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       #Post#: 5847--------------------------------------------------
       TGIF Radio Net – Friday, April 17, 2026
   DIR By: VE3RD
       Date: April 18, 2026, 6:52 am
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       TGIF Radio Net – Friday, April 17, 2026
       Net Control: Steve, KW0Z (filling in for Robert Gretzmann,
       K4WZV)
       Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
       Talkgroup: 31665 on the TGIF DMR Network
       Opening Remarks
       CQ, CQ, CQ. Welcome to the TGIF Radio Net for Friday, April 17,
       2026. My name is Steve, call sign KW0Z. I'm filling in for the
       legendary Robert Gretzmann, K4WZV — chief engineer and
       mastermind behind the TGIF DMR amateur radio network.
       We meet every Friday at 8:30 p.m. EDT in Talkgroup 31665 to
       discuss a chosen topic and anything related to amateur radio.
       Tonight I will drill down on microphone technique, transmitter
       audio, and on-air courtesy.
       If you have any emergency traffic, please give a triple break.
       Remember, this is a directed net — only transmit when invited by
       net control.
       Steve also delivered a warm announcement for World Amateur Radio
       Day (observed Saturday, April 18, 2026):
       "Exactly 101 years ago in Paris, the International Amateur Radio
       Union was founded. Today, over 3 million hams worldwide keep the
       spirit alive. The 2026 theme is 'Advancing the Spirit of Amateur
       Radio through Innovation'. From digital modes to moon bounce and
       beyond, we continue building the future of our hobby.
       Tomorrow, get on the air, fire up your rig, join a special
       event, or open your shack to visitors. Let's celebrate our
       global fraternity."
       Network Status
       Robert K4WZV reported 457 connected hotspots and approximately
       3,773 users/check-ins on the TGIF network.
       Check-ins & Audio Experiment
       Multiple rounds of short-time and structured phonetic call-sign
       check-ins were conducted. Steve experimented with recording
       stations’ call signs and playing them back. Feedback was mixed —
       several operators found the playback confusing (especially for
       new hams trying to check in). Steve acknowledged the issues with
       button management on his Rodecaster Pro and decided to suspend
       the call-sign recording playback for future nets.
       Notable early check-in: K5GU (Leland) gave a strong signal and
       audio report.
       Marketplace
       Doc, N4HYK (St. Petersburg, FL area – contact via QRZ email for
       phone details) had the following items for sale/trade:
       [*] Ameritron ATR-30 TransMatch antenna tuner
       [*] Icom IC-7300 (≈5 years old, good condition)
       [*] Brand new/unopened Icom IC-7300 MK2
       [*] 500-foot unopened roll of 12-gauge wire
       [*] 40/80m double bazooka antenna (lightly used)
       [*] Used Yaesu FT-102 (1980 model – receives & CW works well;
       SSB transmit issue – good fixer-upper)
       Pickup preferred; shipping negotiable depending on the deal.
       Main Topics
       1. Transmitter Audio & Microphone Technique
       The evening’s primary focus. Key points discussed:
       [*] Take a breath before and after speaking to let the DMR
       system catch up
       [*] Hold mic 2–3 inches away and speak across (not directly
       into) it
       [*] Aim for steady, natural audio levels – avoid heavy
       compression or wide dynamic range
       [*] Use the Parrot/Echo test on TG 9990 to hear exactly how you
       sound
       [*] Watch deviation and BER on DMR; apps like DroidStar can be
       very sensitive
       [*] Always ask “How copy?” when establishing contact
       [*] Honest audio reports are appreciated
       Contributors: K4WZV, WB3GTM, KC3NRS, KC8USA, and others.
       2. Electrical Shock Hazards in the Ham Shack
       Four main shock types: static, DC, AC, and RF.
       Safety reminders: ground all equipment, use the one-hand rule,
       discharge capacitors, avoid working high voltage alone.
       Personal stories:
       [*] Steve KW0Z – childhood 110V shock
       [*] Robert K4WZV – as a teenager, high-voltage arc from an old
       Sony color TV flyback knocked him back ~6 feet
       [*] NT9Q – old TV sets run 20–32 kV; always ground yourself and
       equipment
       [*] KB8KES (Michael) – often the reflexive jerk causes more
       injury (scratches, bruises) than the shock itself
       Closing Remarks
       Steve closed the net on a warm and reflective note:
       "This has been a blast here on the TGIF amateur radio net this
       evening. Before we wrap up, I’d like to share a personal
       thought.
       Amateur radio is not just a hobby. It’s a living bridge between
       the past and the future, between technology and humanity, and
       between people and communities. Every time we turn on our
       microphones or tap our digital interfaces, we’re part of a grand
       tradition of human connection that spans generations.
       I want to give a big shout-out to some very special people in
       our amateur radio family:
       [*] Mitch Savage EA7KDO (silent key) – founder of the TGIF
       network, started with a single Raspberry Pi, creator of the
       next-in-screen
       [*] Ty Weaver KG5RKI – coding genius behind TGIF
       [*] Andy Nielsen G7LRR – mastermind of the network dashboard
       [*] Glenn Allison N3MEL – creator of the TGIF forum
       [*] Forum team: Mark Rounds, Doug Smith KE5CDK, Joe Garber
       WB3IHY
       [*] James Valley KF6SH (silent key) – worked on next-in-screen
       and developed PyStar during the Raspberry Pi shortage
       [*] Vic Lowen VE3JAR – excellent TGIF documentation
       [*] Phil Thompson VE3RD – hotspot programming, net recordings,
       and continued development of next-in-screen hotspots
       [*] Robert Gretzmann K4WZV – chief engineer who keeps the
       network running 24/7
       To all the operators who join our nets — your voices, stories,
       and friendship make the TGIF Radio Net special. This community
       keeps getting stronger every week.
       May our signals stay strong, our friendships last, and our
       passion for radio continue to inspire others.
       This is Steve, KW0Z, signing off from Jefferson County, Kansas.
       Join us again next Friday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Talkgroup
       31665.
       73, stations — and remember… Thank God It’s Friday!"
       Overall Net Notes
       Excellent participation with honest feedback on the audio
       experiment. Strong emphasis on practical DMR operating practices
       and electrical safety. Weather impacts (hail and heavy rain)
       were reported in the Kansas/Missouri region.
       73 de KW0Z & the TGIF crew!
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