*]VE3RD Phil – hotspot programmer and net recorder
[*]Fellow net controls: W2SHR Steve Roth, KC8UKV Eric
Young-Beaders
[*]Chief engineer: K4WZV Robert Gressman – the man who never
sleeps so we can talk anytime
To every station who checked in, shared a tip, asked a question,
or listened along—thank you for making February 20, 2026, one
for the logbooks. We honored a true legend tonight in KB5RIR
James—ride on, brother.
This is KW0Z Steve, clear in Jefferson County, Kansas, after
another outstanding TGIF DMR Amateur Radio Net. The podium is
now closed, and Talk Group 31665 returns to open amateur radio
use worldwide. Join us next Friday when K4WZV Robert takes the
helm—same time, same talk group, 8:30 p.m. Eastern. Until then,
stay safe, keep experimenting, keep the friendships strong, and
remember: in amateur radio, every contact is a QSL to the soul.
73 to all, good night, and as always... Thank God It's Friday!
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