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#Post#: 5819--------------------------------------------------
TGIF Friday Night Net - Talkgroup 31665
DIR By: VE3RD
Date: February 28, 2026, 3:18 pm
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[center]TGIF Friday Night Net - Talkgroup 31665[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Net Control: Robert Bretzman, K4WZV (Spring Hill, Florida)
Time: 8:30 PM Eastern (2030 ET)
Format: Directed net – check-ins, announcements, buy/sell/trade,
featured topic discussion[/center]
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Thank God it's Friday. Good evening everybody. This is Kilo 4
Whiskey Zulu Victor K4WZV.
My name is Robert. Opening up the TGIF net this evening. This
net is conducted every Friday at 830 p.m. Eastern
on the TGIF server, talk group 31665 for the discussion of a
pre-selected subject or other amateur radio topic.
Tonight we're going to be talking about Nestastic.
All righty. Emergency traffic may be indicated by a triple
break.
And of course this type of traffic will be accepted at any time
during the net.
Ladies and gentlemen, please remember that this is a directed
net.
So please do not transmit unless you are directed to do so by
the net control station.
Participation
Approximately 87 unique check-ins across short-time, digit-group
rounds (0–3, 4–6, 7–9), and late/anywhere calls.
Unique stations checked in (phonetics standardized where clear):
[] K4WZV (Robert – NCS/host, self-checked)
[] N6CZE
[] KA7DB
[] W6IZK
[] N5ZKF
[] KA3NGT
[] K7DCE
[] KC1MNJ
[] KC1LKO
[] WP3IHY
[] W5RHS
[] K9FEH
[] KB4QCE
[] WD8KOB
[] VE6TLC
[] KB9LEB
[] N3JAS
[] WE8M
[] NT9Q
[] W3MTN
[] K2OZ
[] KE8APO
[] N3FCB
[] WC7V
[] W2SHR
[] WN3Q
[] W8IE
[] NY2S
[] KC4EXO
[] AB8IWO
[] KX4XR
[] N8MME
[] KE0DL
[] KV7ZZ
[] W3DEN
[] KG5PTT
[] W1GSK
[] KD9ITO
[] K3FHC
[] BE3DLF (likely KB3DLF)
[] K4OUX
[] WR8D
[] WB3GTM
[] N1XQX
[] KB3SVT
[] KB3JQQ
[] KB2FMD
[] VE3RD
[] NP4M
[] K4ZXX
[] KE5MSQ
[] N4XZ
[] KD4BJA
[] NG5N
[] K5GU
[] KF5KHS
[] N4RJJ
[] KC9MUC
[] WD9HGO
[] KB8KEF
[] KD9LOR
[] N9XR
[] KC9SIO
[] KB8PFL
[] KD9TPM
[] N9DYO
[] WX4BDP
[] WW4EOC
[] KW0Z
[] KB3NUN
[] KB5TZK
[] N4MNN
[] N4HYK
[] KC8UKB (mentioned in context)
Active commenters (beyond basic check-in):
K4WZV (multiple), KCAUSA (Fred), WB3IHY (Joe), KD4BJA (Kirk),
Jeff (Meshtastic dev), N6PPP (Chris/Erlin), G0CDB (John, UK),
VE6TLC (Cliff), KC1LKO (Miguel), N4HYK (Doc), WX4BDP (Brandon),
KB3JQQ (Scott).
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Buy/Sell/Trade
One item listed:
[*] KX4XR – Baofeng handheld (near-new condition; phonetic
“buddy poll” likely transcription error for Baofeng)
Contact: QRZ email
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Featured Topic: Meshtastic
Open-source LoRa-based off-grid mesh communication project (text
messaging, optional GPS/location sharing). Operates unlicensed
in ISM bands (e.g. 915 MHz US) – no amateur license required.
Key points discussed:
[] Decentralized mesh: nodes rebroadcast messages (hop
limit), store-and-forward (~30 packets)
[] Low power, long battery life, AES-256 encryption on
private channels
[] Phone integration: Bluetooth / Wi-Fi / Ethernet / serial
[] Strengths: grid-down redundancy, very low cost (<$50
ready, <$10 DIY), solar/high nodes possible (drones, towers)
[] Challenges: needs node density/line-of-sight, sporadic in
low-adoption areas, troubleshooting required
[] Ham mode: encryption disabled on amateur bands (e.g. 433
MHz) per FCC; full encryption allowed unlicensed
[] Jeff (dev team): part of broader LoRa ecosystem
(tracking, sensors); UK dense coverage; US expanding (up to
72-mile personal range with elevation)
[] Regional examples: strong mesh in MD/VA/PA (N6PPP), UK
emergency/remote use
[] Potential: repeater linking backup if internet fails
[] Skepticism: viewed by some (e.g. N4HYK/Doc) as “another
gadget” amid unused ham gear
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Closing Acknowledgements
Silent Keys:
[] James (KF6S / KF6NR) – Nexion screens, hotspots. “Rest in
peace, Brother James.”
[] Mitch Savage, EA7KDO (co-founder, SK Feb 6, 2024) –
Started TGIF on Raspberry Pi, Nexion screens, extensive support.
“Rest in peace, Brother Mitch… would be proud… over 22,000
members right now.”
Living contributors thanked:
[] Andy G7LRR – dashboard, net scheduling, DMR contacts, map
[] Ty Weaver KG5RKI – core code
[] Glenn N3MEL, Doug KE5CDK, Mark AD2CH – forum/wiki support
[] James KF6NR – RADxA boards, Pi-Star, Nexion work
[] Bill VE3RD – screen code, DMR gateway help
[] Vic VE3JAR – documentation, TGIF spots
[*] Beta testers (Fred, Joe, others) – screen/feature testing
Net closed: TG 31665 returned to regular use.
Final: “7-3-3, everybody, and Thank God it's Friday.”
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TGIF Network Status – late February 2026
[] Registered users: 22,239
[] Active users: 4,048
[] Talkgroups: 3,187
[] TG 31665: flagship “Mothership” – secure (requires
account/hotspot key)
[] Weekly Friday nets continue at 8:30 PM ET
[] Recent: Net scheduler active, February 20 net transcribed
on forum
73 de K4WZV & TGIF Net participants
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